Customer Reviews

Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have heard quite a few rock performers from the 1950s: Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Big Joe Turner, Carl Perkins, etc. And I must say that this CD is my very favorite CD of 50s music. Hey, I like Elvis Presley, but I realize that Big Mama Thornton was better than him. Her version of "Hound Dog" is so superior to his that it makes me wonder why his was the version that became so popular. And it's not just that one song, either. Instead, all of the songs on this collection are excellent. I suppose that some people would place this CD in the blues categoty, but I say that it is rock. Yes, this CD is rock and roll as it was meant to be. I hope that in 100 years from now when people make lists of the best rock music of the 20th century, the music from this CD will be high on their lists. If you have any interest at all in listening to music from the very birth of rock and roll, then this disc should make a very valuable addition to your collection.

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.

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.

First things first - Contrary to the reviewer's claim below that "Hound Dog" was written by two white, jewish guys (Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller) although it true that they succeeded in obtaining the rights to the song, their claim of authorship along with that of Johnny Otis's are generally accepted to be wholly without merit. But in the final analysis who really cares, Big Mama made it her own and once you've heard her sing it you'll never forget it. So Long live Big Mama and let the hound dog howl!

While "Hound Dog" alone is worth the price of the CD, Big Mama's performances throughout are uniformly excellent and will not disapoint. "You Don't Move Me No More", "Yes Baby" and "How Come" showcase her powerful voice and superb phrasing perfectly. The musicians backing her are also first rate, particularly Roy Gaines and T-Bone Walker. The result is a CD that is truly a gem and that you'll find find yourself playing over and over.

Big Mama's version of Hounddog makes you understand why it attracted Elvis's attention. It's a great toe tapping pleasure from start to finish.

IT'S FUNNY, 'CAUSE IF YOU LISTEN TO THE 1960'S RECORDINGS OF BOTH ARETHA FRANKLIN AND JANIS JOPLIN, YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT THEY BOTH COVERED A LOT OF MATERIAL ORIGINALLY PERFORMED BY BOTH BIG MAMA THORNTON AND BIG MAYBELLE (BALL AND CHAIN, RAMBLIN', SO LONG, ETC....). THE TWO BEST BLUES SINGERS FROM THE 60'S DOING COVERS OF SONGS BY THE TWO BEST BLUES SINGERS OF THE 1950'S. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL PEACOCK RECORDS (DON ROBEY) RECORDINGS OF BIG MAMA THORNTON MADE BETWEEN 1952-57. GREAT R&B AND BLUES STUFF.

Big Mama is probably the best female blues vocalist ever. She can belt them out and swing at the same time. There is not a bad song in the bunch and the sound quality is as good as it is going to get for the era. If you don't own and Big Mama you have to get this.

Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton was much more than the originator of "Hound Dog" - she was one of the greatest Blues singers. She could be fun and sassy, and could also be plaintive and emotional. After Bessie Smith and before Koko Taylor, there was Big Mama Thornton.

HOUND DOG: THE PEACOCK RECORDINGS consists of 18 songs recorded 1952-1957 on the Peacock label (note: track 8 on Duke), some previously unreleased on US album, one (track 15) previously unreleased in the US; songs are not in chronological order. Disc packaged in black jewel case; total running time: 47:15. Booklet includes a pedestrian essay by Mary Katherine Aldin, several black & white photographs (plus an image of a poster promoting a Big Mama performance), and detailed track information (songwriters, musician personnel, recording dates). Sound quality is excellent.

These are her early recordings, made after she started touring as a singer at age 14 (performing with - or against - "Little Esther" Phillips). She went on to record for Baytone, Kent, Mercury, Vanguard, and Arhoolie labels, where she would record "Wade in the Water" and "Ball N' Chain", the latter notably covered by Janis Joplin.

Most of these 50s recordings are made with the Johnny Otis Orchestra. "Yes, Baby" (track 8) is a duet with Johnny Ace. The music is not as much Blues as Rhythm & Blues and early Rock N' Roll. Most of the songs are up-tempo numbers.

I like this disc, but it is rather brief. I prefer "Ball `N' Chain", a collection of much Blues-ier 1960s recordings released on Arhoolie.

music: 2 stars
packaging: 3 stars

Big Mama Thornton was the artist who basically continued Bessie Smith tradition of sassy black blues queens in new r&b idiom and her growling vocals suggested woman who won't take any nonsense from anybody.She was the one who recorded "Hound dog" and "Ball and chain" long before Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin,and was bitter that others had big hits with what were her originals but in my opinion that connection didn't hurt her a bit as kids all over the world eventually came to hear originals anyway - on cover of "Cheap Thrills" LP artist Robert Crumb had carefuly noted her name so it's not like people didn't know who she was.
This compilation cover her most glorious years - it's all a fine line between blues and early r&b - it might be one-dimensional as Thornton growls one song after another without any break in let's-have-a-ball mood,clearly she was not the one for introspection.
Legendary Johnny Ace turned out as a guest on "Yes,baby" and there is some very fine guitar playing all through.

Like many other reviews have stated, this is the real deal when it comes to versions of Hound Dog. However, the Elvis version obviously has a totally different sound-a rock'n'roll or rockabilly sound, while this is basically a (fantastic) blues song, belted out by one of the great blueswomen of all time. And most of the songs here are worth having,too, so buy this CD. I'd call her a female blues shouter almost in the mold of a Roy Brown.
As much as I like Elvis Presley,blah,blah,blah, I'm tired of hearing about how he's the "King" and all that stuff. Someone like Big Mama Thornton, and for that matter all of the blues and r'n'b artists that had songs out prior to being covered by Elvis Presley, were FAR more musically talented and many were "unsung heroes of 'rock and roll'".