Origins of the song "Suzy Q."

[StagPreston]

James Burton did a more defined guitar lick, but it's inspired by Howling Wolf's lick on SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING

[garyguitar]

Check out our version of this song that we recorded in 1964, before CCR and the Stones recorded it by several. Also the first chord is the first time I've heard the E7#9 used in a rock context, several years before it became common due to Hendrix's use of it. Suzie Q by the Huggins Brothers it's here on youtube. Dale Hawkins later worked with our keyboard player and one of his last albums was produced by him.

[gringott12]

Liar, liar, pants on fire. He loves the money, but has no talent.

[paullubliner]

To all of you lovers of this song, I will wager the "riff" or more accurately the melodic line of Susie Q (repetitive as it is) is well over 100 years old. That's right, THAT old. It's origin is no doubt from the Mississippi Delta region and if you really listen, you may well hear that it sounds as though it was first performed on a Banjo. It is out of it's place in the 1950's or '60's. Like "Greensleeves," which is 1,000 years old! It is a great piece --Viagra aside! Genuine "Americana!"

[lorrin1950]

@paullubliner

I play blues cross harp on my harmonica, and the entire Suzie Q song plays perfectly in a blues style. The song format is bluesy, with repetition of lines (I said she'll be true, I said she'll be true, I said she'll be true and never leave me blue, oh suzie q).

Susie Q by CCR sounds like an upbeat blues song, an outgrowth.

[paullubliner]

@lorrin1950: Lorrin, VERY interesting! I still have strong reason to believe the original riff is from the Mississippi Delta circa 1905. Can't prove it as no one wrote or even read music so nothing was published per se. Kinda sorta like "Green Sleeves" in Merri Olde England. That's actually 1,000 years old!

[lorrin1950]

@paullubliner I agree with you, the bluesy form of the song suggests that it may be based on an older delta tune, or the author was into blues. The interesting thing about the song is the major diversion from the traditional "my woman wronged or hurt me, I'am so sad or down or broken, etc.).. Suzie Q is 100% about how great his woman is, and is very upbeat.

[bluescountryfolk]

Dale and his band went to see Howling Wolf and they ripped the song off him. James Burton created the riff. Those are the words (roughly) of Roy Buchanan... and he knew alot of things about the early days of rock and roll. This guy is talking out of his ass.

[ColonelFuckwadd]

james burton was 15 when he discovered the lick for susie q

[hawkmandale]

Everything in this video is a lie. Dale wrote the song, if there was ever a collaborator, it was James Burton. End of story. Stan, it had nothing to do with your daughter, or anyone else. Dale and James did it, and you were sitting on the sidelines hoping to take something from it. Just go away.  You are a liar.

[bellgardens53]

Interesting story.

[hawkmandale]

@bellgardens53 What a jerk. Not even remotely close to the story. To this very day this guy is trying to say he helped write Susie Q, which of course he never did. Said he had a daughter named Susie which he never did - unless she was born way after the song was popular.

[JOROSS2]

@hawkmandale Are you sayin that the song was popular before it was recorded?!

It Of course, it is possible that the truth is in the middle. James Burton had already written the famous riff and Dale had the idea for a song in his head, and this guy who "had nothing to do" with the song liked the title because he had already nicknamed his daughter Suzie Q ( after the dance step) and they sat down in the recording studio and made history. He definitely did get royalties from Creedence.

[JOROSS2]

@JOROSS2 "Susie Q" is a song by Louisiana-born singer and guitarist Dale Hawkins (1936-2010).[1] His version reached #27 in the U.S. pop chart in 1957.[2] He wrote the song himself, but when it was released, Stan Lewis, the owner of Jewel/Paula Records, and Eleanor Broadwater, the wife of Nashville DJ Gene Nobles, were also credited as co-writers to give them shares of the royalties.[3]

[hawkmandale]

@bellgardens53 Only interesting if you think it's the truth. Which it isn't.

[bellgardens53]

@hawkmandale OK, I haven't digged into this subject. I know some stuff of rockn'roll origins coming to titles et cetera (about Eddie Cochran pretty much). If you are righ, and it sounds like that, I congratulate you. Always good setting things straight. ;O)

[polkapete]

excellent

[suziestew]

....I'm a suzie "suziestew"....my stew mates named me that as my middle name is sue.....

and suziestew was born...I've been called that by several folks thru the years..from school thur my current life...

Suzie Q...thur the ages..

[niteshadehoney]

so good to know about a song you like to play...we love suzie Q so simple and so compete!!!!!..ck-it-out 0n youtubes....(eddiecooper369)

[JOROSS2]

Leonard Chess from Chicago named his daughter Susan. Stan Lewis also named his daughter Susan because of him. Stan Lewis nick-named his daughter Suzie Q.

Dale Hawkins was inspired by Susan *Suzie Q* Lewis to write Suzie Q with Stan Lewis.

It's nice that Stan Lewis he received royalties from Creedence Clearwater.

Thank-you SO much for this interview. I am just so sorry that my brother didn't get to see it.

[hawkmandale]

Don't know who you are, why you're here, but everything you just said is a total lie. Who's your brother, idiot? Dale was "inspired" to write whatever you said??? Just nuts. The whole concet of Susie Q came from a dance from many years earlier. Stan was nowhere in the picture!!!!!! (Except as the manager who wanted to steal something) He had nothing to do with it, period!!~!!!!!!! You are SO WROMG!!! Don't know why you care about this, why you want to fight, cause youare so wrong.

[jipeess]

hi,

at 2:50, must be -68/-69, right?

[lumpagogo]

You're right--CCR recorded it in 1968.

[blaisejones]

very interesting