Rock Me Baby (song)

"Rock Me Baby" is a blues standard that has been interpreted and recorded by dozens of blues and other artists. [Encyclopedia Of The Blues, 1992] Big Bill Broonzy recorded "Rockin' Chair Blues" December 17, 1940 (OKeh 06116) with the refrain "Rock me baby . . . rock me slow, rock me one time before you go . . ." Arthur Crudup recorded a similar version "Rock Me Mama" December 15, 1944 (Bluebird 34-0725). However, it was Lil' Son Jackson who recorded the version that "most contemporary versions are based on." [B. B. King The Vintage Years, Ace, 2002] His version, entitled "Rockin' And Rollin'," which included the familiar line "Rock me baby, rock me all night long . . . 'til my back ain't got no bone . . .," was recorded December 16, 1950 (Imperial 5113).

Muddy Waters recorded two versions of the song: "All Night Long" December 29, 1951 (Chess 1509) and "Rock Me" December 1, 1956 (Chess 1956). In 1964 B. B. King recorded and released "Rock Me Baby" (Kent Records 393). It was a crossover hit and peaked at 34 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also the first Top 40 hit for the blues legend. B. B. King recorded a second version in 1997 and released it on his "Deuces Wild" CD.

"Rock Me Baby" covers

Infobox Song
Name = Rock Me Baby


Artist = Otis Redding
Album = Otis Blue
Released = 1965
Format =
Recorded = Stax Studios, Memphis, Tennessee: 1965
Genre = R&B/Soul
Length = 3:20
Label = Volt/Atco
Producer = Steve Cropper
Tracks =#"Ole Man Trouble"
#"Respect"
#"A Change Is Gonna Come"
#"Down in the Valley"
#"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
#"Shake"
#"My Girl"
#"Wonderful World"
#"Rock Me Baby"
#"Satisfaction"
#"You Don't Miss Your Water"
Misc =
Audio sample? =
*Jimi Hendrix performed "Rock Me Baby" at the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967. Hendrix' performance at the Festival was recorded and filmed. The song "Rock Me Baby" appears on "The Monterey International Pop Festival - Otis Redding/The Jimi Hendrix Experience" released in September 1970 by Reprise Records (MS 2029). The album peaked at 15 on the Billboard album chart.

*The Animals covered it in 1966.

*Otis Redding recorded "Rock Me Baby" in 1966 for his acclaimed album .

*David Cassidy recorded "Rock Me Baby" and released it as a single on September 9, 1972 (Bell Records 45,260). Cassidy's cover of this song peaked at 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

*Jefferson Airplane recorded "Rock Me Baby" on their live LP "Bless its Pointed Little Head" in 1968.

*Hot Tuna recorded a live version of "Rock Me Baby" on their Historic Hot Tuna album in 1985.

*Blue Cheer recorded a heavy metal version of the song on their debut album, Vincebus Eruptum.

*The Rolling Stones, featuring Angus and Malcolm Young, performed "Rock me Baby live during their tour in Australia .

*Blues musician Muddy Waters recorded "Rock Me" on "I'm Ready" in 1978, an album produced by Johnny Winter, who also recorded "Rock Me Baby" on his 1973 album Still Alive and Well.

*The Doors performed this song in a medley with Heartbreak Hotel at a live performance featured on the album Live in Detroit.

*Big Mama Thornton performed the song at her 1971 Oregon concert.

*Deep Purple performed this song in a medley with Mistreated during their mkIII concerts. A live version of the medley is available on Made in Europe.

* Prince performed this song on Nov, 7th (am) 1988 during an aftershow in Los Angeles, Palace (Boni Boyer on vocals) and more recently in London, Indigo (during his 21 nights residency in 2007) coupled with one of his songs, Peach.

References