Elmore James (Elmore Brooks, Richland, Mississippi, 27th January 1918 – Chi… Read Full Bio ↴Elmore James (Elmore Brooks, Richland, Mississippi, 27th January 1918 – Chicago, Illinois, 24th May 1963) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He was known as "The King of the Slide Guitar".
James was born fifty miles north of Jackson (not to be confused with another Richland just south of Jackson). He began playing as a teen, under the names "Cleanhead" and "Joe Willie James", alongside musicians such as the first Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, and Robert Johnson. During World War II James joined the United States Navy and was stationed in Guam.
Upon his discharge James returned to central Mississippi and eventually settled in Canton. He began recording with Trumpet Records in nearby Jackson in January 1951, first as sideman to the second Sonny Boy Williamson and others, then debuting as a session leader in August with what became his signature song, "Dust My Broom". It was a surprise R&B hit in 1952 and turned James into a star. His "I Believe" was another hit a year later. During the 1950s he recorded for the Bihari Brothers' Flair and Modern labels, as well as for Chess Records. His backing musicians were known as the Broomdusters. In 1959 he began recording what are perhaps his best sides for Bobby Robinson's Fire Records label. These include "The Sky Is Crying" (credited to Elmo James and His Broomdusters), "Stranger Blues", "Look On Yonder Wall", "Done Somebody Wrong", and "Shake Your Moneymaker", all of which are among the most famous of blues recordings.
The slide guitar riff from "Dust My Broom" is one of the best-known openings in all of blues.
Elmore James died of his third heart attack in Chicago in 1963, already a major influence on guitarists such as The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones. His classic "Done Somebody Wrong" and "One Way Out" were often covered by The Allman Brothers Band, who cited James as a major influence. James was also covered by blues-rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble many times in concert. The most famous of these covers is Vaughan's take on James's legendary recording, "The Sky Is Crying". James is mentioned in The Beatles' song "For You Blue". While John Lennon plays the slide guitar, James' trademark, George Harrison says "Go, Johnny, go ... Elmore James got nothin' on this, baby." Another famous guitarist who admired Elmore James was Jimi Hendrix. On a sleeve of the posthumously released Hendrix CD Blues, there is a photo of Hendrix wearing his famous military jacket and holding Elmore James's vinyl.
James was born fifty miles north of Jackson (not to be confused with another Richland just south of Jackson). He began playing as a teen, under the names "Cleanhead" and "Joe Willie James", alongside musicians such as the first Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, and Robert Johnson. During World War II James joined the United States Navy and was stationed in Guam.
Upon his discharge James returned to central Mississippi and eventually settled in Canton. He began recording with Trumpet Records in nearby Jackson in January 1951, first as sideman to the second Sonny Boy Williamson and others, then debuting as a session leader in August with what became his signature song, "Dust My Broom". It was a surprise R&B hit in 1952 and turned James into a star. His "I Believe" was another hit a year later. During the 1950s he recorded for the Bihari Brothers' Flair and Modern labels, as well as for Chess Records. His backing musicians were known as the Broomdusters. In 1959 he began recording what are perhaps his best sides for Bobby Robinson's Fire Records label. These include "The Sky Is Crying" (credited to Elmo James and His Broomdusters), "Stranger Blues", "Look On Yonder Wall", "Done Somebody Wrong", and "Shake Your Moneymaker", all of which are among the most famous of blues recordings.
The slide guitar riff from "Dust My Broom" is one of the best-known openings in all of blues.
Elmore James died of his third heart attack in Chicago in 1963, already a major influence on guitarists such as The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones. His classic "Done Somebody Wrong" and "One Way Out" were often covered by The Allman Brothers Band, who cited James as a major influence. James was also covered by blues-rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble many times in concert. The most famous of these covers is Vaughan's take on James's legendary recording, "The Sky Is Crying". James is mentioned in The Beatles' song "For You Blue". While John Lennon plays the slide guitar, James' trademark, George Harrison says "Go, Johnny, go ... Elmore James got nothin' on this, baby." Another famous guitarist who admired Elmore James was Jimi Hendrix. On a sleeve of the posthumously released Hendrix CD Blues, there is a photo of Hendrix wearing his famous military jacket and holding Elmore James's vinyl.
Hawaiian Boogie
Elmore James Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Elmore James:
12 Year Old Boy I feel bad, I feel terrible I'm just as sad as…
A4. Dark And Dreary I have lost my baby, almost lost my mind I have…
Baby Now, goodbye, baby, gotta leave you now Oh, you told me…
Baby Please Set a Date Baby please, baby please set a date Baby please, baby please…
Baby What S Wrong Hey baby, honey, what's wrong with you? Oh baby, honey,…
Baby What's Wrong? Hey baby, honey, what's wrong with you? Oh baby, honey,…
Bleeding Heart People, people, people You know what it mean to be left…
Blues Before Sunrise I have the blues before sunrise, tears standing in my…
Can't Stop Lovin' I can't stop lovin', my baby tonight No I can't…
Coming Home Well now, look for me baby, you know I'm comin…
Cry for Me Baby Well I've cried so much for you Baby, there's nothing new …
Cry For Me Baby (Digitally Remastered) Well I've cried so much for you Baby, there's nothing new W…
Dark & Dreary I have lost my baby, almost lost my mind I have…
Dark And Dreary I have lost my baby, almost lost my mind I have…
Done Somebody Wrong The bell just toned, my baby done caught that train…
Dust ME Broom I'm a get up in the mornin' I believe I'll dust…
Dust My Blues I'm gettin' up soon in the mornin' I believe I'll dust…
Dust My Broom (Digitally Remastered) I'm gon' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll…
Early in the Morning Well it's early in the morning, and my baby can't…
Early One Morning Oh yeah It was early one morning, I was, on…
Every Day I have the Blues Everyday, everyday I have the blues Everyday, everyday, ever…
Fine Line Mama I got a fine little mama, She really's on the…
Goodbye Now, goodbye, baby, gotta leave you now Oh, you told me…
Goodbye Baby Now, goodbye, baby, gotta leave you now Oh, you told me…
Got to Move You gotta move, you can't stay here no more You gotta…
Gotta Find My Baby My baby's gone and she won't be back no more…
Hand in Hand Well I lost my baby, she just wouldn't treat me…
Held My Baby Last Night I held my baby last, until everything was alright I…
I I believe for every drop of rain that falls A…
I believe my time ain't long I believe for every drop of rain that falls A…
I Can T Stop Lovin You I can't stop lovin', my baby tonight No I can't…
I Can't Hold Out I just talked to my baby on the telephone She said,…
I Can't Hold Out (Talk To Me) I just talked to my baby on the telephone She said,…
I Can't Stop Lovin You I can't stop lovin', my baby tonight No I can't…
I Done Somebody Wrong The bell just toned, my baby done caught that train…
I Held My Baby Last Night I held my baby last, until everything was alright I…
I Need You I can't stop lovin', my baby tonight No I can't…
I Need You Baby I need you baby, both night and day When I sent for…
I Was a Fool Well, I was a fool, believe what ya said Yes, I…
I Was A Fool Too Well, I was a fool, believe what ya said …
I'm Worried I'm worried, worried as a man can be I'm worried,…
It Hurst Me Too You said you hurtin', you almost lost your mind The man…
Im Worried I'm worried, worried as a man can be I'm worried,…
Just My Broom I'm gettin' up soon in the mornin' I believe I'll dust…
Late Hours At Midnight Well I laid down one night, late one Saturday night Well…
Look On Yonder Wall Look on yonder wall and hand me down my walkin…
Madison Blues Ah, you babes talk about your Madison shoes We got…
Make a Little Love Oh baby, come and make a little love tonight Oh…
Make My Dreams Come True I'm in love with the one, she's in love with…
Mean & Evil My baby's so mean and evil, I don't know what…
Mean Mistreaten Mama You're a mean mistreatin' mama, you mistreat me all the…
My Baby's Gone My Baby's got way, I just can't understand My Baby's got…
My Best Friend I'm in love with the one, she's in love with…
My Bleeding Heart People, people, people, You know what it means to be…
No Loive In My Heart You're just like the devil, No love in my heart for…
One More Drink Give me one more drink darling, To cool my parching throat Y…
One Way Out Ain't but one way out baby, Lord, I just can't go…
Person to Person Don't send, don't write no letter Stay away from your teleph…
Please Find My Baby My baby's gone and she won't be back no more…
Quarter Past Nine I've got a baby, I don't know where she is…
Rock My Baby Right My Baby's got way, I just can't understand My Baby's got…
Rollin & Tumblin I roll and I tumble, I cried the whole night…
Shake Your Money Maker Well, I got a girl, she lives upon the hill Well,…
Shake Your Moneymaker Shake your moneymaker [Repeat: x5] And then Shake your mon…
Sho 'Nuff I Do Well I came home one mornin', found my baby gone…
Sinful Woman My baby stay out all night long, keeps me worried all…
Sky Is Crying The sky is crying, look at the tears roll down…
Sno Nuff I Do Well I came home one mornin', found my baby gone…
So Mean to Me I've no position of power to persuade I'm in the valley…
Something Inside Me Something inside me that just won't let me be Something insi…
Standing At the Crossroads Well I'm standin' at the crossroads, With my head hung down…
Strange Angels Strange angels, why do you treat me so mean You…
Strange Kinda Feeling Gotta strange kinda feelin' my baby don't love me …
Stranger Blues I'm a stranger here And I just moved into your…
Sunny Land Seems like I heard that lonesome Sunnyland blow Seems like …
Sunnyland Seems like I heard that lonesome Sunnyland blow Seems like I…
Sunnyland Train Seems like I heard that lonesome Sunnyland blow Seems like…
T V Mama I was in my bed a-sleepin′, oh-boy, what a dream I…
T.V. Mama I was in my bed a-sleepin', oh-boy, what a dream I…
Take Me Where You Go (Digitally Remastered) Take me with you when you go, girl Take me anywhere…
Talk to Me Baby Talked to my baby on the telephone, she said Stop what…
The 12 Year Old Boy I feel bad, I feel terrible I'm just as sad as…
The Sky Is Ccrying The sky is crying, look at the tears roll down…
The Sun Is Shining The sun is shining, although it's raining in my heart, The…
The Twelve Year Old Boy I feel bad, I feel terrible, I'm just as sad…
The Way You Treat Me When the day turns to night and the stars are…
Twelve Year Old Boy I feel bad, I feel terrible, I'm just as sad…
Where Can My Baby Be Its soon in the morning and the ground is covered…
Whose Muddy Shoes Tell me whose Baby, whose old muddy shoes I see? Now, tell…
Wild About You Yes I'm wild about you woman But you don't treat me…
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Larry Ressler
This is the 1953 version of "Hawaiian Boogie", by Elmore James. Thanks, daddynap, for sharing this hard-to-find version of this instrumental recording by Elmore James here on YouTube.
Stevey Boy Doolan
Sweet Jesus, this is GOOD...
coupe662
First time i heard this i feel of my stool🙏🐍🕶
Matthew
Good stuff!
John Taylor
Not forgetting the great JT Brown on sax
Dave Settlow
Sitting here in Waikiki living this!
Dave Settlow
Loving this!
Francesco
Flair records, meteor records from early fifthis by elmore James is so Hot 🤪👍
Jim Hunnicutt
love Elmo
Pete Lucas
Pre Rock n Roll Rock n Roll