Release Date: 22 December, 1992
Audio CD
Tracks
- Hound Dog
- My Man Called Me
- I Smell a Rat
- They Call Me Big Mama
- You Don't Move Me No More [#]
- Let Your Tears Fall Baby [#]
- Rock-A-Bye Baby [#]
- Yes, Baby [#]
- How Come [#]
- Nightmare [#]
- Stop A-Hoppin' on Me [#]
- Just Like a Dog (Barking up the Wrong Tree) [#]
- Walking Blues
- Big Chance
- Hard Times [#]
- Laugh, Laugh, Laugh [#]
- Fish [#]
- I've Searched The Whole World Over
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Rating 4.0
Elvis is still the "King!"I will agree that "Big Mama's" version is good...But Elvis is still the "King." When I hear Elvis, I want to get up and move. His version may be an imitation, but it still kicks ass....Big Mama deserved more credit than she got...I mean the woman has soul and funk....Both versions should be appreciated for what they are- kick ass good music...But Elvis still rules in my book...big mama could belt out a number!Although Elvis Presley remains one of my all time favorite singers, I must admit that his version of Hound Dog never felt right to these ears--and now I know why: because Big Mama Thornton's version is right on target and makes sense. This was a song (originally) sung by a woman to a no-good bum of a man. Not only that, she does a better job of it than Elvis, etc.
Hey, what can I say? Some things Elvis sang just didn't go over that well--and, yes, we know, some of his tunes couldn't be done by anyone else--because they were pure Elvis and his alone.
Get this CD by Big Mama Thornton. The lady had it.Awesome swingin'n'wailin' jumpin' blues & R+B!!!Big Mama has a big growlin' voice, I mean she could eat Big Maybelle for breakfast(though Maybelle is an equally versitile and great performer). Mama had a hit in Hound Dog way brfore Elvis, and she sings the heck out of it, making Presley's "hiccuped" version, pale in comparison. This cd is not really rock'n'roll as many people atste in the reviews it is pure 1950's R&B, with honking saxes, it qualifies as jump blues, and you can even jitterbug, lindy hop or jive for dancing purposes. It might be considered pre-rock'n;roll, or she may have been influential, but Mama's no more a rock'n'roller then Ruth Brown or Dinah Washington. Though rockabilly people such as myself like her rough style(think of Ruth Brown or Etta James, without the swettness), and you have Big Mama. My favorite is the straight lindy hopper jump blues "They Call Me Big Mama"(which has been covered very well by newer singer Vandeye Kane). The whole cd is worth repeated listenings, and it's good stuff to play while cruising East L.A. in your lowered 50's Chevy convertible. |
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