[4] In 1958, a different version of this song, Junker's Blues, penned by Dupree himself, and which focuses on the allure of hard drugs,[5] appeared on Dupree's first album, Blues from the Gutter, featuring Larry Dale on guitar, Wendell Marshall on double bass, Willie Jones on drums and Pete Brown on alto saxophone.

According to some sources, the original version, Junker Blues, served as a template for the 1951 song, "Junco Partner".

[10] Lloyd Price used the melody of "Junker Blues" in 1952 for his song, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", as did Professor Longhair in 1953 for "Tipitina", for Atlantic Records that same year.

In 1990, Willy DeVille recorded Dupree's 1958 "Junker's Blues" for his Victory Mixture album.

English actor and vocalist Hugh Laurie covered "Junker's Blues" on his 2013 album, Didn't It Rain.