Juke (song)

1952

Juke is the title of a play with harmonica instrumental piece by Little Walter, he recorded for Checker Records in 1952. The song became a standard for all blues harp player. Often called Juke and the " National Anthem of the blues harp ."

Genesis

Little Walter was a member of the band of blues legend Muddy Waters, arising from Muddy Waters (guitar), Jimmy Rogers ( guitar), Little Walter ( harmonica) and Elgin Evans (real name: Elga Edmonds; drums) composed. This band entered the studio on May 12, 1952. Recorded were the title Juke / Can not Hold Out Much Longer in time best recording studio Universal Recording Corporation in Chicago. Studio owner Bill Putnam sat apparent the first time with drums and harmonica, the slap-back echo, in order to increase the moderate pace of the song. During the session various staccato riffs are sampled. This created a liquid Instrumental Recording with an easily recognizable central riff and some guitar contributions from Jimmy Rogers. Out of a total 4 Takes Take 2 will eventually be used for mixdown.

The records of the studio session of 12 May 1952 ( ".... U" with the matrix number as chronological order) prove that Juke and the later B- side before the Muddy Waters tracks have been recorded. The studios took on behalf of Chess Records, which belonged Checker Records as a subsidiary label, on the day following pieces on:

• Sax Mallard & His Orchestra: I'm Yours ( U7434 )
• Sax Mallard & His Orchestra: Teen Town Strut! ( U7435 )
• Sax Mallard & His Orchestra: Left Alone ( U7436 );
• Little Walter & His Night Cats: Juke ( U7437 )
• Little Walter & His Night Cats: Can not Hold Out Much Longer ( U7438 );
• Muddy Waters: Please Have Mercy ( U7439 ).

Publication and success

The owner of the independent label Chess Records, Leonard Chess, decided to publish under the title of Little Walter's name. As a band name at first Little Walter & His Night Cats was selected. Juke was after the publication in August 1952 as a single Juke / Can not Hold On Much Longer ( Checker 758 ) such a big hit that Walter the band of Muddy Waters still left during a tour in Louisiana and in October 1952 formed his own band. He took over the band of Junior Wells ( The Aces ), which in turn was changed to Muddy Waters. Walter called his band now after his success Instrumental Little Walter & His Jukes. Overall Juke spent 20 weeks in the rhythm & blues charts, of which 8 weeks as a number -one hit. The success into perspective when one considers that Muddy Waters and 1952 just 10 weeks had a single in these charts and in his career there never reached its first rank. Juke was not only the first hit for Little Walter, but was also the biggest hit to date for Chess Records or one of its sub-label. Junior Wells later claimed that the Juke has been played by his group Three Aces. At least Walter seems to have the first 12 cycles adapted by other composers.

Juke is still one of the blues harp standards and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. He was also included in the list of " 500 songs did shaped Rock and Roll" the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Cover versions

The song is now part of the repertoire of many harmonica players. So there are cover versions of Carey Bell ( 1964; see And This Is Maxwell Street ), Big Walter Horton ( January 1970 ), Billy Branch ( January 1997), Ben Harper / James Cotton (March 2008), Rod Piazza (June 2009) and other.