"Fishin' in My Pond" was a song written by Willie Dixon in 1956. The song was recorded by the

Chicago blues Chicago blues is a form of blues music developed in Chicago, Illinois. It is based on earlier blues idioms, such as Delta blues, but performed in an urban style. It developed alongside the Great Migration of the first half of the twentieth cent ...

musician Lee Jackson in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

, United States, that same year, and issued as a single on

Cobra Records Cobra Records (together with its Artistic subsidiary) was an independent record label that operated from 1956–1959. The label launched the careers of Chicago blues artists Otis Rush, Magic Sam, and Buddy Guy and "signaled the arrival of a new ...

in February 1957.

Recording

Jackson recorded the Dixon-penned humorous track, "Fishin' in My Pond", a twelve bar blues number, on which Jackson played guitar and also supplied variable vocals, which expressed frustration and disappointment. The song was ostensibly about a man whose fish got stolen from his pond, although the lyrics had a metaphoric reference to illicit sexual shenanigans. The single was released in February 1957. The personnel on the recording were Jackson (vocals, guitar), Dixon (double bass),

Sunnyland Slim Albert Luandrew (September 5, 1906March 17, 1995), "Blues pianist and singer Sunnyland Slim was born Albert Luandrew in Vance, Mississippi, September 5, 1906 (most sources say 1907, but the Social Security Death Index and 1920 census data give t ...

(piano),

Big Walter Horton Walter Horton (April 6, 1921 – December 8, 1981), known as Big Walter (Horton) or Walter 'Shakey' Horton, was an American blues harmonica player. A quiet, unassuming, shy man, he is remembered as one of the premier harmonica players in the hi ...

(harmonica),

Jimmy Rogers Jimmy Rogers (June 3, 1924December 19, 1997) was an American Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his work as a member of Muddy Waters's band in the early 1950s. He also had a solo career and recorded several pop ...

(guitar), Harold Ashby and Lucius Washington (tenor saxophone) and Jesse Fowler (drums). It was reviewed in the February 23, 1957, issue of '' Billboard'' who stated "Lee Jackson chants a slow, rhythmic blues that is for the southern markets. Appealing, drifty type wax". The B-side was the song "I'll Just Keep Walkin'", penned by Jackson.

Later versions

"Fishin' in My Pond" was also recorded by Junior Valentine on his album ''I Can Tell'' (2000); by

Hip Linkchain Willie Richard (November 10, 1936 – February 13, 1989), who performed as Hip Linkchain, was an American Chicago blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. His best-known numbers were "Change My Blues" and "That Will Never Do". AllMusic describe ...

on ''Westside Chicago Blues Guitar'' (2007); by Wanda King on ''From a Blues Point of View'' (2008); by

and Left Hand Frank on ''The Dirty Dozens'' (2007); and Willie Dixon's own version of his song appeared on the compilation album, ''Boss of the Chicago Blues'' (Fuel Records, 2005).

Compilation reissue

Jackson's track was included on the compilation album, ''Big Boss Men: A Chicago Blues Collection'', released in 2013 on Fuel Records.

Value

In December 2019, an original vinyl copy of the single sold for $228.

References

{{Reflist

External links

YouTube
1956 songs 1957 singles Blues songs Songs written by Willie Dixon Cobra Records singles Comedy songs