I Can't Quit You Baby ^{Blues Hall of Fame}

Some of the blues artists that have recorded "I Can't Quit You Baby":

Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Little Milton, Luther Allison, James Cotton, John Mayall, John Lee Hooker, Magic Sam, Mighty Joe Young, Fabulous Thunderbirds

"I Can't Quit You Baby" is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Chicago blues artist Otis Rush, one of the leading exponents of the "West Side Sound." The song, a slow 12-bar blues, was a vehicle for arranger/producer Dixon to launch Rush and Cobra Records, as it was the first single for both. In this regards, it was a success, reaching #6 in the Billboard R&B chart in 1956. In his autobiography, Willie Dixon explained that "I Can't Quit You Baby" was written about a relationship that Rush seemed to be preoccupied with at the time and that Dixon used that to draw out an impassioned performance by Rush.

Otis Rush revisited "I Can't Quit You Baby" several times over the years, most notably when he recorded the song for the 1966 blues compilation Chicago|The Blues|Today! Vol. 2 (Vanguard 79217). This version featured an altered arrangement with an unusual turnaround (tonic chord followed by a half-step above the tonic chord) and staccato guitar fills. This is the version on which most cover versions would be based. John Mayall's Bluesbreakers covered it on the 1967 Crusade album (Decca SKL 4890/London PS 529). In 1969, Little Milton (Checker 1212) and the song's author Willie Dixon (Columbia PC 9987) also covered it. Since then it has been recorded by many blues and other artists. Otis Rush's original Cobra single "I Can't Quit You Baby" was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1994.

Led Zeppelin version

Another version, well known among rock fans is by English band Led Zeppelin. Their version is the penultimate song on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin. Their rendition begins with a long, drawn out cry from Plant, and leads into a rolling riff on which Jimmy Page improvises solos. John Paul Jones provides solid backing, and John Bonham displays the flair for which he is famous. Some have noted that Page's guitar parts sound similar to his guitar solo in "Heartbreaker".

The band regularly performed "I Can't Quit You Baby" live at Led Zeppelin concerts from 1968 to early 1970.^[6] Two live versions are included on the Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions, whilst the group's performance of the song on January 9, 1970 at Royal Albert Hall is available on both Coda and the Led Zeppelin (DVD) (although for the two releases the song is mixed differently). Robert Plant's a cappella singing of "sometimes I get so worried" at the Royal Albert Hall is reminiscient of Ray Charles' performance of "I Got a Woman" from the album Ray Charles at Newport.

In 1970, the song was dropped from Led Zeppelin's typical concert lineup as they incorporated material from Led Zeppelin III into their shows, with "I Can't Quit You Baby" essentially being replaced by the song "Since I've Been Loving You". It was however revived as part of the "Whole Lotta Love" medley during some Led Zeppelin concerts in 1972 and 1973, sometimes being changed by Oden's Going Down Slow, as can be heard on How the West Was Won.

This song was rehearsed by the surviving members of Led Zeppelin for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary reunion in May 1988, but it was not included on the night.

Personnel

• Robert Plant - vocals
• Jimmy Page - guitars
• John Paul Jones - bass guitar
• John Bonham - drums

Cover versions

• 1989: Nine Below Zero (Live at the Venue)
• 1990: Dread Zeppelin (Un-Led-Ed)
• 1999: Todd Wolfe (Live from Manny's Car Wash)
• 2002: Lennon Page (L.A. Rockabilly Blues)
• 2004: Gary Moore (Power of the Blues)
• 2006: Mike Manne and Tiger Blues (Mr. Blues and I)

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