Thursday, October 26, 2017

UNDERAPPRECIATED MUSIC: BIG MAMA THORNTON

Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (1926-1984) was one of the great rhythm and blues singers who was unfortunately overshadowed by popular covers of her work.  She was the original artist to record "Hound Dog"  but some guy from Tupelo covered it four years later with much greater success.  She wrote and recorded "Ball and Chain" but it's Janis Joplin's version of the song most people remember.  Such seemed to be the lot of many black performers of the time.  A heavy drinker, she was found dead from heart and liver disease in her hotel room in 1984; the once 350-pound woman weighed only 95 pounds when she passed.  Her powerful voice, gospel influences, and determination to make every song her own have earned her a solid place in the blues and rock and roll pantheon.


"Everything Gonna Be Alright"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5alA8gpxQmE&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=1

'Little Red Rooster"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYaCb0ZGu3Q&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=3

"Ball and Chain"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWe4uq6WkK0&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=4

"My Heavy Load"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUs6ynWNryg&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=5

"Mixed Up Feeling"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ptN-bfuqhU&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=6

"Rock Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXoRljXZwK0&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=7

"Big Mama's Bumble bee Blues"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQVGH5mW44&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=15

"Tom Cat"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEUH6_IJJbY&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=22

"Wade in the Water"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NriDdZb--I&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=19

 "School Boy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ1SPhXWTgo&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=23

"Don't Talk Back'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i55d1RykMeY&list=PLm7kCQlhrsUuaTtI0fxuG1Y1kJh0dJJM0&index=46

"Hound Dog"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoHDrzw-RPg

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