The Things That I Used to Do

Infobox Single
Name = The Things That I Used to Do


Artist = Guitar Slim
from Album =
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 1954
Format = 7"
Recorded = New Orleans
Genre = Rock
Length = 3:38
Label = Specialty Records
Writer = Guitar Slim
Producer = Ray Charles
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Feelin' Sad" (1952)
This single = "The Things That I Used To Do" (1954)
Next single = "Sum'thin' to Remember You By" (1954)
Misc ="The Things That I Used to Do" is a blues song written by Guitar Slim (aka Eddie Jones) and his 1953 recording of it in New Orleans, was arranged and produced by a young Ray Charles. [cite web
url=http://www.gale.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/charles_r.htm
title=Black History - Ray Charles
publisher=
accessdate=2006-11-05 ] It was released on Specialty Records in 1954 to become a bestseller. It was one of the biggest sellers in the label's history and stayed on the rhythm and blues charts for 42 weeks.cite web
url=http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/gslim.html
title=Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones)©2002JCMarion
publisher=
accessdate=2006-11-05 ]

Since Guitar Slim was a blues artist, Specially Record's Art Rupe figured that his appeal would be limited to the Southern rural audience. However, urban R&B stations in the North picked up the song, pushing it into a national hit. As a result, Guitar Slim became in great demand as a performer and played on the stage of the Apollo Theater.

ong

Ray Charles's arrangement and piano accompaniment emphasizes the religious tone of intense but philosophical regret in the singer's voice, giving the song a gospel-influenced feel. Like Fats Domino, Guitar Slim's voice has a less adult sound than does that of the typical blues shouters of the time and his lyrics are less explicitly sexual.cite book
first=Charlie
last=Gillett
year= 1996
title= The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll
edition= (2nd Ed.)
publisher= Da Capo Press
location=New York, N.Y.
pages= p. 139-140, 170
id= ISBN 0-306-80683-5]

Legacy

The song was a huge success, greatly influencing rock and roll by demonstrating the commercial success of using content that appeals to white listeners and by the effectiveness of its gospel feel. It has become a standard due to Guitar Slim's distinctive guitar figuring and the rising and falling melody. [cite web
first=Peter
last=Watrous
year=1990
month=August 19
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6DF1738F93AA2575BC0A966958260
title= A Young Blues Guitarist Intent on Modernization
publisher=New York Times
accessdate=2006-11-05 ] It has been listed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. [cite web
url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0150472.html
title=500 Songs That Shaped Rock
publisher=
accessdate=2006-11-05 ]

The song has been covered by many artists, including those listed below.
*Albert Collins
*Stevie Ray Vaughan [cite web
url=http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/StevieRayVaughan/catalog/3.html
title=Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
publisher=
accessdate=2006-11-05 ]
*Junior Parker
*Muddy Waters
*Jimi Hendrix
*Freddie King
*Chuck Berry
*Big Joe Turner - (1977)
*Elvin Bishop and The Grateful Dead in performance only - (1969) [cite web
url=http://www.deaddisc.com/songs/Things_I_Used_To_Do.htm
title=Sung by Elvin Bishop with the Grateful Dead on 8 June 1969
publisher=
accessdate=2006-11-05 ]
*G. Love and Special Sauce - (1994)
* Buddy Guy
*Luther Allison

Notes

External links

* [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=696 "The Things That I Used to Do" by Guitar Slim]
* [http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Tips/GuitarSlimThings.htm Photo of reissue on ACE Records]