| "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" | ||||
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| Single by Robert Johnson | ||||
| B-side | "Honeymoon Blues" | |||
| Released | 1938 | |||
| Format | 10" 78 rpm record | |||
| Recorded | Dallas, Texas June 20, 1937 |
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| Genre | Blues | |||
| Length | 2:16 (take 1) 2:21 (take 2) |
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| Label | Vocalion (Cat. no. 04002) | |||
| Writer(s) | Robert Johnson | |||
| Robert Johnson singles chronology | ||||
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"Stop Breaking Down" or "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" is a country blues song recorded by Robert Johnson in 1937. Described as an "upbeat boogie with a strong chorus line",[1] the song became popular largely through later interpretations by other artists.
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Robert Johnson recorded "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" during his last recording session in 1937. The song is a solo piece with Johnson providing guitar accompaniment to his vocals. Of his Dallas recordings, it is Johnson's most uptempo song, with "his exhuberant vocal driv[ing] home the story line".[2] Two takes of the song were recorded, both sounding very similar, although Johnson fluffed the opening verse of the second take. His record company released both takes on different pressings, with some singles having the first take and others having the second. Although the song is played in a fretted guitar style, on both takes Johnson added a brief slide coda that comes across "like a little inside joke".[3]
In 1970, the first take of the song was included on Johnson's King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. II album, making it available for the first time since its initial release. Both takes were later included on the 1990 box set The Complete Recordings.
As with most Johnson songs, "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" failed to generate much interest with the blues record buying public when it was released.[4] However, his work was kept alive by a "small circle of Mississippi peers"[5] with interpretations recorded by other blues artists. In 1945, Sonny Boy Williamson I recorded his version as an early Chicago blues with Big Maceo (piano), Tampa Red (guitar), and Charles Sanders (drums) (RCA Victor 20-3047). Titled "Stop Breaking Down", the song featured somewhat different lyrics, including the refrain "I don't believe you really really love me, I think you just like the way my music sounds" in place of Johnson's "The stuff I got it gon' bust your brains out, hoo hoo, it'll make you lose your mind". Williamson's song inspired the versions sung "by most postwar Chicago blues artists".[6]
In 1954, Baby Boy Warren recorded it as a Chicago-style blues shuffle, but used most of Johnson's lyrics (Drummond 3003). Forest City Joe recorded the song in 1959, which was released on a compilation album The Blues Roll On (Atlantic SD 1352). In the late 1960s, Junior Wells with Buddy Guy recorded "Stop Breaking Down" for the Coming at You Baby (1968) and Southside Blues Jam (1969) albums. Their versions are medleys which incorporate lyrics from "Five Long Years" and Sonny Boy Williamson I's "Stop Breaking Down".
The Rolling Stones recorded "Stop Breaking Down" for their 1972 Exile on Main St. album. They interpreted the song somewhat differently than the earlier versions, with prominent slide guitar work by Mick Taylor and Mick Jagger providing the harmonica and guitar.[7] . The Rolling Stones only ever live performance of the song (with Robert Cray on slide guitar and lead vocals) is included on their The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Live concert DVD.
The White Stripes recorded a version of "Stop Breaking Down" for their 1999 debut album The White Stripes. A live version was recorded by the BBC and included with their 2002 "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" single.
"Stop Breakin' Down Blues" (along with "Love in Vain") was the subject a lawsuit regarding the copyright for the song. In 2000, the court held that the songs were not in the public domain and that legal title belonged to the Estate of Robert Johnson and its successors.[8]
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