Howlin’ Wolf, Back Door Man

In the 113^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Back Door Man” by legendary blues musician Howlin’ Wolf.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 113^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Back Door Man” performed by Howlin’ Wolf.

Willie Dixon (1915 – 1992), the poet laureate of the blues, composed a classic with “Back Door Man”? So, what is a back door man? It is a man who is having an affair with a married woman and sneaking out the back door. “Back Door Man” was originally recorded and released by blues musician Howlin’ Wolf (1910 – 1976). While there have been far more risqué and scandalous blues records, Mr. Wolf is cheating with married men’s wives: “Well, the men don’t know, but the little girls understand.” “Back Door Man” is the 10^th track on Howlin’ Wolf, released in 1962.

“Back Door Man” is a whole vibe.  It features beefy, mean guitar playing (Hubert Sumlin, 1931 – 2011).  The groove from the drums (Fred Below, 1926 – 1988) anchors and is infectious as albeit.  The piano playing (Otis Spann, 1930 – 1970) is epic, with ample tinkling and stellar, right-hand, treble tremolos. Holding down the bass is the songwriter, Dixon.  Interestingly, the harmonic progression is simple – one chord.  No worries, as the rhythm and riffs keep things engaging and never monotonous.  The star of the show is Howlin’ Wolf, who wows with his commanding and gritty vocals.  The man, indeed, howls! Most notably, he creeps: “When everybody’s tryin’ to sleep / I’m somewhere making my midnight creep / Every morning, when the rooster crow / Something tell me, I got to go.” True, considering you are cheating, Mr. Wolf.  The second verse is, um, violent.  He [the backdoor man] “shot [him] full o’ holes…” “Killed him for murder, first degree / Judge’s wife cried, let the man go free.” Hmm, I wonder why? Similarly, in the third verse, “the cop’s wife cried, don’t take him down.” Entertaining from start to finish, “Back Door Man” by Howlin’ Wolf is a surefire blues classic. Notably, The Doors recorded a cover in 1967.