the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and number 37 on the magazine's Hot 100. In 2004, Reed's song was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in the "Classic of Blues Recordings" category. Herzhaft identifies the song as a blues standard. Koda commented: "Baby What You Want Me to Do" "was already a barroom staple of blues, country, and rock & roll bands by the early '60s" Notable cover versions The song continues to be performed and recorded, making it perhaps the most covered of Reed's songs and has spawned versions by a variety of blues, R&B, and rock artists: A live version by Etta James is included on her 1963 album Etta James Rocks the House. For her performance, "James does a growling, harmonica-imitating vocal solo", according to an AllMusic reviewer. In 1964, Chess Records' subsidiary Argo released it as a single that reached number 84 on the Hot 100 (the R&B chart was suspended at the time). In 1968, Elvis Presley performed "Baby What You Want Me to Do" during his 68 Comeback Special for NBC television. Music educator and author James Perone called it "particularly notable, as the concert in part served as a reminder to the audience of Presley's blues and R&B musical roots". The song is included on the Elvis 1968 album culled from the special and several reissues and compilations. References 1959 songs Songs written by Jimmy Reed 1959 singles Jimmy Reed songs 1964 singles Etta James songs 1968 singles Elvis Presley songs Blues songs Vee-Jay Records singles Argo Records singles