Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings
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CD Details
Artist: Big Mama ThorntonEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1992-12-22
Music Label: Mca
Soundtracks:
- 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
- The Big Change
- Hard Times
- Laugh, Laugh, Laugh
- The Fish
- I've Searched The Whole World Over (With False Start)
Music reviews of Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings
Music Review: Legendary indeed ... according to the dictionary definition
Rating: 3 Stars
There is much mythology and fable in rock 'n' roll. That's partly what makes it so alluring: it's the only romantic tradition left. But, as with all romantic traditions, there's a point where myth and fable disappear over the abyss into plain old codswallop, although it's often pretty difficult to say where that point is.
What you can say, however, is that Big Mama Thornton owes her legendary status to just such a piece of codswallop. Big Mama's version of "Hound Dog", so the legend goes, puts Elvis Presley's subsequent version into the shade. Had she only been white, and a man, it would have been Big Mama on the Ed Sullivan show and not the Big E. Big Mama is a victim of her own unfortunate circumstances, and Elvis was simply a lucky chancer.
Thus are our political and mythical needs sated: No matter that it's utter nonsense.
There's a simple experiment you can perform in the comfort of your own home to demonstrate how ridiculous this theory is. All you have to do is play the two versions, one after another, on your hi-fi. Play Big Mama first, then Elvis. Then play Big Mama again, to give her the benefit of any doubt.
Big Mama's version is nice enough, in a comfy R+B sort of a way. Definitely nothing *wrong* with it - it might get a few hips swinging, I'll grant you - but it really isn't the sort of record which would set the world on fire.
You could hardly say that about Elvis' version, on the other hand. From the very first snarled syllable, Elvis peels paint off your walls. To this very day, there has been barely a record released which captures the same sort of energy and exuberance. The only one I can think of is the Sex Pistols' Anarchy In The UK.
But the myth is more pernicious even than that: not only did Elvis *not* unjustly deny Big Mama her rightful fame and fortune but, quite to the contrary, she has done quite all right out of Elvis, thank you very much. After all, can you imagine anyone buying her records now (care to mention any of her other top ten hits?) had Elvis not sung Hound Dog?
She ain't never caught a rabbit... Oh, never mind.
Olly Buxton
Description of Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.The classic "Hound Dog" is usually associated with Elvis Presley, but blues fans know: Presley's recording wasn't the first. That honor belongs to singer Big Mama Thornton, whose own recording of "Hound Dog" was eclipsed by Presley's. Her version is on this collection in all its glory, opening a CD of 17 killer tracks. Thornton's voice, by turns growling and richly melodic, was indeed unusual, and the spare accompaniment on Hound Dog makes it stand out all the more on songs such as "They Call Me Big Mama," "How Come," "The Big Change," "Hard Times," and "The Fish." Thornton had talent and attitude to spare, and both come through loud and clear on this essential collection. --Genevieve Williams
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