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Rolling Stones songs: Just Your Fool
*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES SONGS 1962-PRESENT

You must be tryin’ to drive me crazy/ Treat me the way you do/ I asked you please have mercy baby/ Let me be happy too…

Written by: Buddy Johnson
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 Rolling Stones – All the Songs, The Story Behind Every Track book:
By amplifying the harmonica and producing a sound resembling a saxophone, Walter Jacobs, better known as Little Walter, played an important role in developing the use of the harmonica in modern blues. His name appears with that of Muddy Waters, particularly in the early 1950s, but he also made a significant individual contribution to the success of postwar Chicago blues in general. Fine examples of his playing can be found on “Juke” and “My Babe,” recorded in 1952 and 1955, respectively.

Little Walter recorded “Just Your Fool” in December 1960 in the Chess Studios in Chicago with Otis Spann on piano, Fred Robinson and Luther Tucker on guitar, Willie Dixon or Jimmie Lee Robinson on double bass, and Fred Below or George Hunter on drums. It is an adaptation of a song recorded seven years earlier by the pioneer of jump blues, Buddy Johnson (with his sister Ella Johnson on lead vocals). The Johnson version reached number 6 on the R&B charts in 1954. The Stones’ version sticks closely to the recording by Little Walter. Mick Jagger alternates the words of the song —I’m just your fool, can’t help myself / I love you baby and no one else— with harmonica, playing straight out of 1950s Chicago.