Rolling Stones songs: Just Like I Treat You
*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES SONGS 1962-PRESENT

But I know/ Know what you will do/ Your gotta treat me baby, just like I treat you…

Written by: Wilie Dixon
Recorded: British Grove Studios, London, England, Dec. 11, 14–15 2015
Guest musicians: Darryl Jones (bass), Chuck Leavell and Matt Clifford (piano)
*Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012

From the The Rolling Stones – All the Songs book:
Willie Dixon was perhaps the most prolific composer of modern Chicago blues, and the musicians signed up with the Chess and Cobra recording companies owe him a vote of thanks. Howlin’ Wolf recorded “Just Like I Treat You” in the Chess studios in December 1961 with Hubert Sumlin on guitar and Willie Dixon on double bass. The song was issued as the B-side
of the single “I Ain’t Superstitious” in April (or May) 1962 but didn’t make it onto the charts.
But that is not to say that “Just Like I Treat You” is a less significant item in Willie Dixon and Howlin’ Wolf’s repertoires. Half romantic, half ironic (or is it cynical?), the lyrics concern a man who asks his woman to treat him like he treats her. A very modern blues song, it has the energetic and bouncy rhythm favored by the composer, Dixon, and the performer, Howlin’ Wolf. Mick Jagger chose it for this reason—it was never a hit but is an example of electric blues at its most typical. Perhaps it was also selected in memory of the Rolling Stones’ appearance with Howlin’ Wolf on the TV program Shindig! in 1965.

The Stones here return to a sound and a rhythm similar to that of their recordings of the early 1960s. Their version of “Just Like I Treat You” is more rock influenced than that of Howlin’ Wolf. Charlie Watts on drum kit plays with greater energy and weight than on any of the preceding pieces, and Darryl Jones plays a prominent bass line. Chuck Leavell has a piano
boogie line, his playing recalling that of Ian Stewart who—Keith likes to imagine—would have liked the album. The two guitarists maintain an excellent rhythm, complementing each other perfectly and ending the piece with a coherent and unique sound. Ron Wood is probably responsible for the various different licks; the solo is certainly by him. Mick Jagger’s voice is on ideal home territory with this type of music. He includes a harmonica solo, which he described as having more of a country feel than some of the other tracks.