Stop Breaking Down
Encyclopedia
"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", the song became popular largely through later interpretations by other artists.
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
.
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".
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".
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. (Keith Richards
does not play on the song). The Rolling Stones often performed the song live and a version with Robert Cray
on slide guitar 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.
") 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.
Country blues
Country blues is a general term that refers to all the acoustic, mainly guitar-driven forms of the blues. It often incorporated elements of rural gospel, ragtime, hillbilly, and dixieland jazz...
song recorded by Robert Johnson in 1937. Described as an "upbeat boogie with a strong chorus line", the song became popular largely through later interpretations by other artists.
Original song
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". 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".In 1970, the first take of the song was included on Johnson's King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. II
King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. II
King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. II is a compilation album by American blues musician Robert Johnson, released in 1970 on Columbia Records. It is considered one of the greatest blues releases ever...
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
The Complete Recordings (Robert Johnson album)
The Complete Recordings is a compilation album by American blues musician Robert Johnson, released August 28, 1990 on Columbia Records. The album's recordings were recorded in two sessions in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas for the American Record Company during 1936 and 1937. Most of the songs were...
.
Blues versions
As with most Johnson songs, "Stop Breakin' Down Blues" failed to generate much interest with the blues record buying public when it was released. However, his work was kept alive by a "small circle of Mississippi peers" with interpretations recorded by other blues artists. In 1945, Sonny Boy Williamson ISonny Boy Williamson I
Sonny Boy Williamson was an American blues harmonica player and singer, and the first to use the name Sonny Boy Williamson.-Biography and career:...
recorded his version as an early Chicago blues
Chicago blues
The Chicago blues is a form of blues music that developed in Chicago, Illinois, by taking the basic acoustic guitar and harmonica-based Delta blues, making the harmonica louder with a microphone and an instrument amplifier, and adding electrically amplified guitar, amplified bass guitar, drums,...
with Big Maceo (piano), Tampa Red
Tampa Red
Tampa Red , born Hudson Woodbridge but known from childhood as Hudson Whittaker, was an American Chicago blues musician....
(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".
In 1954, Baby Boy Warren
Baby Boy Warren
Baby Boy Warren was an American blues singer and guitarist, who was a leading figure on the Detroit blues scene in the 1950s.-Early life:...
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
Junior Wells
Junior Wells , born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was an American Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist...
with Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
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
Five Long Years
"Five Long Years" is a song written and recorded by blues vocalist/pianist Eddie Boyd in 1952. Called one of the "few postwar blues standards [that has] retained universal appeal", Boyd's "Five Long Years" reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart...
" and Sonny Boy Williamson I's "Stop Breaking Down".
Rolling Stones/White Stripes versions
The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
recorded "Stop Breaking Down" for their 1972 Exile on Main St.
Exile on Main St.
Exile on Main St. is the tenth British and 12th American studio album by English rock band The Rolling Stones. Released as a double LP in May 1972, it draws on many genres including rock and roll, blues, soul, R&B, gospel and country. The release of Exile on Main St. met with mixed reviews, but is...
album. They interpreted the song somewhat differently than the earlier versions, with prominent slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
work by Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
and Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
providing the harmonica and guitar. (Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
does not play on the song). The Rolling Stones often performed the song live and a version with Robert Cray
Robert Cray
Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
on slide guitar is included on their The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Live
The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Live
Voodoo Lounge Live by The Rolling Stones is a concert DVD/Video, filmed at the Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida on 25 November 1994 during the Voodoo Lounge Tour.This concert was broadcast as a pay-per-view special...
concert DVD.
The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
recorded a version of "Stop Breaking Down" for their 1999 debut album The White Stripes
The White Stripes (album)
The White Stripes is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The White Stripes, released on June 15, 1999. The album was produced by Jim Diamond and vocalist/guitarist Jack White, recorded in January 1999 at Ghetto Recorders and Third Man Studios in Detroit...
. A live version was recorded by the BBC and included with their 2002 "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" is a song by American garage rock band The White Stripes, featured on their 2001 third studio album White Blood Cells...
" single.
Lawsuit over copyright
"Stop Breakin' Down Blues" (along with "Love in VainLove in Vain
"Love in Vain" is a 1937 blues song written by Robert Johnson.The song is noted for its sad lyrics, tone, and style. In the 1991 documentary film The Search for Robert Johnson, John P. Hammond plays Robert's recording of "Love in Vain" for the elderly Willie Mae Powell, the woman for whom it was...
") 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.