Come On (Earl King Song) - Cover Versions

Cover Versions

The most well known cover of this song is the one done by The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1968. It appears on their third album Electric Ladyland. Hendrix sped up the tempo to give the song more rock and roll feel, however the original guitar licks remain intact. The Experience also added a more established rhythm section to back up the signature guitar solo from Hendrix. Such a rhythm section included Noel Redding's solid bass line and Mitch Mitchell's defined drum part.

Dr. John played a bluesy version of the song on his critically acclaimed album Dr. John's Gumbo (1972) under the name "Let the Good Times Roll". He plays the lead guitar on this version. Dr. John also plays it on the live album Right Place, Right Time: Live at Tipitina's (2006) under different arrangement. He plays piano on this one.

Freddie King on album "Burglar" (1974) also recorded this theme.

Earl King recorded a new version of his own song in 1977 at Knight Studios, Metairie, Louisiana, this time influenced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience version and entitled "Come Let's the Good Times Roll". It was released by Sonet Records.

Stevie Ray Vaughan covered the song on his third album Soul to Soul (1985). The cover is based on Hendrix's version rather than on the original. Since he never played a song the same way twice live, many of his versions are unique to the original. However, all of them are played in the key of E-Flat, a key heavily used by Stevie Ray. Stevie named the song "Come On (Part III)" with respect to Earl King's version as the first part, Jimi Hendrix's as the second, and his version as the third.

Steve Miller Band covered the song on their album Bingo!.

Other artists who did the song include Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets on their first album Talk To You By Hand (1981).