It draws on earlier blues songs and has inspired popular versions, including those by Ray Charles, Rufus and Carla, and James Brown, which reached the record charts.

[9] Called "a highlight of Brown's early career",[10] his version features additional lyrics with background singers answering his vocal lines.

The instrumental accompaniment is provided by Buster Cooper on trombone, Hilton Jefferson on alto sax, Budd Johnson on tenor sax, Kelly Owens on piano, Skeeter Best on guitar, Leonard Gaskin on bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums.

[11] The songwriters were listed as "Brown-Cadena-Herman" on the single and the albums Ray Charles in Person (1960) and The Genius Sings the Blues (1961);[14] however, some later anthologies only list Lew Herman, also known as Herman Lubinsky, who was the owner of Nappy Brown's record label.

In the second season episode of The Cosby Show titled "Happy Anniversary", the Huxtable family lip-syncs to Ray Charles' version.

CNN's Lisa Respers France stated "No 'Cosby Show' list is complete without this family performance... Keshia Knight Pulliam stole our hearts as little Rudy Huxtable in this scene.

[11] Robert Christgau reviewed Brown's version favorably, singling out for praise the contribution of its unidentified female guest vocalist, "a Brownette who approaches any kind of note as if she owns it.