“Little Red Rooster” is a blues standard credited to arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon (1915-1992). The song was recorded in 1961 for Chess Records by American bluesman Howlin’ Wolf (Chester Burnett, 1910-1976) but the song is rooted in the Delta blues tradition and appears in earlier recordings by artists like Charley Patton (1891?-1934) and Memphis Minnie (Lizzie Douglas, 1897-1973).

The image of a wayward rooster appears in a number of blues songs from the 1920s and 1930s, with two particular songs identified as precursors to Wolf’s recording. Influential Delta blues musician Charley Patton’s 1929 recording of “Banty Rooster Blues” contains lyrics that are similar to those in Willie Dixon’s composition. Patton was also a noted influence on Howlin’ Wolf in his early days. Similar lyrics are also found in Memphis Minnie’s 1936 acoustic blues recording of “If You See My Rooster (Please Run Him Home).”

The Rolling Stones recorded a modern electric version of “Little Red Rooster” in 1964. The Stones frequently performed it on television and in concert, and released several live recordings of the song. “Little Red Rooster” continues to be performed and recorded, making it one of Willie Dixon’s best-known compositions.

In 1971, Chess arranged for Howlin’ Wolf to record “Little Red Rooster” and other songs with British artists Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. The recordings were released as “The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions.” Initially, Marshall Chess did not want to pay the expense for flights and accommodations to send Wolf’s long-serving guitarist Hubert Sumlin to England but, much to his credit, an intervention and ultimatum by Eric Clapton righted that wrong.

Howlin’ Wolf’s original “Little Red Rooster” is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame list of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.”

Richard Séguin – voice, resonator guitar, dobro, electric bass, MIDI programming (drums)

To hear the song, click on the title below.

Little Red Rooster

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