Dale Hawkins Susie-Q
Original 45rpm Vinyl Record Memories.
From radio and jukebox hits of early dawn to the rock-n-roll LP classics that brought music to the masses, Dale Hawkins Susie-Q will showcase another original vinyl record classic from the Chess LP album 1429.
In 1957, Dale Hawkins was playing clubs in Shreveport, Louisiana, and although his music was influenced by Elvis and the guitar sounds of Scotty Moore, Hawkins blended that with the heavy blues sound of black Louisiana artists for the recording of his swamp-rock classic, "Susie-Q."
In addition, Hawkins' music in the fifties took notice of the blues musicians he admired, such as Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. These influences can be heard in his combination of rockabilly, blues, and R&B styles, which were hallmarks of the music he created. Hawkins' Susie-Q vinyl record classic is considered his best known recording.
Dale Hawkins Susie-Q
"Susie-Q" is best known for its catchy guitar riff and bluesy style and was a moderate success at the time of its release in May 1957.
Fellow Louisiana guitarist and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, James Burton, a teenager at the time, provided the signature guitar riff and solo.
And it's the Susie-Q title cut that makes this album a classic. Hawkins wrote the song with bandmate Robert Chaisson, but when released, Stan Lewis, the owner of Jewel/Paula Records and whose daughter Susan was the inspiration for the song, and Eleanor Broadwater, the wife of Nashville DJ Gene Nobles, were credited as co-writers to give them shares of the royalties.
Dale Hawkins Susie-Q was cut at the KWKH Radio station in Shreveport, Louisiana, however, sometime after the recording, the master tape of "Susie-Q" was sold to Checker Records in Chicago, which released it as a 45 RPM single.
Why No Record Credit For James Burton?
The explosive guitar riff supplied by James Burton,
one of rock's first superstar guitarists, and the gong of a cowbell at
the song's beginning of Susie-Q (the title was also sometimes rendered as
"Susie-Q," "Suzy-Q" and other variations; neither Hawkins nor his record
company was consistent) reached #27 on the Billboard chart. Over the years the song has proven it should have placed higher on the charts.
The song's title seems to have come from a dance craze of the mid-1930s. A song called "Doin' the Susi-Q" was included in the Cotton Club Revue of 1936.
Burton has stated on multiple occasions that he composed the
music to "Susie-Q," initially as an instrumental, but was not given a
co-writing credit or share of the publishing. The Dale Hawkins Susie-Q original version
is also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that
Shaped Rock and Roll." The song features a repetitive and infectious
guitar riff, which became its trademark. It has been covered by numerous
artists over the years, testifying to its enduring appeal.
James
Burton has played with many notable artists over the years, including
Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, and John Denver. His
guitar work on "Susie-Q" is widely recognized as a significant
contribution to the song's success. Listen to the original Dale Hawkins Susie-Q recording from 1957 and see if you might agree.
CCR from 1968 Gets Our Vote For Best Susie-Q Cover
There have been several successful covers of the song "Susie-Q" by other artists. The most notable cover version was by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) in 1968. CCR's rendition became a huge hit, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Their version of "Susie-Q" helped popularize the song and introduced it to a new generation of listeners. They went on to become one of the biggest bands of the late '60s and early '70s thanks to a string of hits written by their leader, John Fogerty.
John Fogerty said that when he heard Burton's Susie-Q riff for the first time, he was in his mother's car and got very excited. "I went crazy and immediately began banging on the dashboard."
This is one of the few Creedence songs where vocals of band members besides John Fogerty are heard. You can hear his bandmates in the second part of the song. "Susie Q" was their only single not written or co-written by Fogerty to reach the Top 40.
Thanks to this song, girls named Susie are often nicknamed "Susie-Q."
What is Swamp-Rock Music?
Swamp-rock is a subgenre of rock music that combines elements of blues, rockabilly, and Cajun music, often with a swampy, atmospheric sound. It originated in the southern United States, particularly in Louisiana.
While Dale Hawkins was associated with the swamp-rock sound, "Susie-Q," although it has blues and rockabilly influences, is not considered a prototypical swamp-rock song.
However, it is often referenced as one of the early influences on the genre.
Dale Hawkins died in Little Rock, Arkansas on Feb 13, 2010...He was 73.
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Danny, I could not believe the content of your website. It is just amazing to recall so much we lived through just by checking out so many old posters & album covers.
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I'm doing some research on the company and am learning how influential Vee Jay was in shaping the future of music. Nice to see your web page.
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February 15, 2015
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Danny, I think you did a great job and my family enjoyed it as well. I have had some more time to go through your site and find it to be fantastic, and your personal story is great as well.
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Danny, Great job !!!! I can't express enough how much my mother
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Thanks for an excellent musical experience. I found your website by accident and just kept enjoying one classic after another. Great job! Like yourself, I'm still enjoying my vinyl collection. We share many of the same favorite artists.
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Keeping Old Vinyl Music Alive.
Congratulations on an outstanding site. I am from old school. I was 13 when Rock & Roll erupted in 1955. I would literally run home from school to watch Bandstand every day. I lived outside Philly and grew up with all the Philadelphia music scene and its performers. Keep up the good work and I thank you for your time and effort in keeping the old vinyl music alive for us and future generations.
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