Tail Dragger: Howlin' Wolf

The Rolling Stones: Little Red Rooster, 1964

In 1964 The Rolling Stones covered Howlin' Wolf's "Little Red Rooster", a song by Wee Willie Dixon that reached number one on the UK charts by the end of the year.

Little Red Rooster

I'm a little red rooster,
Too lazy to crow for day
I'm a little red rooster,
Too lazy to crow for day
Keep everything in the barnyard,
Upset in every way
Dogs begin to bark now,
And the hounds begin to howl
Dogs begin to bark now,
And the hounds begin to howl
Watch out stray cat,
The little red rooster's on the prowl
If you see the little red rooster
Won't you please drive him home
If you see the little red rooster
Won't you please drive him home
Been no peace in the barnyard
Since that little red rooster's been gone
I'm a little red rooster,
Too lazy to crow for day
I'm a little red rooster,
Too lazy to crow for day
Keep everything in the barnyard,
Upset in every way.

Five Live Yardbirds

The same year The Yardbirds, featuring a very young Eric Clapton (he has known as "Slowhand" at the time) recorded a live album called Five Live Yardbirds. It featured another tune by The Wolf, "Smokestack Lightning".

The American Folk Blues Festival

There was a reason why so many important British bands were recoding his tunes: at the time Howlin' Wolf was touring Europe with The American Folk Blues Festival with other Blues legends like Willie Dixon (he was one of the organisers) , Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sam "Lightning'" Hopkins and Sleepy John Estes.

OK. Here are some videos of the tour...

Shake If For Me