This Allen Toussaint oldie is for my friend Jonny, who’s crushing on a co-worker who’s already got a boyfriend. Warren Zevon recorded it for the 1980 LP “Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School,” but it works best as a live number.
The original by Ernie K-Doe was released in 1961, one of a string of singles K-Doe and Toussaint recorded hoping to follow up on the No. 1 success of “Mother-in-Law.” None of them cracked the Top 40. This one only reached No. 71.
In the early days of the British Invasion, English bands looking for material frequently covered American R&B records. This one was covered by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders and the Paramounts, but the fuzzed-out guitar solo by Eric Clapton made the Yardbirds’ version stand out.
