Great American Songs: Spoonful

Spoonful is one of the all-time great American songs. Written by the legendary Willie Dixon and originally recorded by the even more legendary Howlin' Wolf, "Spoonful" is about wanting to get just a little bit of a good thing.

Here's the classic original version:

Howlin' Wolf - Spoonful (buy album)

Here's the earlier blues song from Charley Patton that inspired Dixon's Spoonful:

Charley Patton - A Spoonful Blues (buy album)

Now for the real purpose of this post, three great cover versions.

(1) First and foremost, check out this great cover version by Jim Ford:

Jim Ford - Spoonful (buy album) (AMG Review)

Who is Jim Ford, you ask? He is an unknown legend worth discovering. Check out these informative posts at Rock Town Hall and Aquarium Drunkard.

(2) Next up is a great take on the song by Etta James (with Harvey Fuqua of the Moonglows):

Etta James & Harvey Fuqua – Spoonful (buy album) (AMG Review)

(3) Last, but not least, here's a really great instrumental version from the famous jazz arranger, Gil Evans:

Gil Evans - Spoonful (buy album) (AMG Review)

This one will be perfect for summer evening cocktail parties at your bachelor pad. (It clocks in at 13:46, but it's well worth the wait.)