Baby Scratch My Back

"Baby Scratch My Back"
Single by Slim Harpo
B-side	"I'm Gonna Miss You (Like The Devil)"
Released	1965
Recorded	1965
Studio	J. D. Miller, Crowley, Louisiana
Genre	Rhythm and blues
Length	2:47
Label	Excello
Songwriter(s)	James Moore a.k.a. Slim Harpo
Producer(s)	J. D. Miller

"Baby Scratch My Back" is a 1965 rhythm and blues song by blues singer Slim Harpo. It is mostly an instrumental piece with occasional monologue and harmonica fills by Harpo.[1] The backing has been described as "a laconic, loping beat with tremolo laden guitar, wood block maracas, and snapping snare drum sound".[2]

Harpo referred to it as "an attempt at rock and roll for me".[1] Several rock groups had recorded some of his songs, including the Rolling Stones ("I'm a King Bee") and the Kinks ("Got Love If You Want It"). Music writer Todd Everett noted "Harpo evidently figured that he had a future in rock and roll".[1]

Although it had some success with rock audiences (reaching number 16 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart), "Baby Scratch My Back" was a number one hit in 1966 on the magazine's Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart.[3] It was Harpo's most commercially successful single[1] and was subsequently recorded by several musicians.[4]

In 1966, juke joint blues musician Frank Frost recorded an adaptation of "Baby Scratch My Back" titled "My Back Scratcher".[5] The session was produced by former Elvis Presley guitarist Scotty Moore for the Louisiana record label Jewel. Released as a single, it reached number 43 on the R&B chart, marking Frost's only appearance in the record charts.[3]

References

Everett, Todd (1989). The Best of Slim Harpo (Album notes). Slim Harpo. Santa Monica, California: Rhino Records. pp. 2–3. OCLC 299857016. R2 70169.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Marshall, James "The Hound" (1994). The Best of Excello Records (Album notes). Various artists. Los Angeles: Excello Records. p. 5. OCLC 70696292. CD 3001.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. pp. 181, 161. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
"Slim Harpo: 'Baby Scratch My Back' – Also Performed By". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2020.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Dahl, Bill (1996). "Frank Frost". In Erlewine, Michael; Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Koda, Cub (eds.). All Music Guide to the Blues. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 89. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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[Everett-1] Everett, Todd (1989). The Best of Slim Harpo (Album notes). Slim Harpo. Santa Monica, California: Rhino Records. pp. 2–3. OCLC 299857016. R2 70169.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

[2] Marshall, James "The Hound" (1994). The Best of Excello Records (Album notes). Various artists. Los Angeles: Excello Records. p. 5. OCLC 70696292. CD 3001.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

[R&B-3] Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. pp. 181, 161. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

[4] "Slim Harpo: 'Baby Scratch My Back' – Also Performed By". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2020.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

[Dahl-5] Dahl, Bill (1996). "Frank Frost". In Erlewine, Michael; Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Koda, Cub (eds.). All Music Guide to the Blues. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 89. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)