I Just Want to Make Love to You

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic track "I Just Want to Make Love to You" by Foghat, from their self-titled debut album released in 1972, and the Zoo Freaks are surely digging the vibe. This song, a cover of Willie Dixon’s 1954 blues hit originally recorded by Muddy Waters, became a defining moment for Foghat. In a 2022 interview on Foghat’s official website, drummer Roger Earl shared that the band’s arrangement of the song, with its pulsing bass intro and wailing guitars, was largely their own, though producer Dave Edmunds added a distinctive distorted vocal effect for frontman "Lonesome" Dave Peverett. Earl recalled how Peverett loved the gritty, non-traditional vocal sound, which gave the track its raw rock edge. The song climbed to No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a staple on FM radio, cementing its place in Foghat’s live sets.

Another tidbit from the same Foghat website interview reveals that Willie Dixon himself gave the band his seal of approval. In 1978, during a Chicago performance, Dixon joined Foghat onstage, a moment Earl described as a high point for the band, validating their take on his blues classic. The song’s legacy continued with an 8½-minute live version on 1977’s Foghat Live, which hit No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 as a single and became an FM radio favorite. A 1973 performance of the track on The Midnight Special further showcased Foghat’s electrifying stage presence, a clip still celebrated by fans on platforms like Reddit.

Foghat’s journey began in London in 1971, when "Lonesome" Dave Peverett (guitar/vocals), Tony Stevens (bass), and Roger Earl (drums) left the British blues band Savoy Brown to form their own group. They were joined by guitarist Rod Price, formerly of Black Cat Bones, and named the band "Foghat" after a nonsense word from a Scrabble-like game Peverett played with his brother. As detailed on their Wikipedia page, the band relocated to the United States after signing with Bearsville Records, where their debut album, produced by Dave Edmunds, kicked off a string of successful releases. Foghat’s blues-rock sound, driven by Price’s slide guitar and Peverett’s dynamic vocals, resonated with American audiences, leading to eight gold albums, one platinum, and one double-platinum live record.

Despite lineup changes over the decades, Foghat has remained active, with Roger Earl as the constant force. Their 2023 album Sonic Mojo, noted on WMMO, marked their first original material in 20 years and earned a Grammy nomination for Contemporary Blues Album, as shared on their Facebook. Fans can connect with Foghat through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they post updates about tours and new music. For Zoo Freaks looking to dive deeper, fan communities like the Foghat Fan Club on Facebook offer a space to share memories and discuss the band’s enduring legacy.