Killing Floor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Killing Floor" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Song by Howlin' Wolf | ||
| from the album Real Folk Blues | ||
| Released | 1966 | |
| Genre | Blues | |
| Length | ~2:53 | |
| Label | Chess Records | |
| Composer(s) | Chester Arthur Burnett | |
| Real Folk Blues track listing | ||
| "Killing Floor" (1) |
Louise (2) |
|
Killing Floor is a song written and recorded by Howlin' Wolf in in 1964. It was released on the album, Real Folk Blues in 1966. This song has been covered or performed live by many blues and rock guitar artists, including Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin.
Led Zeppelin "covered" this song on their second album. Bootleg copies of live concerts from the band's early years include rough versions of the song credited as "Killing Floor." Their version, which also included lyrics from Robert Johnson's "Travelling Riverside Blues," credited neither blues artist. Possibily to avoid a conflict over plagarism, the song was retitled "The Lemon Song." Sometime after Howlin' Wolf's death, Chess Records sued Led Zeppelin and Howlin' Wolf's name was credited on the song. Robert Johnson, however, is not.
The Wolf's long time guitarist, Hubert Sumlin still performs this song. He played it with Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray at The Crossroads Guitar Festival.
- Jimi Hendrix performance - Stockholm, 1969.
- Jimi Hendrix performance - Monterey, 1967.
