11 Stop Breakin' Down (Matthew Skoller on voc)

(3:35) (Sonny Boy Williamson/Robert Johnson)

featuring Matthew Skoller (voc, harp) Billy Flynn (guitar) Kenny Smith (drums)

"The version I do is a total tribute to my mentor Junior Wells' version on Southside Blues Jam (Delmark!). It would follow that Junior was tributing Sonny Boy's 1945 version, I get that. But the song was recorded by Robert Johnson in 1937. I actually sing a lyric from the Johnson version. "Stuff I got'll bust your brains out/make you lose your mind." Junior's version is pure Junior and Johnny patterned our approach to the song after the deliciously noisy and free ensemble work on Southside Blues Jam, which I think is one of the most important masterpieces in modern Chicago Blues history."- Matthew Skoller

"Stop Breakin' Down" is usually associated with the first Sonny Boy, but Johnny had Junior Wells' mid-tempo 1970 treatment from the Delmark album South Side Blues Jam with Otis' Spann's rippling piano in mind when he laid down this version, with harpist Matthew Skoller doing the vocal honors." - Bill Dahl, liners