Just a Little Bit (Rosco Gordon song)
Encyclopedia
"Just a Little Bit" is an R&B-style blues song recorded by Rosco Gordon
in 1959. It was a hit in both the R&B and pop charts. Called "one of the standards of contemporary blues", "Just a Little Bit" has been recorded by a variety of artists, including Little Milton
and Roy Head
who also had record chart successes with the song.
artist Jimmy McCracklin
. According to Gordon, McCracklin started to write the song and agreed that Gordon could finish it with both of them sharing the credit. Gordon later presented a demo version to Ralph Bass
at King Records
, who was reportedly uninterested in the song. Gordon then approached Calvin Carter
at Vee-Jay Records
, who agreed to record it. Meanwhile, Federal Records
, a King Records subsidiary released a version of "Just a Little Bit" by R&B singer Tiny Topsy (1959 Federal 45-12357), with songwriting credit given to Ralph Bass and several others unknown to Gordon. The Tiny Topsy song, featuring a pop-style arrangement with background singers and flute, did not reach the record charts.
(for their 1965 album The Angry Young Them
); Etta James
(1967 Tell Mama
); Magic Sam
(1968 Black Magic
); Elvis Presley
(1973 Raised on Rock/For Ol' Times Sake
); Jerry Lee Lewis
(1974 Southern Roots); The Animals
(1977 Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted
); Joe Louis Walker
(1990 Live at Slim's, Vol. 2); and Johnny Winter
(1997 Live in NYC '97
).
Rosco Gordon
Rosco Gordon was an American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known for his 1952 #1 R&B hit single, "Booted", and two #2 singles "No More Doggin'" and "Just a Little Bit" .-Biography:...
in 1959. It was a hit in both the R&B and pop charts. Called "one of the standards of contemporary blues", "Just a Little Bit" has been recorded by a variety of artists, including Little Milton
Little Milton
James Milton Campbell, Jr. , better known as Little Milton, was an American electric blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and guitarist, best known for his hit records "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "We're Gonna Make It."-Biography:Milton was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi...
and Roy Head
Roy Head
Roy Head is an American singer, best known for his hit "Treat Her Right."-Career:Head achieved fame as a member of a musical group out from San Marcos, Texas known as The Traits. The group's sponsor landed their first recording contract in 1958 with TNT Music in San Antonio, Texas while they were...
who also had record chart successes with the song.
Background
"Just a Little Bit" was developed when Rosco Gordon was touring with West Coast bluesWest Coast blues
The West Coast blues is a type of blues music characterized by jazz and jump blues influences, strong piano-dominated sounds and jazzy guitar solos, which originated from Texas blues players relocated to California in the 1940s...
artist Jimmy McCracklin
Jimmy McCracklin
Jimmy McCracklin is an American pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. His style contains West Coast blues, Jump blues, and R&B. Over a career that has spanned seven decades, he says he has written almost a thousand songs and has recorded hundreds of them...
. According to Gordon, McCracklin started to write the song and agreed that Gordon could finish it with both of them sharing the credit. Gordon later presented a demo version to Ralph Bass
Ralph Bass
Ralph Bass , born in The Bronx, New York of an Italian-American-Catholic father, and a German-American-Jewish mother, was an influential rhythm and blues record producer and talent scout for several independent labels and was responsible for many hit records. He was a pioneer in bringing black...
at King Records
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
, who was reportedly uninterested in the song. Gordon then approached Calvin Carter
Calvin Carter
Calvin Carter is the brother of the founder of Vee-Jay Records Vivian Carter. Born May 27, 1925. He joined the company in 1953 and became the principal producer, in charge of the recording sessions. He is a songwriter and composer of jazz and popsongs....
at Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
, who agreed to record it. Meanwhile, Federal Records
Federal Records
Federal Records was an American record label founded in 1950 as a subsidiary of Syd Nathan's King Records and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was run by famed record producer Ralph Bass and was mainly devoted to Rhythm & Blues releases. But also hillbilly and rockabilly recordings were released,...
, a King Records subsidiary released a version of "Just a Little Bit" by R&B singer Tiny Topsy (1959 Federal 45-12357), with songwriting credit given to Ralph Bass and several others unknown to Gordon. The Tiny Topsy song, featuring a pop-style arrangement with background singers and flute, did not reach the record charts.
Rosco Gordon song
Rosco Gordon's "Just a Little Bit" was released in late 1959 and entered the Billboard R&B chart in February 1960. An early review described the song as "a rhymba [rhumba] blues", a reference to Gordon's "slightly shambolic, loping style of piano shuffle called 'Rosco's Rhythm'". The original Vee-Jay single lists Gordon as the songwriter, although some later issues (and versions by other artists) list Bass and others as the writers. "Just a Little Bit" was Rosco Gordon's fourth (and last) single to enter the R&B chart, where it reached number 2 during a stay of seventeen weeks in 1960. "Just a Little Bit" also appeared in the Hot 100 at number 64, making it Gordon's only song to enter the pop chart.Other versions
In 1965, Roy Head had a Top 40 pop hit with "Just a Little Bit". Little Milton recorded the song in 1969 (Checker 1217) and it reached number 13 in the R&B chart and number 97 in the pop chart. A number of other artists have also recorded Rosco Gordon's "Just a Little Bit", including ThemThem (band)
Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career...
(for their 1965 album The Angry Young Them
The Angry Young Them
The Angry Young Them is the first album from the Northern Irish rock and roll group Them. The album was released in the UK in June 1965. The band's lead singer and songwriter was Van Morrison...
); Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
(1967 Tell Mama
Tell Mama
Tell Mama is the seventh studio album by American Blues artist, Etta James. The album was released August 21, 1968 on Cadet Records and was produced by Rick Hall. Tell Mama was James's first album since 1963 to enter the Billboard 200 albums chart and contained her first Top 10 and 20 hits since 1964...
); Magic Sam
Magic Sam
Samuel "Magic Sam" Gene Maghett was an American Chicago blues musician. Maghett was born in Grenada, Mississippi, United States, and learned to play the blues from listening to records by Muddy Waters and Little Walter...
(1968 Black Magic
Black Magic (Magic Sam album)
Black Magic is a blues album by Magic Sam released in 1968 by Delmark Records.- Track listing :# "I Just Want A Little Bit"# "What Have I Done Wrong"# "Easy, Baby"# "You Belong To Me"# "It's All Your Fault"# "I Have The Same Old Blues"...
); Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
(1973 Raised on Rock/For Ol' Times Sake
Raised on Rock/For Ol' Times Sake
Raised on Rock/For Ol' Times Sake is a studio album by Elvis Presley released in 1973. It, along with the album Elvis, were both released after the massive success of Aloha From Hawaii. This record sold over 1 million copies worldwide. This album along with the Promised Land album the following...
); Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
(1974 Southern Roots); The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
(1977 Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted
Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted
Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted is a 1977 reunion album from The Animals, billed here as The Original Animals.-History:This was a reunion of the five original Animals from the group's first incarnation — Eric Burdon, Alan Price, Hilton Valentine, Chas Chandler, and John Steel, in their first...
); Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker, also known as JLW is an American musician, best known as a electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. A feature of his work is his recourse to older material or playing styles, which revealed his knowledge of blues history.-Career:Joe Louis Walker was born in San...
(1990 Live at Slim's, Vol. 2); and Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
(1997 Live in NYC '97
Live In NYC '97
Live in NYC '97 is a live album by blues musician Johnny Winter, recorded at the Bottom Line in Manhattan. Additional recording took place at Studio 900, New York City.-Track listing:# "Hide Away" - 7:28# "Medley:"...
).