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Elmore James — Dust My Broom
Album: King of the Blues
Avg rating:
7.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1610









Released: 1951
Length: 2:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I'm gon' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm gon' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can't get my room

I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe I know

I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet
I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet
She's a no good doney, they shouldn't 'low her on the street

I believe, I believe I'll go back home
I believe, I believe I'll go back home
You can mistreat me here, babe, but you can't when I go home

And I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can't get my room

I'm 'on' call up Chiney, see is my good gal over there
I'm 'on' call up Chiney, see is my good gal over there
If I can't find her on Philippine's Island, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere
Comments (168)add comment
 thewiseking wrote:

So many of em copied Old Elmore James. Pale imitations, to be sure


True. This is a standard intro to blues for guitarists I think. But Elmore was a genius. His singing is close to a scream and he goes from ripping out his soul to a sly wink in a flash. And man that gitar...
Of the three songs I revere the most this one is one.
Sure enough, I wouldn't even know this song if there had not been that brilliant ZZ Top cover. 
But since this is the original I just had to uprate from 9 to 10. 
Sure enough, Frank, Bill and Dusty will/would have agreed.
Just as some hear every reggae track to be the same one repeated endlessly, that's the blues for me.  It's just same phrasing and tone over and over.  I just don't get the appeal, even one little bit... 
Plumbers don't wear ties xD
That mesmerizing guitar-phrasing and soulful singing make this one of the most immortal rock-n-roll standards ever recorded! Love it! Never gets old!
"Dust my Broom"..... heh. This is an Old Man Joke observation but it's funny how you can make almost any household task sound sexually evocative: "I'd like to mow HER lawn.... I'd like to rearrange HER kitchen...  I'd love to butter her bread... I'd love to mop HER floor...."  Think of how tidy her house would be if this were taken literally.  
“Buy you boys a drink?”
1951. Wow.
uh oh

these kinds of songs will get you in trouble

especially if you walk the way this song sounds
Elmore James is God!
doff your cap, to the grand old masters, without whom, rock 'n roll would never have seen the light of day.
 LizK wrote:



There was so tv.  In Irvington, we got the NY stations.  Berle, Benny, Cowboy Bob with Princess Summerspringwinterfall, Kukla Fran & Ollie.  Why can I remember all this and I can't recall what I had for dinner last night?
And the Newark station, channel 13 with Uncle Fred's Junior Frolics...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.

If there ever was a song worthy of a 10...
 Cynaera wrote:
Holy wow - I"m speechless. This guy had PIPES. And CHOPS.  No wonder he was such a strong influence on so many rockers in latter years. I'm trying to remember the song the Beatles (or George Harrison) did, in which Harrison quipped during his guitar solo, "Good ol' twelve-bar blues..." and later, "Elmore James's got NOTHIN' on THIS!" and then laughed sheepishly...

Memory fails me. Help?  Whatever the case, I have GOT to invest in some Elmore James.  And now that I'm the RP slipstream for today, I"m loving the Tom Petty song, and Los Lobos.  Take me, universe - with arms open and eyes closed. {#Sunny}


Another gem from Cynaera.  RIP Ann
The lyrics rp has posted here.
What about them.
Nobody more badazz than Elmore James
This is good but Hound Dog Taylor played my favorite version of this song
Need MORE JAZZ here Bill....! SO much amazing stuff that is "listener-friendly" for the depth of listeners here on RP.   How about a Jazz Mix?! 
It's a great song, but what does "dust my broom" actually mean?  This is the best definition I found:

Singer, Son Thomas said, “It was an old field holler to tell everyone, except the people the hollerer didn’t want to tell, that he was running away.” 
 GreatNorthWoods wrote:
OMFG!  I was 5 years old and nothing like this was on the AM radio in northern New Jersey in 1951.  We only had 1 radio and no TV in those days and I believe I walked to school, up hill both ways.

 


There was so tv.  In Irvington, we got the NY stations.  Berle, Benny, Cowboy Bob with Princess Summerspringwinterfall, Kukla Fran & Ollie.  Why can I remember all this and I can't recall what I had for dinner last night?
 kingart wrote:
20 minutes too short. Damn! 

 
What he said. Make it 30 so I have time for a second beer. 
Non random Occurrence?

On this Sunday evening, at this very moment, I drafting a blog essay on the Allman Brothers. And an Elmore James tune comes on. Coincidence? I think not.  
So many of em copied Old Elmore James. Pale imitations, to be sure
 ThePoose wrote:
"Get back"
 
Actually it's "For You Blue", from Let it Be.
 Andybob wrote:

Peter Green's version is definitely one of the best of that erase.  Very heartfelt with great playing.

  Superb stuff but it was Jeremy Spencer who played and sung on the Elmore James tracks, an underrated figure in the early Mac lineups. 


 LastGaspMusic wrote:
Yep nuff said

 
Thanx mistuh dj man
Yep nuff said
 Cynaera wrote:
Holy wow - I"m speechless. This guy had PIPES. And CHOPS.  No wonder he was such a strong influence on so many rockers in latter years. I'm trying to remember the song the Beatles (or George Harrison) did, in which Harrison quipped during his guitar solo, "Good ol' twelve-bar blues..." and later, "Elmore James's got NOTHIN' on THIS!" and then laughed sheepishly... 

Memory fails me. Help?  Whatever the case, I have GOT to invest in some Elmore James.  And now that I'm the RP slipstream for today, I"m loving the Tom Petty song, and Los Lobos.  Take me, universe - with arms open and eyes closed. {#Sunny}
kcar wrote:

There was a great two-disc set that came out almost 20 years ago: "King of the Slide Guitar." I think it had all of Elmore's recordings for the Fire, Fury and Enjoy music labels. You can buy it used on Amazon.

The set includes the best version of my all-time favorite Elmore song, "Stranger Blues." Also found on "The Sky is Crying" album—last song on the disc but it rocks. 

And yes, Elmore could really sing.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-sky-is-crying/id151552754

7/24/13 edit: Bill rejected my upload of "Stranger Blues" a while back. Wanker. (jk) 

 
Joy!
"Sky is Crying" is awesome 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
"I'll take Beatles for $200, Alex." . . .
Which Beatles song features the spoken aside "Elmore James ain't got nothin' on this, baby."?

 
"Get back"
 
OMFG!  I was 5 years old and nothing like this was on the AM radio in northern New Jersey in 1951.  We only had 1 radio and no TV in those days and I believe I walked to school, up hill both ways.
 Jeff09 wrote:
Never realized how deeply Peter Green was channeling Elmore James in those early Fleetwood Mac albums.

 
Peter Green's version is definitely one of the best of that erase.  Very heartfelt with great playing.
20 minutes too short. Damn! 
Damn, boy. TURN IT UP!

These guys were gods
 
givin' this a Godlike rating, made my day thank you!
 GTT wrote:
EJ is the man!  The first time I heard look over yonder wall, his voice was like a laser beam coming out of the speakers, splitting everything in half.  True greatness.

 
Elmore and Wilson Pickett and occasionally James Brown had a screaming quality to their voice; with EJ, it's almost as if he's tearing some strange fabric while he sings. One of my fave bluesmen. 
I believe my time ain't long Sonny Boy.....
how 'bout throwing in some
Hound dog Taylor & The House Rockers?
 KeithT wrote:
Long time listener of RP, but 1st time I have heard this.  THIS is why I keep RP on.  Never fails to surprise with something new (or old…) .  Thanks, Bill !   

 
{#Yes}  More Elmore please Bill{#Notworthy}
 On_The_Beach wrote:
"I'll take Beatles for $200, Alex." . . .
Which Beatles song features the spoken aside "Elmore James ain't got nothin' on this, baby."?

 
Scroll down and you'll see!
"I'll take Beatles for $200, Alex." . . .
Which Beatles song features the spoken aside "Elmore James ain't got nothin' on this, baby."?
 scrubbrush wrote:
 
I never realized how similar the Taj Mahal version of this was to this version (i assume this is the original?)

No,  it is not. 
Fun rendition, no doubt!
EJ is the man!  The first time I heard look over yonder wall, his voice was like a laser beam coming out of the speakers, splitting everything in half.  True greatness.
 scrubbrush wrote:
 
I never realized how similar the Taj Mahal version of this was to this version (i assume this is the original?)

 
Robert Johnson recorded "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" in 1937. Elmore James' version from 1951 is one of the most influential. For many years I only knew the Taj Mahal version on Oooh So Good 'n Blues (1973), which I now see was the second time he recorded this song.

The Wikipedia article is well done and provides a lot of information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Believe_I%27ll_Dust_My_Broom


 Jeff09 wrote:
Never realized how deeply Peter Green was channeling Elmore James in those early Fleetwood Mac albums.

  
I never realized how similar the Taj Mahal version of this was to this version (i assume this is the original?)

I love Elmore James. I hope we are treated to much more.


Yeah! This is Paradise!
Never realized how deeply Peter Green was channeling Elmore James in those early Fleetwood Mac albums.
the inventor of rock& roll.
{#Kiss}   Love it to bits - we'll done Bill :))
Long time listener of RP, but 1st time I have heard this.  THIS is why I keep RP on.  Never fails to surprise with something new (or old…) .  Thanks, Bill !   
Most definitely "Outstanding" even leaning towards "Godlike" 
Play on Elmore, play on...
{#Devil_pimp} 

marvelous blues...  love it...
 
yes, again, most excellent like the way this is going
Big Fat 10 for Mr. James!!!
a 9 for the iconic guitar riff!
That should make your bottom move like a broom sweeping the porch.... "Dancing with a Slim Blonde" as someone said...
How it's done ! {#Guitarist}
It's good to be king, and not be afraid to say so.
 Cynaera wrote:
Holy wow - I"m speechless. This guy had PIPES. And CHOPS.  No wonder he was such a strong influence on so many rockers in latter years. I'm trying to remember the song the Beatles (or George Harrison) did, in which Harrison quipped during his guitar solo, "Good ol' twelve-bar blues..." and later, "Elmore James's got NOTHIN' on THIS!" and then laughed sheepishly...

Memory fails me. Help?  Whatever the case, I have GOT to invest in some Elmore James.  And now that I'm the RP slipstream for today, I"m loving the Tom Petty song, and Los Lobos.  Take me, universe - with arms open and eyes closed. {#Sunny}
 
There was a great two-disc set that came out almost 20 years ago: "King of the Slide Guitar." I think it had all of Elmore's recordings for the Fire, Fury and Enjoy music labels. You can buy it used on Amazon.

The set includes the best version of my all-time favorite Elmore song, "Stranger Blues." Also found on "The Sky is Crying" album—last song on the disc but it rocks. 

And yes, Elmore could really sing.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-sky-is-crying/id151552754

7/24/13 edit: Bill rejected my upload of "Stranger Blues" a while back. Wanker. (jk) 
Very nice!
 top20 wrote:
Wow! 60 years old now and it still sounds SO good
 

Indeed.
Oooo I feel a good day on RP coming!
 AdyMiles wrote:
can't stand this kind of music. far too predictable and thump thump
 
This was pretty heavy duty shit back in 1952(or whenever he performed this).....not predictable!
Ground breaking!

Ah, the Blues.  Riffs redone, overdone, repeated and overused  -  but in the hands of a Bluesman, it sounds brand new.
Wonderful!  And you gotta love it just for its title.
Wow! 60 years old now and it still sounds SO good
 Alexandra wrote:
Oh HELL YES! This is a perfect "mornin' blues" song for today. I am grooving in my chair....
 

I'd love to be grooving in my car on a deserted freeway but I'm stuck at work with two monitors in my face.
 unclehud wrote:

I prefer to call it "strict adherence to compositional form."  You know, like Mozart and his piano concertos or the simplicity of ZZ Top riffs.
 

this is where it all came from, rock on.
the inventer of rock and roll!!
 AdyMiles wrote:
can't stand this kind of music. far too predictable and thump thump
 
I prefer to call it "strict adherence to compositional form."  You know, like Mozart and his piano concertos or the simplicity of ZZ Top riffs.
Nice!  Nice!  Nice!  Real blues!!
Oh HELL YES! This is a perfect "mornin' blues" song for today. I am grooving in my chair....
 Cynaera wrote:
Holy wow - I"m speechless. This guy had PIPES. And CHOPS.  No wonder he was such a strong influence on so many rockers in latter years. I'm trying to remember the song the Beatles (or George Harrison) did, in which Harrison quipped during his guitar solo, "Good ol' twelve-bar blues..." and later, "Elmore James's got NOTHIN' on THIS!" and then laughed sheepishly...

Memory fails me. Help?  Whatever the case, I have GOT to invest in some Elmore James.  And now that I'm the RP slipstream for today, I"m loving the Tom Petty song, and Los Lobos.  Take me, universe - with arms open and eyes closed. {#Sunny}
 
"For You Blue" on Let It Be.
Holy wow - I"m speechless. This guy had PIPES. And CHOPS.  No wonder he was such a strong influence on so many rockers in latter years. I'm trying to remember the song the Beatles (or George Harrison) did, in which Harrison quipped during his guitar solo, "Good ol' twelve-bar blues..." and later, "Elmore James's got NOTHIN' on THIS!" and then laughed sheepishly...

Memory fails me. Help?  Whatever the case, I have GOT to invest in some Elmore James.  And now that I'm the RP slipstream for today, I"m loving the Tom Petty song, and Los Lobos.  Take me, universe - with arms open and eyes closed. {#Sunny}
Dust My Broom: To break up with a lover or to start a new life by cleaning out the old; also the title of a blues standard, recorded by Robert Johnson as "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom." The song would later be recorded by noted blues guitarist Elmore James and became an R&B hit in 1952.
Chris Smither does an incredible version of this tune.
Wikipedia says 1951.

                {#Guitarist}

{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}
{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}

Dudes, this dude died the year before the Stones released their first album.
Elmore!
Appropriately titled album!{#Bananajam}
Nice!!
 AdyMiles wrote:
can't stand this kind of music. far too predictable and thump thump
 
Hey Ady, Raggamuffin knows the reason...."If you don't like the blues, you got a hole in your soul."

 AdyMiles wrote:
can't stand this kind of music. far too predictable and thump thump
 
I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-I
I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-I
I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-... hmm, where's it going next?


 sonofpick wrote:
He will smoke your goat.
 
Don't you mean: This song will soooo smoke your goat. ?

can't stand this kind of music. far too predictable and thump thump
 sonofpick wrote:
He will smoke your goat.
 
Yes, but will he salt your cod?

 sonofpick wrote:
He will smoke your goat.

.. with some kick-ass sauce!

He will smoke your goat.
Love Elmore; check out (the original) Fleetwood Mac's terrific FM In Chicago album.
 rangersfan wrote:
MY X WIFE RIDES HER BROOM...
 
Heard that one, brother. {#Lol}


Lotsa different versions of this tune, but: "James' version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998." 'Nuff said!
dewhead wrote:
I like both the Elmore James and the Robert Johnson version. But I feel forced to admit that I really, really like the ZZ Top version. Go ahead and tell me how much of a pinhead I am now if you like.
Nutin' wrong with that. ZZ Top did some fantastic slide blues work before they went pop. Especially love Jesus Just Left Chicago.
nagsheadlocal wrote:
Wow, the Real Thing right here and right now. This has really made my day.
OH. YOU REALLY LOVE ELMORE JAMES, DON'T YOU?
Kick it Boss!
Wow, the Real Thing right here and right now. This has really made my day.
tony620d wrote:
ah yes, the REAL deal. good choice.
Indeed!
inindian wrote:
I believe you right. Not about being a pinhead! And hey, I like the 1969 Fleetwood Mac version too, quite cool!!
I've never heard a bad version of this tune, meself.
Visceral.
MY X WIFE RIDES HER BROOM...
dewhead wrote:
I like both the Elmore James and the Robert Johnson version. But I feel forced to admit that I really, really like the ZZ Top version. Go ahead and tell me how much of a pinhead I am now if you like.
I believe you right. Not about being a pinhead! And hey, I like the 1969 Fleetwood Mac version too, quite cool!!
This is good and I like Hound Dog Taylor\'s version too!
jagdriver wrote:
There was this guy named Robert Johnson see,and one day he sold his soul to the devil. But that's another story that has been told many times. about Dust My Broom (click here)
bokey wrote:
Nice cover.This kid has potential.
If y'all like this, check out Elmore's "Stranger Blues."
bokey wrote:
Nice cover.This kid has potential.
Nice cover. This kid has potential.
Play more blues. Every 10th song on this wonderful station should be a blues tune. Ya'll know that the blues had a baby and they called it rock-n-roll. If you don't like the blues, you got hole in your soul.
Awww hell yeah!!!
miahfost wrote:
Elmore James got nothing on this baby! Oh wait . . .
George Harrison ( quote 1968 )
Elmore James got nothing on this baby! Oh wait . . .
dewhead wrote:
I like both the Elmore James and the Robert Johnson version. But I feel forced to admit that I really, really like the ZZ Top version. Go ahead and tell me how much of a pinhead I am now if you like.
I must confess that I agree. And I'm not ashamed if that makes me a pinhead!
I wish I was in a jook joint somewhere, drinking a tall one and dancing real dirty with my baby. Damn, this is some good music.
If I rate this as a 10 twice will that get it the 20 it deserves??
The genesis of all the music I've loved all my life
mikedill wrote:
Robert Lockwood Jr.'s version of this song is tops in my book. This is pretty alright too, though.
No Robert Lockwood Jr. at all on RP! The blues playlist here could use a boost, I say.
My man Elmore rocks it.
Robert Lockwood Jr.'s version of this song is tops in my book. This is pretty alright too, though.
pgarner wrote:
YEAH!!
Hell YEAH