This week’s tune has two titles: Baby Don’t You Do It and just plain Don’t Do It. The former title is the OG but I prefer Don’t Do It because the first version of the song I heard was by The Band from Rock Of Ages. That title has aged well, it still rocks. Full disclosure: I used this week’s tune as a Saturday Odds & Sods theme song in 2020.

Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland wrote Don’t Do It in 1964 for the great Marvin Gaye. That’s where we begin:

Let’s take a trip to Steveland. That’s his real first name. I hope that joke landed.

The Who’s live version of the HDH classic begins with thunderous drums by Keith Moon:

The Band. Say no more.

Nicolette Larson first came to my attention through her work with Neil Young. It’s a shame that she died in 1997 at the age of 45.

It’s time for the small man with a big voice, Steve Marriott who, like Moon and Larson, died way too young.

Finally, a 21st Century version from Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and the gang using my preferred title.

That’s it for this week. Let’s drink to the upcoming month of August, which is my birthday season. It’s what Walter and John Huston would want. Never argue with my birthday twin and his father.