"Driving Wheel", also called "Drivin' Wheel" or "Driving Wheel Blues", is blues song recorded by Roosevelt Sykes

Roosevelt Sykes

Roosevelt Sykes was an American blues musician, also known as "The Honeydripper". He was a successful and prolific cigar-chomping blues piano player, whose rollicking thundering boogie-woogie was highly influential.-Career:Born in Elmar, Arkansas, Sykes grew up near Helena but at age 15, went on...

 (listed as "The Honey Dripper" on early singles) in 1936. It became a standard of the blues and has been recorded by numerous artists, including Junior Parker

Junior Parker

Junior Parker was an American Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his unique voice which has been described as "honeyed," and "velvet-smooth"...

 and Al Green

Al Green

Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...

 who had R&B and pop chart successes with the song.

Original song

Roosevelt Sykes' "Driving Wheel Blues" is a solo twelve-bar blues, with Sykes providing piano accompaniment to his vocal. The song is performed at a medium tempo with the opening lyrics:

My baby don't have to work, she don't have to rob and steal (2X)

I give her everything she needs, I am her driving wheel...

Sykes' song was released before Billboard magazine or a similar service began tracking such singles. He later recorded additional studio and live versions of the song.

Junior Parker/Al Green versions

Junior Parker, as "Little Junior Parker", recorded "Driving Wheel" for Duke Records

Duke Records

Duke Records was an American record label, started in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1952 by David James Mattis and Bill Fitzgerald, owners of Tri-State Recording Company. Their first release was Roscoe Gordon singing "Hey Fat Girl", issued on Duke R-1, later amended to R-101.After forming a partnership...

 (335). Although Parker's vocal line and lyrics follow Sykes' version, the song uses a group arrangement with a horn section and adds a break in the middle of the song. Most subsequent versions of "Driving Wheel" show Parker's influence, including the distinctive bass line. When the song was released in 1961, it spent eleven weeks in the Billboard R&B chart, where it reached #5; it also reached #85 in the pop chart.

Soul/gospel singer Al Green later had a R&B (#46) and pop chart hit (#115) with "Driving Wheel" in 1971 (Hi Records

Hi Records

Hi Records was a Memphis soul and rockabilly label started in 1957 by singer Ray Harris, record store owner Joe Cuoghi, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch , and three silent partners, including Cuoghi's lawyer, Nick Pesce....

 2188). The song was also included on his 1971 Al Green Gets Next to You

Al Green Gets Next to You

Al Green Gets Next to You is a studio album by American soul singer Al Green, released August 14, 1971.-Track listing:# "I Can't Get Next to You"  – 3:52# "Are You Lonely for Me, Baby?"  – 4:02...

album as well as various compilation albums. Green's version uses a different arrangement, in keeping with his soul music approach.

Other versions

"Driving Wheel" has been recorded by a variety of artists, including B.B. King (1961 from his My Kind of Blues

My Kind of Blues

My Kind of Blues is an album released by B. B. King in 1961. A remastered and expanded edition was released in 2003.-Track listing:#"You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now" — 5:15#"Mr...

album); Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1967 The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw

The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw

The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw is a 1967 album by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Its name refers to Elvin Bishop, whose role shifted to lead guitarist after Mike Bloomfield departed to form Electric Flag...

); Junior Wells

Junior Wells

Junior Wells , born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was an American Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist...

 (recorded a live version 1968 for his Sings Live at the Golden Bear album, in 1977 he recorded another live version with Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy

George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...

 from Live at Montreux); Albert King

Albert King

Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...

 (1970s Funky London, released in 1994); Luther Allison

Luther Allison

Luther Allison was an American blues guitarist. He was born in Widener, Arkansas and moved with his family, at age twelve, to Chicago in 1951. He taught himself guitar and began listening to blues extensively. Three years later he began hanging outside blues nightclubs with the hopes of being...

 (1974 Luther's Blues); and Etta James

Etta James

Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...

 (2004 Blues to the Bone

Blues to the Bone

Blues to the Bone is a 2004 album by Etta James. The album contains a selection of twelve blues standards which are among her favourites. James and her sons Donto and Sametto James produced the album, which reached number four in the Billboard Top Blues chart.-Critical reception:Allmusic gave...

album). It has, in addition, been performed live by Trigger Hippy

Trigger Hippy

Trigger Hippy is an American Rock and Roll supergroup composed of Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman, ex-Black Crowes guitarist Audley Freed, singer Joan Osborne, singer/songwriter Jackie Greene and bassist Nick Govrik. Formerly of the group is Widespread Panic guitarist Jimmy Herring.-History:The...

.