Just Your Fool Explained

Just Your Fool
Cover:I'm Just Your Fool single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra
B-Side:A-12
Recorded:New York City, 1953
Genre:Rhythm and blues
Length:2:49
Label:Mercury

"Just Your Fool" (or "I'm Just Your Fool" as it was first titled) is a rhythm and blues-style song written and recorded by the American jazz and jump blues bandleader/pianist Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra in 1953.[1] Called an "R&B anthem", the song has a big-band arrangement and his sister Ella Johnson on vocals—her "delicate and deceptively sweet phrasing was ideally suited to ballads such as this".[1] "I'm Just Your Fool" became a Billboard R&B chart record hit, reaching number six in 1954.[2]

Little Walter version

Little Walter recorded a Chicago blues adaptation of the song using the title "Just Your Fool". It was recorded in December 1960 in Chicago, with Walter (vocal and blues harp) and backing by Otis Spann (piano), Fred Robinson and Luther Tucker (guitars), Willie Dixon and/or Jimmie Lee Robinson (bass),[3] and Fred Below or George Hunter (drums).[4] [5] "Just Your Fool" was not released until 1962 by Checker Records.[6] He used lyrics and an eight-bar blues arrangement similar to Buddy Johnson.[7] Checker credits the song to Little Walter, also known as Walter Jacobs.[4]

Cyndi Lauper version

In 2010, the American singer Cyndi Lauper recorded "Just Your Fool" for her album Memphis Blues. Charlie Musselwhite on blues harp accompanies Lauper on vocals. The song was released as a single and reached number two on Billboard magazine's US Digital Blues Songs chart.[8] She performed it live with Musselwhite on the third-season finale of the Celebrity Apprentice reality game show.

The Rolling Stones version

Just Your Fool
Cover:RS justyourfool sinlge.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Rolling Stones
Album:Blue & Lonesome
Genre:Rhythm and blues, blues rock
Label:Polydor
Prev Title:One More Shot
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:Hate to See You Go
Next Year:2016

The Rolling Stones recorded the song in 2016 for their album Blue & Lonesome.[9] It is one of four Little Walter songs included on the album.[10] On October 6, 2016, it was released as the lead single.

Personnel

Additional musicians

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
France (SNEP)[11] 39
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[12] 28
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[13] 27
US Digital Blues Songs (Billboard)1
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[14] 49

Notes and References

  1. Web site: I'm Just Your Fool — Song Review. Romano. Mark. AllMusic. July 12, 2013.
  2. Book: Whitburn , Joel . Joel Whitburn. 1988. Little Walter. Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Record Research. 0-89820-068-7. 223.
  3. Sources do not indicate the type of bassDixon played a double bass and Robinson played a variety of instruments.
  4. The Essential Little Walter. Little Walter. 1993. Don. Snowden. Compilation booklet. MCA/Chess. CHD2–9342. 15.
  5. Book: Glover. Tony. Tony Glover. Dirks. Scott. Gaines. Ward. Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story. registration. Routledge. 2002. 978-0-415-93711-5. 294.
  6. [Checker Records]
  7. Web site: Buddy Johnson – Biography. Dahl. Bill. AllMusic. July 13, 2013.
  8. Gary. Trust . Chart Beat Thursday: "Glee" Gleans 2nd No. 1 . Billboard . May 27, 2010 . July 25, 2016.
  9. The Rolling Stones Release New Song 'Living in a Ghost Town'. April 23, 2020. Billboard. April 24, 2020.
  10. Web site: Erlewine. Stephen Thomas. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. The Rolling Stones: Blue & LonesomeReview. AllMusic. April 26, 2020.
  11. Web site: Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 49, 2016). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. fr. December 10, 2016.
  12. Billboard . https://web.archive.org/web/20170512165136/http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f%5b0%5d=ts_chart_artistname%3Arolling%20stones&f%5b1%5d=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=rolling%20stones . dead . May 12, 2017 . . October 18, 2016 . October 18, 2016.
  13. The Rollings Stones Chart History: Triple A Airplay . Billboard . 19 November 2016 . 7 September 2021.
  14. The Rolling Stones Chart History: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs . Billboard . 24 December 2016 . 7 September 2021.