Dust My Broom

The documented first recording of Dust My Broom is Robert Johnsons I Believe Ill Dust My Broom, recorded at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio on November 23 1936 with Johnson singing and playing acoustic guitar. Lead Belly is not part of the documented recording history for this title. The song entered circulation through Robert Johnsons 1937 Vocalion single and became a model for later electric versions. Elmore James transformed it into a major postwar blues standard with his 1951 recording. Dust My Broom became one of the central blues standards, with Johnsons original and James slide-guitar version shaping later blues and rock performances. The songs triplet guitar figure became one of the most recognizable riffs in electric blues.