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You put poison in my coffee, instead of milk or cream…
Written by: Chester Burnett a.k.a. Howlin’ Wolf Recorded: British Grove Studios, London, England, Dec. 11, 14–15 2015 Guest musicians: Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell and Matt Clifford (piano)
From the Rolling Stones – All the Songs, The Story Behind Every Track book: Featuring a heavy and hypnotic beat and a voice from the depths of the Delta, in “Commit a Crime” the Rolling Stones have taken their inspiration from the repertoire of one of their major influences: Howlin’ Wolf. His recording of “Commit a Crime,” with all the best of the Chess blues sound, dates from April 11, 1966. The lineup has Hubert Sumlin on guitar, Henry Gray on piano, Eddie Shaw on tenor sax, Willie Dixon on double bass, and Cassell Burrows on drums. Although it was credited to Chester Burnett (Howlin’ Wolf’s real name), this number is in fact a modernized version of another of his songs, “I’m Leaving You”
Wolf recorded this song for the 1971 album The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions, changing the title of “I’m Leaving You” to “What a Woman,” along with musicians Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Ian Stewart, and Eric Clapton. I’m gonna leave you woman, before I commit a crime / You tried so hard to kill me, woman it just was not my time: Things are not going too well for this couple! And Mick Jagger’s perverse delight in uttering the words You ’bout the evilest woman, that I ever seen is only too evident. (Ref. commit a crime)
