That's All Right (Jimmy Rogers song)
Encyclopedia
"That's All Right" or "That's Alright" is a blues song that is "a recognised standard and is widely performed". Based on earlier songs, Chicago blues singer and guitarist Jimmy Rogers
recorded "That's All Right" in 1950. The song became a hit and has been recorded by numerous blues and other artists.
, and 'I put some verses with it and built it that way. I built the song'". Lockwood "was performing it years earlier in Helena, Arkansas", which was confirmed by Muddy Waters
: "'That's All Right', that Robert Jr.'s song".
In 1947, Othum Brown recorded "Ora Nelle Blues" (Chance 1116), described as "substantially the same song". It features Brown on vocal and guitar with Little Walter
on harmonica (some pressings of the Chance single are titled "That's Alright" and credited to "Little Water J."). It has been suggested that Jimmy Rogers played lead guitar on the first take of the song and that Brown took the theme from Rogers. An earlier version of "Ora Nelle Blues" was recorded on a "one-shot vanity disc" by Floyd Jones
on vocal and guitar with Little Walter providing second guitar.
. A moderate- to slow-tempo twelve-bar blues, it has been called "one of the most tuneful and instantly memorable of all variations on the basic blues format". The song features Rogers' guitar and plaintive vocals, with Little Walter playing the harmonica in the style of Sonny Boy Williamson I
and Ernest "Big" Crawford on bass (Muddy Waters did not perform the song).
Despite the title, the lyrics indicate "clearly ... it is not 'all right'":
"That's All Right" became "an instant hit in Chicago" and cemented Rogers' relationship with Leonard Chess
, leading to his nine-year association with Chess Records. Jimmy Rogers performed the song throughout his career, recording additional studio and live versions of the song.
as a single (1958), Mose Allison
from the album Mose Allison Sings (1963), Robert Nighthawk from And This Is Maxwell Street (1964, released 1998), Canned Heat
from Historical Figures and Ancient Heads
(1971), Doctor Ross
, Freddie King
from King of the Blues (1971, released 1995), Buddy Guy
& Junior Wells
from Alone and Acoustic (1981), James Cotton
from Fire Down under the Hill (2000), and Etta James
from Blues to the Bone
(2004).
Jimmy Rogers
Jimmy Rogers was an American Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his work as a member of Muddy Waters' band of the 1950s.-Career:...
recorded "That's All Right" in 1950. The song became a hit and has been recorded by numerous blues and other artists.
Origins
According to Jimmy Rogers, "'That's All Right' was composed from a mixture of ideas from bluesmen Robert Junior Lockwood and Willie LoveWillie Love
Willie Love was an American Delta blues pianist. He is best known for his association with, and accompaniment of Sonny Boy Williamson II.-Biography:...
, and 'I put some verses with it and built it that way. I built the song'". Lockwood "was performing it years earlier in Helena, Arkansas", which was confirmed by Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
: "'That's All Right', that Robert Jr.'s song".
In 1947, Othum Brown recorded "Ora Nelle Blues" (Chance 1116), described as "substantially the same song". It features Brown on vocal and guitar with Little Walter
Little Walter
Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs , was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, for innovation and impact on succeeding generations...
on harmonica (some pressings of the Chance single are titled "That's Alright" and credited to "Little Water J."). It has been suggested that Jimmy Rogers played lead guitar on the first take of the song and that Brown took the theme from Rogers. An earlier version of "Ora Nelle Blues" was recorded on a "one-shot vanity disc" by Floyd Jones
Floyd Jones
Floyd Jones was an American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter, who is significant as one of the first of the new generation of electric blues artists to record in Chicago after World War II. A number of Jones' recordings are regarded as classics of the Chicago blues idiom, and his song "On...
on vocal and guitar with Little Walter providing second guitar.
Jimmy Rogers song
At the end of a 1950 Muddy Waters recording session, Jimmy Rogers recorded "That's All Right" as his debut single for Chess RecordsChess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
. A moderate- to slow-tempo twelve-bar blues, it has been called "one of the most tuneful and instantly memorable of all variations on the basic blues format". The song features Rogers' guitar and plaintive vocals, with Little Walter playing the harmonica in the style of Sonny Boy Williamson I
Sonny Boy Williamson I
Sonny Boy Williamson was an American blues harmonica player and singer, and the first to use the name Sonny Boy Williamson.-Biography and career:...
and Ernest "Big" Crawford on bass (Muddy Waters did not perform the song).
Despite the title, the lyrics indicate "clearly ... it is not 'all right'":
- You told me baby, your love for me was strong
- When I woke up little girl half of this, big world was gone
- But that's all right, I know you don't love me no more, but that's all right...
"That's All Right" became "an instant hit in Chicago" and cemented Rogers' relationship with Leonard Chess
Leonard Chess
Leonard Chess was a record company executive and the founder of Chess Records. He was influential in the development of electric blues.- Early life :...
, leading to his nine-year association with Chess Records. Jimmy Rogers performed the song throughout his career, recording additional studio and live versions of the song.
Other versions
Many blues and other artists have recorded "That's All Right", including Junior ParkerJunior 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"...
as a single (1958), Mose Allison
Mose Allison
Mose John Allison, Jr. is an American jazz blues pianist and singer.-Biography:...
from the album Mose Allison Sings (1963), Robert Nighthawk from And This Is Maxwell Street (1964, released 1998), Canned Heat
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
from Historical Figures and Ancient Heads
Historical Figures and Ancient Heads
Historical Figures and Ancient Heads is the sixth album by Canned Heat, released in 1971. It was the first album not to feature original member and songwriter Alan Wilson who had died the previous year. Featuring new guitarman Joel Scott Hill and Little Richard on “Rockin’ WIth The King”...
(1971), Doctor Ross
Doctor Ross
Doctor Ross , aka Doctor Ross, the harmonica boss, was an American blues singer, guitarist, harmonica player and drummer — a one-man band— who was born Charles Isaiah Ross, in Tunica, Mississippi....
, Freddie King
Freddie King
Freddie King , thought to have been born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert...
from King of the Blues (1971, released 1995), 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...
& Junior Wells
Junior Wells
Junior Wells , born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was an American Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist...
from Alone and Acoustic (1981), James Cotton
James Cotton
James Cotton is an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who has performed and recorded with many of the great blues artists of his time as well as with his own band.-Career:...
from Fire Down under the Hill (2000), 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...
from 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...
(2004).