Covering Willie Dixon: Linking Blues to Rock and Roll
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Willie Dixon was a heavy weight in more ways than one. He was a Golden Gloves champion and a sparring partner for Joe Louis. However, it would be in music, not boxing, that Willie Dixon would shine as a giant. Considered by many to be The Father of Modern Blues, Dixon was also a major link, perhaps the strongest link, between Chicago blues and rock and roll. Though a blues man, his contribution to rock and roll was recognized by his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1994.
One of Dixon's direct links to rock and roll is through Chuck Berry. Both Berry and Dixon were under contract with Chess Records during the 1950's. Willie Dixon played the bass for Berry during this time, including on his hits "Maybelline," "Roll Over Beethoven," and "Johnny B. Goode."
Dixon was portrayed by Cedric the Entertainer in the movie "Cadillac Records," which is about Chess Records and its rise in the record industry through stars like Etta James, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Muddy Waters. Though a talented bass player, Dixon wrote many songs that became hits for these artists in the blues genre.
Many of his songs were later covered by rock and roll bands, and became mega-hits for those bands, also. I have selected five songs that most of us know and love, but that many may not know were written by the one and only Mr. Willie Dixon!
Seventh Son
This song was covered by Bill Haley, Climax Blues Band, and Long John Baldry, among others. It rose to number 7 on the charts with this cover by Johnny Rivers.
Wang Dang Doodle
The cover of this song was a huge hit for Koko Taylor. It was also covered by Savoy Brown, The Box Tops, and the Pointer Sisters, among others. Here is a video of the Grateful Dead performing it live in 1991 with John Popper on the mouth harp!
I Just Want to Make Love to You
This was covered by many bands including The Animals, The Yardbirds, Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Van Morrison, and The Righteous Brothers. This version would be the first hit for Foghat.
I Can't Quit You Baby
This song was covered by John Mayall, Gary Moore, and Little Milton. However, no one did it quite like Led Zeppelin! Here is a live version from a concert at Royal Albert Hall.
Back Door Man
Originally written for Howlin' Wolf, it was covered by Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, and The Blues Project. It is most recognizable, though, as one of the staple songs of the Doors featuring the oft imitated but never equaled voice of Jim Morrison. This is a live version from the Hollywood Bowl with Five to One (not a Dixon song) in the middle.
Choosing Only Five Songs
Willie Dixon wrote so many songs that have been covered by rock bands that it was difficult to choose only five. I could have included "Spoonful" by Cream, "Little Red Rooster" by the Rolling Stones, "Shake for Me" by Stevie Ray Vaughan, "Diddy Wah Diddy" by Captain Beefheart, "Hoochie Coochie Man" by Jimi Hendrix, "I Ain't Superstitious" by Jeff Beck, and the list goes on.
You can click here to see a list of songs written by Willie Dixon just to see for yourself what a vital link he was between blues and rock and roll.
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I think Robert Johnson deserves the title Father of the Blues, but he died in 1938, long before rock and roll. He likely was a big influence for Willie Dixon, also.
Of all the artists you mentioned, the only one who didn't really cover Willie Dixon tunes was Muddy Waters. Dixon wrote some of the songs that were Muddy Waters' biggest hits!
Buddy Guy worked with Willie Dixon on Koko Taylor's "Wang Dang Doodle," which Dixon wrote, and in sessions with other artists. Here's a link to a picture showing Dixon, Waters, and Guy: http://www.americanbluesscene.com/2011/04/happy-bi
Jimi is buried in Renton, Washington, which is about 25 miles from where I live. I have taken two trainee drivers to his memorial in the past six months. I'll snap some pictures of it and send them to you.
Oddly, don't think I ever knew where Jimi is buried, but of course he would be buried at Renton, being from WA. But when I was in London in 2003, I made it a point to find the flat on Brook Street he lived in on his last tour. Next to Handel's home, which is now a museum and open to the public while Jimi's former digs are not. But if memory serves, there's one of those ubiquitous Blue Plaques marking it as Jimi's former home. Will have to dig out the photo I snapped.
After London I spent two days on the Isle of Wight, at a farm B&B near Mottistone that I chose specifically because of the haunted pub at the end of the lane leading to it. The pub is where I'd planned to dine both nights, but the day before I arrived, it suddenly closed for remodeling (new owners) and wouldn't re-open until after I left. Was traveling around totally by public transportation, so the husband of the lady who ran the B&B drove me into Yarmouth (7 miles away - too far to walk!) to the King's Head Pub, and I'd call him on his mobile when I was ready to come back.
On the way back, he took it upon himself to give me an impromptu tour of the countryside, and one of the places he pointed out was the site of Jimi's very last concert, a natural amphitheatre in the side of a hill Brits call a "down". (A die-hard Jimi fan back home was green with envy over THAT one...could only have been "worse" if the gate hadn't been locked and I'd gotten to walk around the "stage"!)
Thanks for the link to the pic of Willie, Muddy and Buddy! Have you ever been to the King Biscuit Blues Festival? ;D
Sounds like quite the Hendrix memory lane trip!
I'll have to do some research to see if I can locate the house he grew up in. I understand they moved it from its original location, but I'll try to get a pic of it for you. My final drop last evening was close by the memorial. I snapped some pics of it, but need to forward them to myself. It was near sunset, so I don't know how well they turned out.
Jimi went to Garfield High School in Seattle. As great as he was, his shortened life makes him the second most accomplished musician to graduate from that school. The performing arts center there is named after another Garfield alum - Quincy Jones!
I've been to a couple of local festivals put on by bikers in Winthrop and Darrington, but never to the King Biscuit Blues Festival. Please tell me more about it.
Will try to get the memorial pics to you later. I have to start work a bit earlier than normal today, and want to get to the other unanswered comment first.
Tom, the King Biscuit Blues Festival is held every Columbus Day Weekend in October, in Helena, Arkansas (on the west bank of the Mississippi). Clarksdale MS is just across the river and down a ways from the infamous Crossroads. Clarksdale is the home of the Blues Museum (don't remember its formal name) which is chock full of blues history and memorabilia and definitely worth an afternoon's side trip. (We went on the Sunday after the festival ended.)
Performance stages for the festival are set up all over downtown Helena. Be sure to bring a folding chair unless you want to stand during the performances! I'm guessing lodging is still as scarce as it was when I attended in 1997. Motel/hotel rooms in Helena proper and nearby towns are limited, otherwise bring camping gear or a camper and "rough it" for the duration.
Buddy Guy will be a headliner this year! Early bird tickets giving access to all performances from Thurs, Oct 6th through Sat night, Oct 8th, are available for $25.
Information about this year's festival is at: http://www.bluesandheritagefest.com/
Wow, $25! We could rent a yacht and attend every year on $3 million! Plus, Mississippi in October has to be like Summer in Washington!
I'm buying another Lotto ticket after I thank you for the information and the link!
Believe it not, the year I was there, someone DID attend the festival in a yacht! Tied up in a tiny cove a few hundred yards inland from the river and only a few steps from the main festival events. Was told they did this every year. The cove may or may not be there any more, what with the floods since then, but I'm guessing the yacht is still their transportation to AND lodging during, also a means of treating guests to an impromptu dinner cruise on the Big Muddy. The rest of us had to be satisfied with a drinks-only, non-dinner cruise on a paddle wheeler.
The banks of the Mississippi can go either way temp wise in October. Best to bring clothing suitable for any temp! ;D
I don't believe it!
Okay, I really do believe it, and we'll set the date up as soon as I collect my Lotto winnings!
As for the temp going either way in October, it still sounds like Summer in Washington! I'll bring clothing suitable for any temp, and I promise no thongs for me!
Willie Dixon was certainly a great song writer. Hey, I didn't know he played bass for Chuck Berry, about whom I've written a hub. (I must admit, I've never paid much attention to bass players.) Dixon and Robert Johnson's songs may have been covered the most in the blues and rock genres. Of course, Berry's material has been played much as well. Thanks for the well-written hub. Later!
Hi Kosmo! Thanks for commenting!
Robert Johnson certainly was important in Blues and Rock, but he really doesn't serve as a link between the two genres because he died before Rock became popular. Berry would be more of a link because of his association with Blues greats, but he pretty much was a Rock-n-Roller! Dixon wrote and played Blues, but he also played Rock with Berry. That is why I consider him "the link."
To save others the trouble of having to find your article on Chuck Berry, here is a link to it: http://hubpages.com/hub/Is-Chuck-Berry-the-King-of
A little trivia about Chuck Berry: he wrote the only song to reach number 1 by three different bands in three different decades. "Roll Over Beethoven" was number one by Berry in the 50s, the Beatles in the 60s, and Electric Light Orchestra in the 70s!
Hey, thanks for providing the link to my article about Chuck Berry, the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Ha! Anyway, I didn't know those facts about "Roll Over Beethoven," along with "Satisfaction," two of the greatest rock tunes of all time. As for Dixon being a greater link to rock than Johnson, that's certainly true, since Johnson died way back in 1938. Keep writing about blues and rock, as I have. Later!
You are welcome for the link.
I like to write about music. I have a hub about Steve Earle, who is not known nearly as much as he ought to be. I have some ideas about other music hubs I would like to write, and believe my next hub will be about music.
Thanks again for stopping by!
JamaGenee Level 8 Commenter 11 months ago
Okay, I'll go with you that Willie Dixon was the father of rock 'n roll...by virtue of the number of songs he wrote that were covered by rock bands.
However, being a long time fan of SRV (R.I.P.), I know HE was inspired by Eric Clapton, whose musical heroes were Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix, whose hero was Muddy Waters, who took his cues from Robert Johnson.
Therefore ALL rock 'n roll actualy goes back to the blues that originated in the juke joints in the Mississippi Delta. Even the Beatles and Stones' music has roots in that genre. Always found it interesting, btw, that Hendrix wasn't allowed to record blues in America, but blues was what he was known for in Europe, mainly England.
Nice hub. Voted UP. ;D