Slim Harpo - Baby Scratch My Back

[boogieNstrength]

this is actually already r&b, right? i like this strong beat soooo damn! could someone recommend other blues songs like this one to me?? it'd be really great!

[Vongaro]

Ohh makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck! Smooooth!

[elcacaider]

born 1975 & i know good music when i hear it not like most people my age.and just to add todays music is a joke.

[kaajax]

Its his and mine birthday today. Happy birthday buddy. to the both of us!

[RetroJenny]

It doesn't get any better than this!

[dannyapeshit]

Good lord that is a groovy jam! 

[karatecamel]

this is the kind of music that requires your full attention out of respect for its quality, in other words its fuckin amazing!

[QWERTYCommander]

The people who disliked this didn't have their back scratched before.

[bigkittysmile]

total classic roots of rock. 

[denisjl100]

when i was in my teens we couldn't listen to colored music. parents, the church railed against it as the devil's music. we did anyway on the sly. thank god for sat music and you tube

[captainrhodes83]

@denisjl100 The Blues...the original Punk

[Nickie0016]

The best!!!!!!

[gblueslover2]

Totally BADASS

[Dickneeds]

Slim left us too soon but his music endears us.

[fatbowe]

...I luv me sum chiken scratch....Ha ha....got to git me sum rite now...

[timjmoran]

LOVE LOVE that Geetar riff at about 1:56... soooo funky.. ya get the feeling he

is talking about gettin' something OTHER than his back taken care of.. no??

[aaronjimerson88]

my daddy groved to this. its the one and only time i saw him dance... my sister, next to me, imitated him ti a tee... thanks for the nmemories. my dad was something else. all straight forward... thanks!!!

[autsim]

Helena-West Helena, West-Memphis, Memphis, Mississippi and ArkLaTex stand up!!!

[bluestreakblues]

LOVE the noise from the 45!!!!

[therbs442]

Then go make me a sandwich

[Najwalaylah]

Must flag this as inappropriate for all the best reasons *evil grin*. But seriously, it produces wide smile and spontaneous dancing behaviour.

[yungsu100]

THIS IS SURF BLUES

DICK DALE PROBABLY WAS INFLUENCED BY SLIM

[penisface66]

Nice to hear some good sound quality on youtube

[AliciaBrown19882011]

What a song!!!!!

[christianfff]

oh lordie this is some good shit init?? blizzed

[dodysandifer]

I'm born and raised in Baton Rouge. I use to see slim at the Golden Slipper on a lot of Saturday nights. His band was killer. Two of his guitar players are still playin.Slim was about three months away from opening for the stones when he died of a heart attack. He was a hugh influence on early rockers and me as well." Rainin in my heart" made me buy a harp and start blowin. Check out my videos.

[lakepapa1]

I'm 58 years old. This is one of my absolute favorites of all time.

[explosivejohnny]

my whole life has just died

[bluestreakblues]

@explosivejohnny wow....is that good or bad?

[madferit1993]

Wow, this is great. I never new pure blues could have this kind of groove laid in there. This is where its at. Even thought this song has no more than 5 instruments on it, it's actually far more complex than some songs with 20 odd tracks laid onto it.

[rocktenniscat]

So....according to Wikipedia, Slim played harp....but not guitar. So....who is that fabulous guitar player, then? 

[Vintage1976]

@rocktenniscat He did play harp, the album cover with him holding the guitar is funny because of that. James Johnson and Rudolph Richard played guitar on that session. October of 1956.

[mkl62]

A #1 hit for Slim Harpo on the Rhythm & Blues charts. It was the 137th #1 R&B song of the Rock Era. It also hit #16 on the Top 40 charts. Like Clarence Clemons, he was gone all too soon.

[rocktenniscat]

I think this track is fabulous. Pardon my ignorance....who is playing harp? Is that also Slim Harpo? CCR musta listened a WHOLE LOT to Slim....

[johnIemon]

@rocktenniscat I was thinking the same thing, this song reminds me alot of CCR. It must be because the guitar has that tremolo and just the overall vibe of the song. My favorite style of music, and I do believe It was Slim Harpo playing the harp

[THEMOJOMANsince1959]

@rocktenniscat John Fogerty WORSHIPS these guys,,can't you tell.

[TomTheHarmonicaKid]

Bb harp - just in case anybodys wondering ,pp

[MrMomo06]

Cookin'

[karatecamel]

that song makes me smile.... i cant help it.

[fatbowe]

...Sho Luvs Me Some Goode Ole Scratchin...Come On mama,get to It...Ha Ha...

[Lungomolto]

I got lotsa records: about 5.000 (LP,7", cd, MP3; R&B, rock'n'roll, beat, punk, new wave etc etc) if one day God should come and tell me you can bring with u just one record I'd choose Slim Harpo without hesitation he's got everything and was 100 yrs ahead his time....

[leroycampbell54]

sawdust on the floor.overalls.clodhoppers.sha­ck out in the woods.not really,but that's what it reminds me of.lol

[iriszb]

Yes, I will be buying another record player, and playing some of the 45 and 33 that took all of my parents money, regardless. Times are coming back

[killuminati63]

$tateside 45 where where you in sixty two !? :)

[MrRamblinman08]

Nice!!

[maradeath]

ahhhhhhhhh, heaven!

[8House]

This is my all time favorite blues number. Ice Cream Man by John Brim is a very close second. How in the hell did we evolve from this to gangsta rap? It's a tragedy.

[niezaleznyrealista]

@8House Thats what happens when stupid and ignorant people can make music too.

[Gh0stHr]

@8House Us fans of hip hop music truely appreciate our roots, like this sort of music and funk / jazz / soul / rnb.

Why is it a tragedy that it has spawned something which is a continuation of the very same themes and musical elements, or can you not be bothered to properly listen to it because you assume it is all 'gangsta rap'?

[57cheveebelair]

@8House what exactly is the problem with "gangsta rap" ?

[MrAjaysia]

taking me back, when old goose neck, and cut butt,, were around, at 4, in the morning

[sandralawson18]

I remember this song, when I was just an toddler. My mother's old friends would play

that record, all the time. I useto my mother and her old friends dancing off of that record. Sandra Dee Lawson.

[TheElmapa]

aint that a groove!!!!

[padthai2009]

i love the Blues.....sooooo  nice

[TheBluesguy62154]

classic!

[walnon]

best song title ever

[rocktenniscat]

Who on earth are those three people who DON'T like this? Surely, they pressed the wrong button!!!

[sabin512]

@rocktenniscat People who want to be "different" They also probably liked "50 cent " as an artist

[rocktenniscat]

@sabin512 - I hear you! Slim is the real deal.

[rocktenniscat]

Remembering the great Slim Harpo today! January 11, 1924 – January 31, 1970

[22Burnette]

Nothin Like The Blues!

[OnlySoulMusicHere]

Slim Harpo was Lightinin' Slim brother-in-law and my aunt husband they had one child together...Anniebel Fisher. she look so much like old...Lightnin'

[brick0rockwell]

Without this, no Rolling Stones. Or "Hip Shake", for that matter.

[CheckMate657879]

This song reminds me of my mom's Friday evening fish fries, back in the day. RIP mama - miss you - I love you.

[NancyMcgill1]

The epitome of cool.

[irmamamma]

oh yea mississippi music

[ggblueam]

I remember when this song used to be played on the soul music stations--a lot. Now you have to listen to woodstock, college radio or satellite to hear old jams like this one.

[mrvantuber]

Sounds like "Rack My Mind" by the Yardbirds. I think they got the song from this particular artist.

[robin14669]

Keith Richards likes to do a Rolling Stones record like the Slim Harpo blues, he just told on the BBC to promote his autobiography Life. Maybe that's a great idea?

[VolvoWagon77]

Loved this song from the first few bars. When i am listening to music like this it is not hard to see {hear} where the" Rock " of the late 60' s came from. British rock that is. Great song.

[CriticalListener]

This is my favorite Slim Harpo record, EVER. Thanks for posting it.

[MrRamblinman08]

Love this song!!

[SHOWTIMEJOHNNYPALBLU]

Really nice laid back guitar with tremeloe ~ so simple it is elegant . Showtime Johnny Pal

[navyche]

I want a lapdance to this song. now.

[majicflute9]

Solid, man. 

[70wrestler]

great song..I thinks was hot 1n 1967. The local radio station would only play it after 11PM.Statipn claimed it was to risque

[rutlandbabe]

Love Slim Harpo....still have my vinyl!!!...amazing how many people think the Stones were the original!!!...people are silly!!! LOL

[soundproductions1]

An EXCELLENT performance!While there were many Blues hits before this, this record may have been the FIRST to break through to the top 40 pop charts.It introduced blues music to millions for the first time because of that. To Boot STate.. please thank your uncles for me, because like many... this song got me interested in blues music. Every time I hear his song I smile. RIP Slim.

[JDurden33]

those who think the 'stone's version is better must be off their face. not only was this guy used/covered by zepplin but his contributions to music are pretty much flat-out responsible for the greatness and longevity of the exile album. it's black man's music, repeated and sold by the white guys. the addition of a black man on the cover with his mouth stuffed, stretched wide, along with the other 'freaks' . . . nice touch, yeah, right.

[marce35164]

Great music. Still sounds good.

[Bluesman9830]

Tony Joe White did a killer version of this song too. Thanks for sharing the original.

[gorblimey61]

@Bluesman9830 Frank Frost covered this tune also.

[swtypieln]

Here in OKC, Slim Harpo just had two big records, this one and in 1961 RAINING IN MY HEART. He was an artist who EXCELLOed at his music. Good Post.

Larry N. Boyington, aka Larry Neal, former curator of the Wax Museum on the big 1520 KOMA

[SaturnStarShip]

wow, his voice reminds of of Lighten Hopkins wow, they sound real similar

[gettyup234]

@SaturnStarShip they were cousin's

[hapzap13]

Pure genius of blues soul and funk. Thank you.

[Art2Zen]

thank you 4 sharing tunes with the world - i shall do like the movie and "pay this forward" - peace - love - unity = a world of whirling peace 4 goodness sakes and humanity :-)

[designermite]

Love this song...use to play it over and over years ago...

[cloudtipper]

Msoldgregg I bet they had sawdust on the wooden plank board floor.

i love it

[burneycarbo]

DAVES FAVES :: I know you can do it... so, baby, get to it.

"This little girls sure knows how to scratch."

[matthardygurl1]

lol so old sooooooo old and im 18

[bigwillhenk]

king bee YEAH

[appalpai]

LUV THIS SONG! startin playin it when my mom was scratchin my back... ahhhhh so gud

[ihatehumans11213]

haha. u made me laugh hard.lol-LB3

[dd1yr]

strong incest

[fluxdust]

thank you for sharing this

[LindaDooWop]

I love this song! Thank you so much for it. 5 Stars!

[TheBebopAngel]

@LindaDooWop

Thank you for this share - I haven't heard it in years!

[SOULINTEGRITY]

A classic oldie, nice to hear it again

[THCSOUNDS1]

hermosa !!

[nzteddy]

that was mean i enjoyed it

[TheBluesguy62154]

He is the "King Bee"

[seekanddestroy09]

sssssmmmmmooooooooootttttthhhh­hhhh

[phunkjunkie68]

GREAT Post ! ! !

Much Love ! ! !

I stole my ex ol' lady's t-shirt from this concert...and then my brother stole it from me...the jackass

[MsOldGregg]

Used to play this one at a little hole in the wall bar where I went to play pool.They didn't have a dance license. Hey I'm not even sure they had a liquor license,But when Scratch My back came on the jukebox there was nobody sitting still.

[BRICKHARRELL007]

slim would play at the EL RITO LOUNGE IN BATON ROUGE IN `65 WITH NO COVER CHARGE---Oh If I COULD JUST GO BACK!!!

[eoj2495]

My memory of this one is at the carnival in 1966. Some of the booths and vendors were playing it. What a great song. Otis Redding covered it, but Slim Harpo is the best!!

[JAYSKI43]

my pops would play this when i was a kid!

real music!!

[helenbaker9]

meand sisand friend us to love go down to club and lay down on the sidewalk look uder the club door and watch the old people dance off the song baby scartch my back and we would laugh at the old people when theycall they self dance off baby scratch my back

[LindaDooWop]

Thank you, jimmytheferret, for this! I was really in the mood to hear it!

[tonsils77]

One of the greats this, last heard it about thirty years ago at The Papillon in Brighton at a 60's soul bash.

[atllz]

Thanks soooo much for posting!!! I haven't heard this song for such a long time!!!! :) :) :)

[Meridian83West]

Thanks for posting this! I was in the fourth grade in 1966, and this brings back a lot of memories for me. The single was issued in the US on the Nashville-based Excello label (#2273).

[junkduma]

MAGICAL SLIM.....STILL AWESOME TODAY

Played the hell outta this sailing at midnight under a big moon.......made the sea shimmy too.

[smock66]

Oh yessss! So elemential yet sophisticated. Roots kind of stuff. Give me more!

[wadehilts]

@BootStateEnt : That is really really tight. I really like the tremolo, the smooth strumming and the steady bass. Not to mention that harp. I wish I could have seen these guys live. How old are your uncles?

[Academic1Researcher]

@BootStateEnt Where are you from i'm from Lafayette Louisiana thats where Slim Harpos type of music comes from swamp blues ;)

[manxlucky]

Gimme that funky butt music!!

[paydirt111]

one of the classics

[gengerlane]

Can never find the Slim Harpo I'm looking for. But they do have this one. =D I'm in the mood for some Strange Love and a rip off won't do.

[yungdragon31spks]

How did u post this video without copyright problems?!?!?! i tried to upload one and i got somethin bout a third party or some crap.

[ACERAMGAD]

SHHHHHweeeeeeeettttttttttt!!!!­! ))))))) Perfecto!

[kissfan93]

is it me or does he kinda sound like B.B. King??

[reelgangstazskip]

just u

[2009framat]

Slim Harpo was heavyly influenced by JIMMY REED. Like him he had several crossovers into the pop charts. And also like him the Rolling Stones and Pretty things covered his songs. Another thing in common was playing harmonica and guitar at the same time. I did an tribut to JIMMY REED. An animated short with new music in the old way. Just click on my name to see it. Would love it when you found the time to drop a comment/rating.

Bye

[Jumpinflashjack]

methinks Slim was doing a little more than scratching backs.

[sexymama1966]

lol

[Shim267]

I always loved the drums in this song.

[prettycountrygirl2]

Great song. I still remember it.

[stratjazz]

The original is always great but take time out and have a listen to Taj Mahal's version from his latest album......smokin'

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

It says all there is to say..

NICE quality on the sound.. WOW!

[bellgardens53]

Slim Harpo...recorded on the legendary Jay Miller studio in Crowley, Loisiana...check all of the recordings in Jay Millers studio. Not a single 'turkey'

[mistercarlton]

Dont forget Tony Joe Whites version..That rocks as well with an even more downhome feel..

[DDaavviiddeeoo]

what a hook. Come on baby! LOVE THIS.

[tomthefunky]

Otis Redding with Booker T and the MG's go to town on this. BTMG's also smoke this on their own. STAX FOREVER!!!!.

[katybrewer1]

there was some cool music out there when I was born, Love it.

[escrisg]

I think The Rolling Stones said something like:

"What's the point listening to us doing I'm a King bee if you can listeng to Slim Harpo?"

Absolutely Amazin' Song and Bluesman. Thanks for sharing this

[Boxx611]

I have heard a cover of this song and I must say, that I liked it more than this.

[JuniorBlues101]

ya you probly heard the SRV and lou ane barton one it is kick ass...also the thunderbirds did it too

[Boxx611]

No it's a Finnish cover, kind of. The band is Finnish but they still sing in English. It's a very good cover :D

[dixoin56]

My grandmother and I use to listen this record On Saturday nites,great post . Thanks for the memories.

[ilikemike97]

That is one very funky groove, particularly the guitar

[dodysandifer]

I saw slim several times around Baton Rouge back in the 60's. The man who did this guitar lick is James Johnson. He's still playin also Rudy richard is still playin, he also played with slim. Good stuff here man.

[prettycountrygirl2]

I remember this song from since I was a tiny girl. Used to hear it on the radio all the time.

[vergeharget]

What a cool sound; Slim's a genius at tremendous tunes and the harp.

Itzik Basman

[THEMOJOMANsince1959]

When I was "ON THE AIR" at the many STATIONS I WORKED AT,,this was always one of my favorite oldies. THEMOJOMANdotCOM

[rmbbuyer]

I remember this song when I was like 9-10 years old!! I played it over and over again with my old record player - 45. That was in 1971-1972 - wow, memories big time at grandma and grandpa's house in L.A. (Maywood, CA.). :P

Miss grandma and grandpa big time.

Robert

Sparks, NV.

[davesharon5747]

My pop music singles book by Joel Whitburn list this great tune as a instrumental; but however....

[wandre9]

I remember hearing this sog playted at a junior high dance in 1971 and Mr. Dieters turned off the record player because he felt the song was "inappropriate." Square.

[BreakFreeAndSoar]

I love this comment! Mr. Dieters - haha. Long live "inappropriate" music!

[shirleylanser]

Funny....it was maybe a little too 'itchy' for Mr Dieters.

[RoTTenKoRn]

@wandre9 LOL And now they play hoochie music at our Dances...I don't even bother going to the dances now because everyone just dry humps each other in a giant crowd.

[carroll1956]

@wandre9 Did every school have a Mr Dieters? Mine did too LOL

[MixxitupKCMO816]

@wandre9 :D

[hugohathaway]

Long time no hear. Thanks for the great post.

[BoogieRockBlues]

My harmonica version of this great song is on my YouTube page, it´s different from this version.

[Timrose89]

Slim was the real deal, an inspiration for us wannabes out there!

[sfdog1369]

Good Stuff Jimmy

[northerngirl72]

Just excellent!

[Antarblue]

Awesome!*****