Every Day I Have the Blues

The song Every Day I Have the Blues is a blues classic that has been performed in various ways over the years. Its origins trace back to the Sparks brothers, who introduced it in the taverns of St. Louis in the 1930s. The first official recording was made on July 28, 1935, where Pinetop Sparks, accompanied by Henry Townsend on guitar, breathed life into this piece distinguished by its twelve-bar structure and Sparks' characteristic piano and falsetto vocals. Following its reimagining by Memphis Slim in 1949, the song became a genre standard, reinterpreted by numerous artists.

Among the most notable versions is that of B.B. King, who recorded his interpretation in 1955. King attributes much of the success of his version to arranger Maxwell Davis, who created a fresh and relaxed sound that resonated with the guitarist's style. This recording was made at the old Capitol Records studio in Hollywood, where an innovative technique was used by connecting King's guitar directly to the console, giving it a distinctive sound. The song was released as a single alongside Sneakin' Around, reaching number eight on the R&B chart. Throughout his career, Every Day I Have the Blues became an essential part of King's repertoire, appearing on albums like Singin' the Blues and live recordings such as Live at the Regal. In 2019, his version was recognized in the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame as a "Classic of Blues Recording".