Don't Start Me Talkin'

"Don't Start Me Talkin'"
Single by Sonny Boy Williamson
B-side	"All My Love in Vain"
Released	September 1955 (1955-09)[1]
Format	10" 78 RPM, 7" 45 RPM
Recorded	August 12, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois[2]
Genre	Chicago blues
Length	2:36
Label	Checker
Writer(s)	Sonny Boy Williamson
Producer	Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Willie Dixon[2]
Sonny Boy Williamson singles chronology
"Boppin' with Sonny" (1955) "Don't Start Me Talkin'" (1955) "Let Me Explain" (1956)

"Don't Start Me Talkin'" (also called "Don't Start Me to Talkin'") is a song written and performed by Sonny Boy Williamson II (real name Aleck Miller). The song was recorded and released in 1955 as a single #824 by Checker Records (see 1955 in music).^[1][2]

Recording background

After Trumpet Records folded, on August 12, 1955 Sonny Boy Williamson II had his first recording session for Checker Records. "Don't Start Me Talkin'" was recorded at these sessions. Backing Williamson on vocals and harmonica were Otis Spann on piano, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass, and Fred Below on drums.^[2]

Release and chart performance

"Don't Start Me Talkin'" was released as a single a month after its recording in September.^[1] The song reached #3 on Billboard magazine's R&B Singles chart.^[3]

Cover versions

James Cotton, who was taught the harmonica by Williamson, recorded a cover of "Don't Start Me Talkin'" on The James Cotton Blues Band in 1967.^[4] The New York Dolls had a cover version of the song on their second studio album, Too Much Too Soon.^[5] Other musicians/bands that have covered the song include John Hammond, Jr., the Doobie Brothers, Dion, the Yardbirds, Champion Jack Dupree, Rory Gallagher, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Fenton Robinson, and Gary Moore, among others.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Reviews of New R&B Records". Billboard: 43. September 24, 1955. http://books.google.com/books?id=DCMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43&dq=%22Sonny+Boy+Williamson%22+824&hl=en&ei=AFERTaKFL8bPnAf3j7H2DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22Sonny%20Boy%20Williamson%22%20824&f=false. Retrieved December 21, 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} (1992) Album notes for Chess Blues 1947-1967 by Various artists [CD liner]. United States: Chess/MCA Records (CHD4-9340).
3. ^ "Sonny Boy Williamson - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sonny-boy-williamson-p138629/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved December 21, 2010. 
4. ^ Dahl, Bill. "Overview: The James Cotton Blues Band by James Cotton". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-james-cotton-blues-band-r88339. Retrieved December 21, 2010. 
5. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Overview: Too Much Too Soon by New York Dolls". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/too-much-too-soon-r14004. Retrieved December 21, 2010. 
6. ^ "Track search: Don't Start Me Talkin'". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/search/track/Don%27t+Start+Me+Talkin%27/order:default-asc. Retrieved December 21, 2010.