Just Your Fool

"Just Your Fool" (or "I'm Just Your Fool" as it was first titled) is a rhythm and blues-style song written and recorded by the American jazz and jump blues bandleader/pianist Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra in 1953.[1] Called an "R&B anthem", the song has a big-band arrangement and his sister Ella Johnson on vocals—her "delicate and deceptively sweet phrasing was ideally suited to ballads such as this".[1] "I'm Just Your Fool" became a Billboard R&B chart record hit, reaching number six in 1954.[2]

"Just Your Fool"
Single by Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra
B-side"A-12"
Released1954 (1954)
RecordedNew York City, 1953
GenreRhythm and blues
Length2:49
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Buddy Johnson[1]

Little Walter version

Little Walter recorded a Chicago blues adaptation of the song using the title "Just Your Fool". It was recorded in December 1960 in Chicago, with Walter (vocal and blues harp) and backing by Otis Spann (piano), Fred Robinson and Luther Tucker (guitars), Willie Dixon and/or Jimmie Lee Robinson (bass),[3] and Fred Below or George Hunter (drums).[4][5] "Just Your Fool" was not released until 1962 by Checker Records.[6] He used lyrics and an eight-bar blues arrangement similar to Buddy Johnson.[7] Checker credits the song to Little Walter, also known as Walter Jacobs.[4]

Cyndi Lauper version

In 2010, the American singer Cyndi Lauper recorded "Just Your Fool" for her album Memphis Blues. Charlie Musselwhite on blues harp accompanies Lauper on vocals. The song was released as a single and became a record chart hit, reaching number two on Billboard magazine's US Digital Blues Songs.[8] She performed it live with Musselwhite on the third-season finale of the Celebrity Apprentice reality game show.

The Rolling Stones version
"Just Your Fool"
Single by the Rolling Stones
from the album Blue & Lonesome
ReleasedOctober 6, 2016 (2016-10-06)
GenreRhythm and blues, blues rock
Length2:16
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Walter Jacobs a.k.a. Little Walter (credited)
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
"One More Shot"
(2012)		 "Just Your Fool"
(2016)		 "Living in a Ghost Town"
(2020)

The Rolling Stones recorded the song in 2016 for their album Blue & Lonesome.[9] It is one of five Little Walter songs included on the album.[10] On October 6, 2016, it was released as the lead single.

Weekly charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[11] 31
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[12] 43
France (SNEP)[13] 39
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[14] 28
Scotland (OCC)[15] 80
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 81
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[17] 27
US Digital Blues Songs (Billboard)[14] 1
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[18] 49

References
  1. Romano, Mark. "I'm Just Your Fool — Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (1988). "Little Walter". Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 223. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
  3. Sources do not indicate the type of bass – Dixon played a double bass and Robinson played a variety of instruments.
  4. Snowden, Don (1993). The Essential Little Walter (Compilation booklet). Little Walter. MCA/Chess. p. 15. CHD2–9342.
  5. Glover, Tony; Dirks, Scott; Gaines, Ward (2002). Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story. Routledge. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-415-93711-5.
  6. Checker Records catalogue number 1013
  7. Dahl, Bill. "Buddy Johnson – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  8. Trust, Gary (May 27, 2010). "Chart Beat Thursday: "Glee" Gleans 2nd No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  9. "The Rolling Stones Release New Song 'Living in a Ghost Town'". Billboard. April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  10. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Rolling Stones: Blue & Lonesome – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  11. "Ultratop.be – The Rolling Stones – Just Your Fool" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  12. "Ultratop.be – The Rolling Stones – Just Your Fool" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  13. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 49, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  14. "Billboard". Billboard. October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  16. "Swisscharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Just Your Fool". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  17. "Billboard Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. November 1, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  18. "Billboard Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
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