310:
Unlike most of his early recordings which have bass or other instrumental accompaniment, "Rollin' Stone" is a solo performance by Muddy Waters on vocal and electric guitar. It has "much empty space ... imbued with the power of a pause, of letting a note hang in the air, the anticipation of the
260:
each recorded versions of the song. Petway's was the first to be titled "Catfish Blues" and is sometimes cited as the basis for Muddy Waters' "Rollin' Stone". However, according to one biographer "They'd been singing "Catfish Blues" for years in the Delta, but it never sounded like "Rollin' Stone".
31:
390:, which comes from an old saying: 'A Rolling Stone gathers no moss.' Muddy Waters used the name for a song he wrote; The Rolling Stones took their name from Muddy’s song, and 'Like A Rolling Stone' was the title of Bob Dylan’s first rock and roll record.
345:
on bass drum accompanied Muddy on vocal and guitar. Subsequent versions of "Rollin' Stone" or "Catfish Blues" often use some lyrics from "Still a Fool" (sometimes called "Two Trains
Running" after the opening verse).
269:"Rollin' Stone" has been identified (along with "Walkin' Blues", the single's B-side) as one of the first songs that Muddy Waters learned to play and an early favorite. The words refer to the traditional proverb,
296:, the vocal sections remain on the I chord, giving the song a modal quality often found in Delta blues songs. In addition to the traditional catfish verses, Waters added:
330:
In 1951, Muddy Waters used the vocal melody and guitar figure from "Rollin' Stone" for "Still a Fool". The song was more successful, reaching number nine in the
220:
that dates back to 1920s
Mississippi. "Still a Fool", recorded by Muddy Waters a year later using the same arrangement and melody, reached number nine on the
1299:
411:
1560:
1216:
1192:
1263:
1275:
1251:
1565:
1204:
940:
322:). It did not reach the national record charts, but sold about 70,000 copies and allowed Muddy Waters to quit his day job.
969:
1042:
1287:
786:
707:
237:
1467:
1121:
679:
647:
602:
538:
1398:
1097:
1061:
439:
in 1970. The vocals were later wiped and the backing track was then re-utilized to create the song "Stink-Foot" on
1391:
623:
554:
484:
355:
272:
1555:
1311:
526:
426:
394:
In 2000, the song was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award; in 2004, it was included at number 459 by
1540:
1429:
1073:
993:
398:
in its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It was updated to number 465 in 2010. In 2019, the
1334:
1020:
933:
845:
417:
175:
1360:
733:
590:
1484:
1372:
1239:
1168:
1049:
252:
Several other early songs also explored variations on the catfish and/or fishing theme. In 1941,
671:
758:
1422:
1180:
594:
530:
519:
331:
233:
221:
926:
877:
1545:
1085:
280:
Called "a brooding, minor-hued drone piece", "Rollin' Stone" is a mid- to slow-tempo blues
8:
1550:
1443:
1436:
1384:
981:
402:
inducted "Rollin' Stone" into the Blues Hall of Fame as a "Classic of Blues
Recording".
639:
628:
363:
319:
583:
703:
675:
643:
598:
534:
441:
50:
1348:
1133:
821:
399:
368:
281:
57:
236:
recorded "Kansas City Blues Parts 3 and 4", a follow-up to his highly successful "
1156:
445:(1974). A rough mix of the original version was posthumously released in 2023 on
253:
145:
97:
38:
900:
1534:
1519:
1504:
1489:
881:
791:
635:
562:
500:
469:
Wight, Phil; Rothwell, Fred (1991). "The
Complete Muddy Waters Discography".
374:
342:
338:
315:
293:
257:
151:
125:
1509:
1499:
1455:
1030:
949:
850:
816:"2019 Hall of Fame Inductees: "Rollin' Stone" – Muddy Waters (Chess, 1950)"
492:
436:
422:
406:
213:
162:
120:
42:
409:'s "Catfish Blues", a homage to Muddy Waters, and included on the albums
1494:
1410:
1005:
873:
854:
496:
432:
379:
217:
88:
1514:
1109:
763:
359:
155:
133:
30:
285:
405:
In 1967, "Rollin' Stone" (and "Still a Fool") was used as part of
289:
318:
and the second overall for the label (previous releases were on
918:
314:"Rollin' Stone" was the first Muddy Waters record released on
303:'I got a boy child comin', gonna be, gonna be a rollin' stone
224:. "Rollin' Stone" has been recorded by a variety of artists.
209:
93:
815:
366:(who recorded their version of the song on their 2023 album
378:
took their names from the song. However, magazine editor
216:
in 1950. It is his interpretation of "Catfish Blues", a
585:
Can't Be
Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters
292:. Although the instrumental section uses the IV and
301:
Well my mother told my father just before I was born
627:
582:
518:
372:as "Rolling Stone Blues") and the music magazine
245:I wished I was a catfish swimming down in the sea
1532:
1300:Rollin' Stone: The Golden Anniversary Collection
697:
559:Blues Masters Volume 8: Mississippi Delta Blues
759:"Grammy Hall of Fame Awards – Past Recipients"
1217:Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981
934:
561:(Album notes). Various Artists. Los Angeles:
468:
813:
349:
240:Parts 1 and 2". Jackson's lyrics included:
665:
661:
659:
16:Song first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1950
941:
927:
517:Herzhaft, Gerard (1992). "Catfish Blues".
512:
510:
247:I'd have some good woman fishing after me
29:
842:
698:Chapple, Steve; Garofalo, Reebee (1977).
693:
691:
1276:McKinley Morganfield A.K.A. Muddy Waters
656:
576:
574:
572:
516:
1193:Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live
867:
507:
464:
462:
1533:
898:
731:
688:
622:
618:
616:
614:
580:
553:
483:
435:recorded a version of the song at the
922:
734:"On the Cover of the 'Rolling Stone'"
666:Hal Leonard (1995). "Rollin' Stone".
569:
1561:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients
901:"Catfish Blues (Origins of a Blues)"
787:"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"
702:. Chicago: Nelson Hall. p. 37.
459:
429:" evolved from his "Catfish Blues".
264:
732:Havers, Richard (9 November 2018).
611:
192:"You're Gonna Need My Help I Said"
13:
1288:The Complete Plantation Recordings
14:
1577:
1010:With Bo Diddley and Little Walter
892:
305:Sho' enough he's a rollin' stone
1205:Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down
1098:The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album
1062:The London Muddy Waters Sessions
1025:With Howlin' Wolf and Bo Diddley
948:
227:
1392:I Just Want to Make Love to You
861:
836:
807:
795:. No. 963. 9 December 2004
779:
751:
725:
325:
273:A rolling stone gathers no moss
238:Jim Jackson's Kansas City Blues
853:. Universal City, California:
843:Fairchild, Michael J. (1994).
716:
547:
495:. Universal City, California:
477:
1:
1566:Songs written by Muddy Waters
970:Muddy Waters Sings "Big Bill"
452:
421:. Hendrix's signature songs "
337:. Rather than a solo piece,
994:Muddy, Brass & the Blues
700:Rock 'n' Roll Is Here to Pay
527:University of Arkansas Press
427:Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
7:
1430:Forty Days and Forty Nights
489:Muddy Waters: The Chess Box
473:. No. 200. p. 39.
10:
1582:
1021:The Super Super Blues Band
525:. Fayetteville, Arkansas:
354:According to music writer
1477:
1321:
1312:The Anthology (1947–1972)
1226:
1143:
956:
857:. p. 22. MCAD-11060.
521:Encyclopedia of the Blues
503:. p. 28. CHD3-80092.
350:Influence and recognition
256:and his sometime partner
169:
161:
143:
131:
119:
103:
87:
79:
64:
48:
37:
28:
23:
1240:The Best of Muddy Waters
670:. Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
581:Gordon, Robert (2002).
222:Billboard R&B chart
139:Muddy Waters (credited)
565:. p. 8. R2 71130.
392:
308:
250:
1556:Chess Records singles
1074:Can't Get No Grindin'
884:. p. 5. ZR20043.
878:Universal Music Group
868:Travers, Joe (2023).
384:
341:on second guitar and
298:
242:
1373:Baby Please Don't Go
1335:Rollin' and Tumblin'
1264:More Real Folk Blues
899:Haymes, Max (2004).
176:Rollin' and Tumblin'
1444:Got My Mojo Working
1385:Hoochie Coochie Man
1252:The Real Folk Blues
1181:Live at Mr. Kelly's
846:Jimi Hendrix: Blues
491:(Box set booklet).
386:The name of it is
1541:Muddy Waters songs
1361:Long Distance Call
814:Blues Foundation.
471:Blues & Rhythm
364:the Rolling Stones
320:Aristocrat Records
165:singles chronology
1528:
1527:
1026:
1011:
870:Funky Nothingness
634:. New York City:
589:. New York City:
447:Funky Nothingness
265:Muddy Waters song
212:song recorded by
202:
201:
198:
197:
1573:
1478:Related articles
1463:
1451:
1418:
1406:
1380:
1368:
1356:
1330:
1307:
1295:
1283:
1271:
1259:
1247:
1235:
1212:
1200:
1188:
1176:
1169:Fathers and Sons
1164:
1152:
1129:
1117:
1105:
1093:
1081:
1069:
1057:
1050:Fathers and Sons
1038:
1024:
1016:
1009:
1001:
989:
977:
965:
943:
936:
929:
920:
919:
915:
913:
911:
886:
885:
865:
859:
858:
840:
834:
833:
831:
829:
822:Blues Foundation
811:
805:
804:
802:
800:
783:
777:
776:
774:
772:
755:
749:
748:
746:
744:
729:
723:
720:
714:
713:
695:
686:
685:
663:
654:
653:
633:
620:
609:
608:
588:
578:
567:
566:
551:
545:
544:
524:
514:
505:
504:
481:
475:
474:
466:
400:Blues Foundation
369:Hackney Diamonds
171:
170:
148:
136:
115:
114:
110:
75:
73:
53:
33:
21:
20:
1581:
1580:
1576:
1575:
1574:
1572:
1571:
1570:
1531:
1530:
1529:
1524:
1473:
1461:
1449:
1423:Trouble No More
1416:
1404:
1378:
1366:
1354:
1328:
1317:
1305:
1293:
1281:
1269:
1257:
1245:
1233:
1222:
1210:
1198:
1186:
1174:
1162:
1157:At Newport 1960
1150:
1139:
1127:
1115:
1103:
1091:
1079:
1067:
1055:
1036:
1014:
999:
987:
975:
963:
952:
947:
909:
907:
895:
890:
889:
866:
862:
841:
837:
827:
825:
812:
808:
798:
796:
785:
784:
780:
770:
768:
757:
756:
752:
742:
740:
738:Udiscover Music
730:
726:
721:
717:
710:
696:
689:
682:
674:. p. 176.
664:
657:
650:
621:
612:
605:
579:
570:
552:
548:
541:
515:
508:
482:
478:
467:
460:
455:
352:
328:
307:
304:
302:
267:
254:Tommy McClennan
249:
246:
230:
193:
188:
179:
144:
132:
112:
108:
107:
71:
69:
49:
24:"Rollin' Stone"
17:
12:
11:
5:
1579:
1569:
1568:
1563:
1558:
1553:
1548:
1543:
1526:
1525:
1523:
1522:
1517:
1512:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1492:
1487:
1481:
1479:
1475:
1474:
1472:
1471:
1464:
1459:
1452:
1447:
1440:
1433:
1426:
1419:
1414:
1407:
1402:
1395:
1388:
1381:
1376:
1369:
1364:
1357:
1352:
1345:
1338:
1331:
1325:
1323:
1319:
1318:
1316:
1315:
1308:
1303:
1296:
1291:
1284:
1279:
1272:
1267:
1260:
1255:
1248:
1243:
1236:
1230:
1228:
1224:
1223:
1221:
1220:
1213:
1208:
1201:
1196:
1189:
1184:
1177:
1172:
1165:
1160:
1153:
1147:
1145:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1137:
1130:
1125:
1118:
1113:
1106:
1101:
1094:
1089:
1082:
1077:
1070:
1065:
1058:
1053:
1046:
1043:After the Rain
1039:
1034:
1027:
1017:
1012:
1002:
997:
990:
985:
978:
973:
966:
960:
958:
954:
953:
946:
945:
938:
931:
923:
917:
916:
905:earlyblues.com
894:
893:External links
891:
888:
887:
872:(CD booklet).
860:
849:(CD booklet).
835:
806:
778:
750:
724:
715:
709:978-0882294377
708:
687:
680:
655:
648:
624:Palmer, Robert
610:
603:
568:
555:Palmer, Robert
546:
539:
506:
485:Palmer, Robert
476:
457:
456:
454:
451:
442:Apostrophe (')
351:
348:
327:
324:
299:
288:in the key of
266:
263:
243:
229:
226:
200:
199:
196:
195:
190:
181:
167:
166:
159:
158:
149:
141:
140:
137:
129:
128:
123:
117:
116:
105:
101:
100:
98:electric blues
91:
85:
84:
81:
77:
76:
66:
62:
61:
54:
46:
45:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1578:
1567:
1564:
1562:
1559:
1557:
1554:
1552:
1549:
1547:
1544:
1542:
1539:
1538:
1536:
1521:
1520:Chess Records
1518:
1516:
1513:
1511:
1508:
1506:
1505:Little Walter
1503:
1501:
1498:
1496:
1493:
1491:
1490:Chicago blues
1488:
1486:
1483:
1482:
1480:
1476:
1469:
1468:You Need Love
1465:
1460:
1457:
1453:
1448:
1445:
1441:
1438:
1434:
1431:
1427:
1424:
1420:
1415:
1412:
1408:
1403:
1400:
1396:
1393:
1389:
1386:
1382:
1377:
1374:
1370:
1365:
1362:
1358:
1353:
1350:
1349:Walkin' Blues
1346:
1343:
1342:Rollin' Stone
1339:
1336:
1332:
1327:
1326:
1324:
1322:Noted singles
1320:
1314:
1313:
1309:
1304:
1302:
1301:
1297:
1292:
1290:
1289:
1285:
1280:
1278:
1277:
1273:
1268:
1266:
1265:
1261:
1256:
1254:
1253:
1249:
1244:
1242:
1241:
1237:
1232:
1231:
1229:
1225:
1219:
1218:
1214:
1209:
1207:
1206:
1202:
1197:
1195:
1194:
1190:
1185:
1183:
1182:
1178:
1173:
1171:
1170:
1166:
1161:
1159:
1158:
1154:
1149:
1148:
1146:
1142:
1136:
1135:
1131:
1126:
1124:
1123:
1119:
1114:
1112:
1111:
1107:
1102:
1100:
1099:
1095:
1090:
1088:
1087:
1086:"Unk" in Funk
1083:
1078:
1076:
1075:
1071:
1066:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1054:
1052:
1051:
1047:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1035:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1023:
1022:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1007:
1003:
998:
996:
995:
991:
986:
984:
983:
979:
974:
972:
971:
967:
962:
961:
959:
957:Studio albums
955:
951:
944:
939:
937:
932:
930:
925:
924:
921:
906:
902:
897:
896:
883:
882:Zappa Records
879:
875:
871:
864:
856:
852:
848:
847:
839:
824:
823:
817:
810:
794:
793:
792:Rolling Stone
788:
782:
766:
765:
760:
754:
739:
735:
728:
719:
711:
705:
701:
694:
692:
683:
681:0-79355-259-1
677:
673:
669:
662:
660:
651:
649:0-14006-223-8
645:
641:
637:
636:Penguin Books
632:
631:
625:
619:
617:
615:
606:
604:0-316-32849-9
600:
596:
592:
591:Little, Brown
587:
586:
577:
575:
573:
564:
563:Rhino Records
560:
556:
550:
542:
540:1-55728-252-8
536:
532:
528:
523:
522:
513:
511:
502:
501:Chess Records
498:
494:
490:
486:
480:
472:
465:
463:
458:
450:
448:
444:
443:
438:
434:
430:
428:
424:
420:
419:
414:
413:
408:
403:
401:
397:
396:Rolling Stone
391:
389:
388:Rolling Stone
383:
381:
377:
376:
375:Rolling Stone
371:
370:
365:
361:
357:
356:Robert Palmer
347:
344:
343:Leonard Chess
340:
339:Little Walter
336:
335:R&B chart
334:
323:
321:
317:
316:Chess Records
312:
306:
297:
295:
291:
287:
283:
278:
276:
274:
262:
259:
258:Robert Petway
255:
248:
241:
239:
235:
228:Earlier songs
225:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
206:Rollin' Stone
191:
186:
185:Rollin' Stone
182:
177:
173:
172:
168:
164:
160:
157:
153:
152:Leonard Chess
150:
147:
142:
138:
135:
134:Songwriter(s)
130:
127:
124:
122:
118:
106:
102:
99:
95:
92:
90:
86:
83:February 1950
82:
78:
67:
63:
59:
58:Walkin' Blues
55:
52:
47:
44:
40:
36:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1510:Jimmy Rogers
1500:Willie Dixon
1456:You Shook Me
1341:
1310:
1298:
1286:
1274:
1262:
1250:
1238:
1227:Compilations
1215:
1203:
1191:
1179:
1167:
1155:
1132:
1120:
1108:
1096:
1084:
1072:
1060:
1048:
1041:
1031:Electric Mud
1029:
1019:
1004:
992:
980:
968:
950:Muddy Waters
908:. Retrieved
904:
869:
863:
851:Jimi Hendrix
844:
838:
826:. Retrieved
819:
809:
797:. Retrieved
790:
781:
769:. Retrieved
762:
753:
741:. Retrieved
737:
727:
718:
699:
667:
629:
584:
558:
549:
520:
493:Muddy Waters
488:
479:
470:
446:
440:
437:Record Plant
431:
423:Voodoo Chile
416:
412:BBC Sessions
410:
407:Jimi Hendrix
404:
395:
393:
387:
385:
373:
367:
353:
332:
329:
326:Still a Fool
313:
309:
300:
279:
270:
268:
251:
244:
231:
214:Muddy Waters
205:
203:
184:
163:Muddy Waters
43:Muddy Waters
18:
1546:Blues songs
1495:Delta blues
1485:Discography
1411:Mannish Boy
1144:Live albums
1006:Super Blues
982:Folk Singer
874:Frank Zappa
855:MCA Records
672:Hal Leonard
497:MCA Records
433:Frank Zappa
382:explained:
380:Jann Wenner
311:next one".
234:Jim Jackson
218:Delta blues
146:Producer(s)
1551:1950 songs
1535:Categories
1515:Otis Spann
1110:Hard Again
764:Grammy.org
722:Chess 1480
638:. p.
630:Deep Blues
593:. p.
529:. p.
453:References
360:blues rock
358:, English
156:Phil Chess
1399:I'm Ready
1122:I'm Ready
743:12 August
668:The Blues
333:Billboard
232:In 1928,
1134:King Bee
910:16 March
799:17 March
771:17 March
626:(1982).
557:(1993).
487:(1989).
294:V chords
286:4/4 time
80:Recorded
65:Released
1437:Rock Me
425:" and "
290:E major
282:notated
208:" is a
194:(1950)
189:(1950)
180:(1950)
70: (
767:. 2000
706:
678:
646:
601:
537:
362:group
104:Length
51:B-side
39:Single
828:8 May
418:Blues
210:blues
126:Chess
121:Label
94:Blues
89:Genre
1462:1963
1450:1962
1417:1956
1405:1955
1379:1954
1367:1953
1355:1951
1329:1950
1306:2001
1294:2000
1282:1993
1270:1971
1258:1967
1246:1966
1234:1958
1211:2012
1199:2007
1187:1979
1175:1971
1163:1969
1151:1960
1128:1981
1116:1978
1104:1977
1092:1975
1080:1974
1068:1973
1056:1972
1037:1969
1015:1968
1000:1967
988:1966
976:1964
964:1960
912:2011
830:2019
820:The
801:2011
773:2011
745:2020
704:ISBN
676:ISBN
644:ISBN
599:ISBN
535:ISBN
415:and
72:1950
68:1950
640:104
595:101
531:442
284:in
41:by
1537::
903:.
876:.
818:.
789:.
761:.
736:.
690:^
658:^
642:.
613:^
597:.
571:^
533:.
509:^
461:^
449:.
277:.
187:"
178:"
154:,
113:05
96:,
1470:"
1466:"
1458:"
1454:"
1446:"
1442:"
1439:"
1435:"
1432:"
1428:"
1425:"
1421:"
1413:"
1409:"
1401:"
1397:"
1394:"
1390:"
1387:"
1383:"
1375:"
1371:"
1363:"
1359:"
1351:"
1347:"
1344:"
1340:"
1337:"
1333:"
942:e
935:t
928:v
914:.
880:/
832:.
803:.
775:.
747:.
712:.
684:.
652:.
607:.
543:.
499:/
275:"
271:"
204:"
183:"
174:"
111::
109:3
74:)
60:"
56:"
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
