Dust My Broom by Elmore James Song Info
"Dust My Broom" is a blues standard originally recorded as "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" by Robert Johnson, the Mississippi Delta blues singer and guitarist, on November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas. The song was originally released on 78 rpm format as Vocalion 03475, ARC 7-04-81 and Conqueror 8871. There is an ongoing dispute as to whether the song was originally written by Johnson or by his contemporary, bluesman Elmore James. Elmore James made his first recording of "Dust My Broom" for the Trumpet Records label in 1951. James followed Robert Johnson's melody quite closely. His lyrics are based on Johnson's first four verses, but with Arthur Crudup's changes to the verses about his 'good gal'. This 1951recording has James on electric slide guitar, Sonny Boy Williamson II on harmonica, Leonard Ware on bass and Frock O'Dell on drums. Ware supplied the boogie beat, allowing James, with superior amplification, to dominate with a riff based on Johnson's triplet figures. The record became a surprise rhythm and blues hit in 1952, prompting James to exploit the melody and accompaniment with similar texts. Most of his subsequent records were released as by Elmore James & His Broomdusters. His releases included: "She just won't do right (Going for good or Dust My Broom)" (1952) and "Dust My Blues" (1955). In 1959 he recorded the song again as "Dust My Broom" with his cousin Homesick James on second guitar. Homesick later recorded the song on an LP for Vanguard Records in 1965. Distinctive to all these records is the melody created from the riff on "Dust My Broom" James' version of "Dust My Broom" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
