Messin' with the Kid
| "Messin' with the Kid" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Junior Wells | ||||
| B-side | "Universal Rock" | |||
| Released | 1960 | |||
| Format | 7" 45 rpm record | |||
| Recorded | Universal Studios, Chicago, October 17, 1960 | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Length | 2:12 | |||
| Label | Chief (Cat. no. C-7021) | |||
| Writer(s) | Mel London | |||
| Producer(s) | Mel London | |||
| Junior Wells singles chronology | ||||
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"Messin' with the Kid" is a rhythm and blues-style blues song originally recorded by Junior Wells in 1960. It is credited to Chief Records owner/songwriter/producer Mel London. Considered a blues standard,[1] it "remains Junior Wells's best-known song".[2] "Messin' with the Kid" has been recorded by a variety of blues and other artists.
Original song
"Messin' with the Kid" is an up-tempo twelve-bar blues which alternates between Afro-Cuban- and Little Richard-style rhythmic accompaniment. According to Junior Wells, the title was inspired by his young daughter Gina. Mel London arrived early at Wells' home to pick him up for a scheduled recording session: "'Where's you Daddy at? Get him up'. 'No, you said you were goin' to be here at nine o'clock. It's not nine o'clock.... You're not goin' to be messin' with the kid'".[2] "The Kid" was a nickname for Wells. Later in the studio, they needed another song for the session: "...one thing led to another and ... it took us five minutes, maybe ten minutes and we had it".[2]
- What's this you hear goin' all around town
- The people are sayin' you're gonna to put The Kid down
- Well oh lord, well look at what you did
- You can call it what you wanna, but I call it messin' with The Kid
Wells sang the song, but unlike most of his early singles, he does not play harmonica. The backup is provided by Earl Hooker (and possibly Lacey Gibson) on guitar, Johnny "Big Moose" Walker on piano, Jack Myers on bass, Fred Below on drums, Jarrett Gibson on tenor saxophone, and Donald Hankins on baritone saxophone.
In 1966, Wells recorded a second version of "Messin' with the Kid". It features a different rhythm arrangement and includes a harmonica solo by Wells with backup by Buddy Guy on guitar along with Myers and Below. The song was released on the 1966 blues compilation Chicago|The Blues|Today! Vol. 1 (Vanguard 79216). Wells and Guy used a similar arrangement for "Snatch It Back and Hold It" on their influential 1965 album Hoodoo Man Blues. The duo later recorded several live versions of the song, including in 1977 for Live in Montreux.
Other versions
"Messin' with the Kid" has been recorded by various artists, including The Downchild Blues Band on their 1971 debut "Bootleg", Rory Gallagher from Live in Europe (1972), Todd Rundgren (with Woody's Truck Stop) from Something/Anything (1972), Johnny Winter from White, Hot and Blue (1978), The Blues Brothers on their first album Briefcase Full of Blues (1978), Luther Allison from South Side Safari (1983), AC/DC during the rehearsals for the Flick of the Switch/Monsters of Rock Tour (1983) and Freddie King on Texas Flyer: 1974–1976 (2010).
Several artists have recorded songs based on "Messin' with the Kid", including Earl Hooker, who recorded an instrumental titled "Rockin' with the Kid" (1961 Chief 7031). Steppenwolf's "Tighten Up Your Wig" is essentially "Messin' with the Kid" with new lyrics. Also in 1961, Muddy Waters recorded an answer song, "Messin' with the Man" (Chess 1796). Blues singer Eddie C. Campbell recorded a Christmas novelty song, titled "Santa's Messin' With The Kid" (1977 from King of the Jungle), in which Santa is "messing with" the wife of the Kid, until "The Kid ran him out o' town":
- Santa come' once a year we all know, didn't use my chimney had a key to my do'
- Oh, Lord, look what Santa did, (he's messin' with me)
- Call it Merry Christmas?, I say Santa's messin' with The Kid