30+1 suggested versions:
Eddie Boyd
Five Long Years (2:39)
Recorded at Modern Recording Studio, Chicago, IL, May 30 or June 19, 1952;
Originally released by J. O. B. in 1952
on the 7" & 10" single "Eddie Boyd Sings and Plays"
Eddie Boyd - piano, vocals
L. C. McKinley - guitars
Alfred Elkins - bass
Percy Walker - drums
Ernest Cotton - tenor sax
Little Junior Parker
Five Long Years (2:27)
Recorded in Houston, TX, January 1958;
Originally released by Duke in 1959
on the 7" & 10" single "Little Junior Parker & His Band: Five Long Years"
Little Junior Parker - harmonica, vocals
unknown - guitars, piano, bass, drums
John Lee Hooker
Five Long Years (3:38)
Recorded in New York City, NY, April 29, 1960;
Originally released by Vee Jay in 1961
on the album "The Folk Lore of John Lee Hooker"
John Lee Hooker - guitars, vocals
Al Smith I've Been Mistreated (7:02)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, August 11, 1960;
Originally released by Prestige in 1961
on the album "Al Smith: Midnight Special"
Writing credits are labeled to Al Smith
Al Smith - vocals
King Curtis - tenor sax
Jimmy Lee - guitars
Robert Banks - organ
Leonard Gaskin - bass
Bobby Donaldson - drums
Organ solo at the beginning by Robert Banks
Sax solo in the mid by King Curtis
Guitar solo in the mid by Jimmy Lee
Muddy Waters
Five Long Years (4:52)
Recorded live in Bremen, Germany, October 13, 1963;
Originally released by Fontana in 1963
on the album "American Folk Blues Festival 1963"
Muddy Waters - vocals
Matt Guitar Murphy - guitars
Otis Spann - piano
Willie Dixon - bass
Bill Stepney - drums
Piano solo in the mid by Otis Spann
Guitar solo in the mid by Matt Guitar Murphy
Yardbirds
Five Long Years (5:04)
Recorded at the Marquee Club, London, England, March 13, 1964;
Originally released by Columbia in 1964
on the album "Five Live Yardbirds"
Keith Relf - harmonica, vocals
Eric Clapton - lead guitar
Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar
Paul Samwell-Smith - bass
Jim McCarty - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning & afer the 1st verse by Keith Relf
Guitar solo after the 2nd verse by Eric Clapton
Eddie Boyd
Five Long Years (3:18)
Recorded in Hamburg, Germany, October 7, 1965;
Originally released by Fontana in 1965
on the album "American Folk Blues Festival '65"
Eddie Boyd - organ, vocals
Buddy Guy - guitars
Jimmie Lee Robinson - bass
Fred Below - drums
Organ solo in the mid by Eddie Boyd
Guitar solo in the mid by Buddy Guy
Frank Frost
Five Long Years (3:38)
Recorded in Nashville, TN, March 9, 1966;
Originally released by Jewel in 1973
on the album "Frank Frost"
Frank Frost - vocals
Oscar Williams - harmonica
Jack Johnson - guitars
Chip Young - bass
Sam Carr - drums
Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by Jack Johnson
Ike & Tina Turner Five Long Years (3:24)
Recorded in Memphis, TN, (prob.) 1968;
Originally released by Blue Thumb in 1968
on the album "Ike & Tina Turner: Outta Season"
Tina Turner - vocals
Albert Collins - guitars
Ike Turner - keyboards
unknown - bass, drums
Guitar solo in the mid by Albert Collins
Cuby + Blizzards
Five Long Years (5:34)
Recorded live at the Rheinhalle, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1968;
Originally released by Philips in 1968
on the album "Cuby + Blizzards: Live"
Harry Muskee - vocals
Eelco Gelling - guitars
Herman Brood - piano
Jaap van Eik - bass
Dick Beekman - drums
Guitar solo in the mid by Eelco Gelling
Oscar Benton
Five Long Years (5:02)
Recorded (prob.) in 1969;
Originally released by Decca in 1969
on the album "Oscar Benton Blues Band: The Blues Is Gonna Wreck My Life"
Oscar Benton - guitars, vocals
Barrelhouse Bailey - piano
H. J. B. Hawkins - bass
Lonesome Tanny Lant - drums
Piano solo at the beginning & in the mid by Barrelhouse Bailey
Guitar solo in the mid by Oscar Benton
Luther Allison
Five Long Years (4:20)
Recorded at Sound Studios, Chicago, IL, 1969;
Originally released by Delmark in 1969
on the album "Luther Allison and the Blue Nebulae: Love Me Mama"
Luther Allison - guitars, vocals
Robert Big Mojo Elem - bass
Bobby Davis - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verse by Luther Allison
Freddie King
Five Long Years (4:25)
Recorded at Ter-Mar Chess Studios, Chicago, IL, October 1970;
Originally released by Shelter in 1971
on the album "Freddie King: Getting Ready..."
Freddie King - lead guitar, vocals
Don Preston - rhythm guitar
Leon Russell - piano
Jon Gallie - organ
Donald "Duck" Dunn - bass
Charles Blackwell or Charles Myers - drums
Guitar solo in the mid by Freddie King
John Lee Hooker (feat. Joe Cocker)
Five Long Years (6:02)
Recorded at the Village Recorder, Los Angeles, CA, May 15, 1974;
Originally released by ABC in 1974
on the album "John Lee Hooker: Free Beer and Chicken"
Writing credits are labeled as Trad. Arr. by John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker - guitars, vocals
Joe Cocker - vocals
Sam Rivers - flute
Jim Kahr - guitars
Wah-Wah Watson - guitars
Clifford Coulter - piano, bass
Ron Beck - drums
Flute solo in the mid by Sam Rivers
John Littlejohn
Five Long Years (3:38)
Recorded live at Ma Bea's, Chicago, IL, November 8, 1976;
Originally released by MCM in 1977
on the album "John Littlejohn: Dream"
John Littlejohn - guitars, vocals
Larry Burton - rhythm guitar
Aron Burton - bass
Candy Utah - drums
Guitar solo in the mid by John Littlejohn
Magic Slim
Five Long Years (7:44)
Recorded live at the Zoo Bar, Lincoln, NE, (prob.) March 26-29, 1979;
Originally released by Wolf in 1994
on the album "Magic Slim & the Teardrops: Don't Tell Me About Your Troubles"
Magic Slim - lead guitar, vocals
Alabama Pettis Jr. - rhythm guitar
Nick Holt - bass
Nate Applewhite - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verse by Magic Slim
Rod Piazza
Five Long Years (7:04)
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, (prob.) 1981;
Originally released by Right Hemispheres Enterprises in 1981
on the album "The Mighty Flyers featuring Rod Piazza: Radioactive Material"
Rod Piazza - harmonica, vocals
Junior Watson - guitars
Honey Alexander - piano
Bill Stuve - bass
Bill Swartz - drums
Piano solo at the beginning & in the mid by Honey Alexander
Guitar solo in the mid by Junior Watson
Harmonica solo in the mid by Rod Piazza
Luther Tucker
Five Long Years (4:33)
Recorded (prob.) in 1990;
Originally released by Antone's in 1990
on the album "Luther Tucker: Sad Hours"
Luther Tucker - guitars, vocals
Derek O'Brien - guitars
Mel Brown - piano
Russell Jackson - bass
Tony Coleman - drums
Mark Kazanoff - tenor sax
Red Rails - baritone sax
Kim Wilson - harmonica
Guitar solo in the mid by Luther Tucker
Buddy Guy
Five Long Years (8:26)
Recorded at Battery Studios, London, UK, 1991;
Originally released by Silvertone in 1991
on the album "Buddy Guy: Damn Right, I've Got The Blues"
Buddy Guy - guitars, vocals
Neil Hubbard - guitars
Pete Wingfield - piano
Mick Weaver - organ
Greg Rzab - bass
Richie Hayward - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning & in the mid by Buddy Guy
Piano solo in the mid by Pete Wingfield
Eric Clapton
Five Long Years (4:48)
Recorded at Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, UK, 1994;
Originally released by Reprise in 1994
on the album "Eric Clapton: From the Cradle"
Eric Clapton - lead guitar, vocals
Andy Fairweather Low - rhythm guitar
Jerry Portnoy - harmonica
Chris Stainton - piano
Dave Bronze - bass
Jim Keltner - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning & in the mid by Eric Clapton
Cuby + Blizzards
Five Long Years (6:59)
Recorded live at De Lantaarn, Hellendoorn, Holland, January 31 or February 1, 1997;
Originally released by Munich Records in 1997
on the album "Cuby + Blizzards: Travelling with the Blues"
Harry Muskee - vocals
Erwin Java - guitars
Helmig van der Vegt - organ
Herman Deinum - bass
Hans La Faille - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning & in the mid by Erwin Java
Bryan Lee
Five Long Years (11:13)
Recorded live at the Old Absinthe House Bar, New Orleans, LA, February 14, 1997;
Originally released by Justin Time in 1997
on the album "Live at the Old Absinthe House Bar... Friday Night"
Bryan Lee - guitars, vocals
James Cotton - harmonica
Mark Adams - organ
John Banks - piano
Al Arthur - bass
Victor Spancowski - drums
Harmonica solo in the mid by James Cotton
Guitar solo in the mid by Bryan Lee
Carey Bell
Five Long Years (8:31)
Recorded live in 1998;
Originally released independently by King Bees
on the album "Carey Bell & the King Bees: Live!"
Carey Bell - harmonica, vocals
Rob "Hound Dog" Baskerville - guitars
Penny "Queen Bee" Zamagni - bass
Martin Henderson - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Carey Bell
Guitar solo in the mid by Rob Baskerville
Big Daddy G.
Five Long Years (5:21)
Recorded at Chalet Studios, Claremont, CA, between February - April 1998;
Originally released by Reggie's in 1998
on the album "Big Daddy G: 4 Blues"
Joe Toole - vocals
Dave "Big Daddy G" Glover - guitars
Rob MacPherson - piano
Darryl Peterson - bass
Bruce Brooker - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning & in the mid by Big Daddy G.
Pinetop Perkins
Five Long Years (5:56)
Recorded at The Studio, Portland, ME, July 1999;
Originally released by Telarc in 2000
on the album "Pinetop Perkins: Back On Top"
Pinetop Perkins - piano, vocals
Denny Breau - guitars
Michael Mudcat Ward - bass
Per Hanson - drums
Guitar solo in the mid by Denny Breau
Byther Smith
Five Long Years (6:17)
Recorded at Farmsound, Heelsum, Holland, November 15-17, 2000;
Originally released by Black & Tan in 2001
on the album "Byther Smith: Smitty's Blues"
Byther Smith - guitars, vocals
Richard van Bergen - rhythm guitar
Roel Spanjers - piano
Nico Heilijgers - bass
Arthur Bont - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st verse & before the 3rd verse by Byther Smith
Piano solo after the 2nd verse by Roel Spanjers
Phil Guy
Five Long Years (9:19)
Recorded live at the Cantina West, Helsinki, Finland, November 2, 2002;
Originally released independently by Wentus Blues Band
on the album "Wentus Blues Band featuring Phil Guy: The Last of the Big Time Spenders"
Phil Guy - guitars, vocals
Niko Riippa - guitars
Pepe Ahlqvist - harmonica
Robban Hagnäs - bass
Mikael Axelqvist - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st verse & before the end section by Phil Guy
Harmonica solo before the 2nd verse by Pepe Ahlqvist
Guitar solo after the 2nd verse by Niko Riippa
Lurrie Bell
Five Long Years (13:00)
Recorded live at Chan's, Woonsocket, RI, July 2008;
Originally released by Blue Bella in 2009
on the album "Nick Moss and the Flip Tops: Live at Chan's - Combo Platter No. 2"
Lurrie Bell - guitars, vocals
Nick Moss - guitars
Willie Oshawny - piano
Gerry Hundt - bass
Bob Carter - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st verse & at the end by Lurrie Bell
Guitar solo before the 2nd verse by Nick Moss
Wes Jeans Five Long Years (9:47)
Recorded live at the Music City Texas Theater, Linden, TX January 17, 2009;
Originally released independently by Music City Texas Theater in 2009
on the album "Wes Jeans: Live at Music City Texas"
Wes Jeans - guitars, vocals
Lance Lopez - rhythm guitar
Syd Hydro - bass
Jack Miller - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning & in the mid by Wes Jeans
Buddy Guy
Five Long Years (9:09)
Recorded live at Red Rock Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO, August 28, 2013;
Not released officially;
Released on the bootleg DVD "Buddy Guy: Live from Red Rocks"
Buddy Guy - guitars, vocals
Ric Hall - guitars
Marty Sammon - piano, organ
Orlando Wright - bass
Tim Austin - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning & after the 1st verse by Buddy Guy
Guitar solo before the 2nd verse by Ric Hall
J. C. Smith
Five Long Years (5:53)
Recorded at Tiki Studios, San Jose, CA, (prob.) 2015
Originally released by Cosmik in 2015
on the album "The J. C. Smith Band: Love Mechanic"
J. C. Smith - guitars, vocals
Robert Green - bass
Donnie Green - drums
Abraham Vasquez - sax
David Sandez - sax
Tommy Maitland - trumpet
Gene Reynolds - trombone
Guitar solo at the beginning & in the mid by J. C. Smith
