I Just Want to Make Love to You

"I Just Want to Make Love to You"
Song

"I Just Want to Make Love to You" is a 1954 blues song (see 1954 in music), written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters. The song was a major hit, reaching number four on Billboard magazine's Black Singles chart.

Backing Waters' vocals and guitar on the single were Little Walter (harmonica), Jimmy Rogers (guitar), Otis Spann (piano), Willie Dixon (bass), and Fred Below (drums). Waters recorded the song again for the album Electric Mud (1968).

Since the release of Waters' version, the song has been covered numerous times. In 1961, Etta James recorded the song for her debut album At Last!. Her rendition also served as the b-side to her hit "At Last." The Rolling Stones recorded the song, with slightly modified lyrics, for their 1964 debut album The Rolling Stones (titled England's Newest Hit Makers in the US). Foghat had a minor pop hit with the song in 1972, when the song reached number eighty-three on the Pop Singles chart.

In 1996, Etta James' version became popular in the UK after featuring in a Diet Coke ad campaign. As a result, the single was re-released there, reaching #5 and giving her a belated first UK hit single.

The song has also been recorded by Chuck Berry, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, the Grateful Dead, Buddy Guy, The Kinks, Shadows of Knight, Robben Ford, Van Morrison, Lou Rawls, The Righteous Brothers, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Janis Siegel, Cold Blood, April Wine, Louise Hoffsten and Nanette Workman.

The middle eight was adapted by the Violent Femmes for their 1982 song "Gone Daddy Gone" and the 2006 cover by Gnarls Barkley.