Loading details…
about this song
"Dust My Broom" is a blues song originally recorded in 1936 as "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" by American blues artist Robert Johnson. However, Elmore James' 1951 recording as "Dust My Broom" "made it the classic as we know it", according to blues historian Gerard Herzhaft. James' slide guitar adaptation of Johnson's triplet figure has been identified as one of the most famous blues guitar riffs and has inspired many rock performers. The song has become a blues standard, with numerous renditions by a variety of musicians.
why this is interesting
# Why This Matters This recording deserves attention as a pivotal moment where blues tradition met rock's emerging vocabulary. The slide guitar riff that Elmore James popularized—a transformation of Robert Johnson's original triplet figure—became foundational to rock music itself, inspiring countless performers across generations. Fleetwood Mac's engagement with this material illustrates how blues standards function not as historical artifacts but as living frameworks for musical innovation. The song's enduring presence across countless interpretations reveals something essential about how musical ideas travel and evolve, making it a genuine touchstone for understanding the relationship between blues and rock. Studying this track illuminates the deep roots underlying modern music's DNA.