Big Mama Thornton: With The Muddy Waters Blues Band 1966

 

Willie Mae Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984), better known as Big Mama Thornton

because of her height (nearly 6 feet), and weight (200 pounds), was an American singer and songwriter of the blues and R&B. She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's "Hound Dog", in 1952, which was written for her and became her biggest hit, staying seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1953.
                            

Big Mama Thornton is one of the most influential figures in the whole of rock, even if you’ve never

heard of her. Born Willie Mae Thornton in Ariton, Alabama, in 1926, Thornton would rank amongst the very first women in music to stick it to the men and show them how to do it. In addition to being a woman, she was also African-American, and what she achieved in the time of Jim Crow, even if it was dwarfed by what she could have achieved, was monumental.
                  

Thornton was first introduced to music in the same way that many influential blues icons were; via the

church. Her father was a Baptist minister and her mother a singer, and Thornton and her siblings made their first foray into music as young children. Tragically, Thornton’s mother died young, so she left school early and got a job in a local tavern. Later, Thornton left home aged just 12 in 1940 and, with the help of legendary gospel performer Diamond Teeth Mary, joined one of the hottest bills in the country; Sammy Green’s ‘Hot Harlem Revue’.
                         

In 1951, Thornton signed a recording contract with Peacock Records, and the following year, she recorded her signature track ‘Hound Dog’ with writing partnership du jour Jerry Leiber and Mike

Stoller. The two played to her how they wanted it to be delivered, and deliver it she did. Later, Stoller recalled: “We wanted her to growl it”. Her growl would become one of the most iconic points in all of the blues. It would be Elvis Presley’s recording of ‘Hound Dog’ that truly popularised the track, and made it a ‘real’ hit, crossing the boundaries between black and white America in what is a genuine injustice of the highest order.
                   

Big Mama Thornton subverted the role of African-American women during her career. Even physically,

she defied what was expected, and it was this, the fact that she was natural transgressive, that made her so captivating. She didn’t care what anybody else said or did; she was true to herself and her own senses. Tragically but somewhat predictably of the time, she never gained the plaudits she deserved. Sadly, Big Mama Thornton would die in relative obscurity aged just 57, due to alcoholism.
                      

BIG MAMA THORNTON WITH THE MUDDY WATERS BLUES BAND 1966

                        

In the mid- '60s, Big Mama Thornton was a relatively obscure blues singer known mainly for her

original recording of "Hound Dog" in 1953, three years before Elvis had a monster hit with it. Due to a lack of gigs, Thornton had a tough time keeping a steady band on the road and would scramble to gather consistently decent musicians. Fortunately, Arhoolie Records' founder and president Chris Strachwitz had witnessed an amazing performance of the era which had Thornton backed by a group of Chicago musicians who included Buddy Guy on guitar.
                

With that performance in mind, Strachwitz was determined to capture that excellence in the studio. He

offered the gig to Muddy Waters, whom he met in San Francisco a few days prior to this session. Muddy accepted and brought with him James Cotton (harmonica), Otis Spann (piano), Sammy Lawhorn (guitar), Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson (bass), and Francis Clay (drums). What came out at Coast Recorders on April 25, 1966 is presented on this 17-track disc including seven previously unreleased cuts.
                   

From the low-down gutbucket blues of "Black Rat," and "Big Mama's Shuffle" (featuring both

Thornton and James Cotton engaging in a battle of the harps), to the hazy, late-night atmosphere of "Life Goes On," "Since I Fell for You," and "I Feel the Way I Feel," all of this material is absolutely timeless. One can only imagine what would have happened if Big Mama's hopes of recording a gospel album with this band had been fulfilled. (Al Campbell)
                             

Big Mama Thornton With The Muddy Waters Blues Band – 1966
Label: Arhoolie Records – CD 9043, Arhoolie Records – 9043
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 2004
Genre: Blues
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Chicago Blues

TRACKS

                                

01. I'm Feeling Alright    3:01
02. Sometimes I Have A Heartache    3:49
03. Black Rat (Take 4)    2:52
04. Life Goes On (Written By – Morris, Williams)  3:28
05. Everything Gonna Be Alright (Drums – Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton)  5:05
06. Big Mama's Bumble Bee Blues    4:13
07. Gimme A Penny (Take 6) (Written-By – J. Moore, T. Rhone)  4:38
08. Looking The World Over (Written-By – E. Lawlars)  2:12
09. I Feel The Way I Feel    5:05
10. Guide Me Home    4:23
11. Black Rat (Take 2)    2:51
12. Wrapped Tight    3:19
13. Gimme A Penny (Take 5)    3:59
14. Big Mama's Shuffle (Harmonica – Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton)  3:38
15. Since I Fell For You    4:32
16. I'm Feeling Alright (Fast Version)    2:27
17. Big Mama's Blues (My Love) (Harmonica – Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton)  4:08

LINE - UP
                                

Bass – Luther Johnson
Drums – Francis Clay
Guitar – Muddy Waters, Samuel Lawhorn
Harmonica – James Cotton
Vocals – Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton
Written-By – W. M. Thornton (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14 to 17)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 150 MB
Flac  Size: 410 MB