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Track Listings
| 1. Sweet Little Angel |
| 2. Unlucky Girl |
| 3. Swing It On Home |
| 4. Little Red Roster |
| 5. Hound Dog |
| 6. Your Love Is Where It Ought To Be |
| 7. School Boy |
| 8. My Heavy Load |
| 9. I'm Feeling Alright |
| 10. Sometimes I Have A Heartache |
| 11. Black Rat |
| 12. Life Goes On |
| 13. Bumblee Bee |
| 14. Gimme A Penny |
| 15. Wade In The Water |
| 16. Ball N' Chain |
Product Description
CD Description
Gritty vocals and uninhibited delivery, her own version of 'Hound Dog' (lifted by Elvis from an earlier version) and'Ball 'N' Chain' (given to Janis Joplin who copied many of Big Mama's vocal mannerisms) make for a mesmerizing issue. Recorded in London, San Francisco and Los Angeles 1965,1966 & 1968.
Product Description
(1965/66/68 'Arhoolie')(61:52/16)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This album features several different backing bands. The first six tracks are with Buddy Guy, with Big Walter Horton on tracks 2 & 5. Tracks 7 & 8 are with Mississippi Fred McDowell, 9-14 are with the Muddy Waters band - yes, Muddy is just a backing musician here! - while the last two are with Edward 'Bee' Houston. Now I have to admit I'm not really a fan of Buddy Guy, and his tracks are the weakest on this CD, in my opinion, but they're still perfectly listenable. As for the rest, they're all absoluely first rate, more than enough for me to give this album a five-star rating.This is a great album, with a variety of styles, but still sufficiently homogenous to listen to it all the way through.
Thankfully Big Mama was still in good health at this time (1965-8) and this is one of her best CD's.
Thankfully Big Mama was still in good health at this time (1965-8) and this is one of her best CD's.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Best of Traditional Blues
10 Jan 2007
Format:Audio CD
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.
BALL `N' CHAIN consists of 16 songs recorded 1965-1968 (tracks 1-8 in 1965; 9-14 in 1966; 15 & 16 in 1968). Disc packaged in black jewel case; total running time: 61:50. Booklet includes an essay by Chris Strachwitz, several black & white photos, and track information (songwriter credits, musician personnel, recording dates). Sound quality is good.
These are re-recordings of songs Thornton had previously recorded, including "Ball N' Chain", a song that was notably recorded by Janis Joplin. Tracks 1-8 feature Buddy Guy on Guitar. Tracks 9-14 recorded with Muddy Waters Blues Band (and also issued on Arhoolie's 2004 release "Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band - 1966"). Noteworthy are Thornton's complaints on "Unlucky Girl" about being followed by the FBI everywhere she goes.
This may be the Blues, but it is a joy to listen to. Thornton sings Blues ballads and fun up-tempo songs. I hesitate to call it "country Blues" because it just seems too sophisticated to be called that. Whatever it is, it's beautiful.
BALL `N' CHAIN consists of 16 songs recorded 1965-1968 (tracks 1-8 in 1965; 9-14 in 1966; 15 & 16 in 1968). Disc packaged in black jewel case; total running time: 61:50. Booklet includes an essay by Chris Strachwitz, several black & white photos, and track information (songwriter credits, musician personnel, recording dates). Sound quality is good.
These are re-recordings of songs Thornton had previously recorded, including "Ball N' Chain", a song that was notably recorded by Janis Joplin. Tracks 1-8 feature Buddy Guy on Guitar. Tracks 9-14 recorded with Muddy Waters Blues Band (and also issued on Arhoolie's 2004 release "Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band - 1966"). Noteworthy are Thornton's complaints on "Unlucky Girl" about being followed by the FBI everywhere she goes.
This may be the Blues, but it is a joy to listen to. Thornton sings Blues ballads and fun up-tempo songs. I hesitate to call it "country Blues" because it just seems too sophisticated to be called that. Whatever it is, it's beautiful.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
The classic 1960's Arhoolie sessions!
9 May 2004
Format:Audio CD
Although these are not as powerful as her Peacock recordings of teh 50's, one should not overlook her Arhoolie sides fro mthe mid 60's(to late 60's). Ball b' Chail is a classic, as well as the Gospel tinged Wade In The Water and Sweet Little Angel(covered fro meveryone from BB King to Etta James). This is a powerfu lset of rockin' blues, and a couple of slower ones too ,but for the most part this is great jump blues and the msuic swings, stomps, and jumps, as well as rocks! Even the slower stuff rocks! Big Mama dodn't recrd too much that wasn't worth listening to ,and aside from her Peacock recordingd. these are her msot essential sides, and are a major highlight of a long lustrious career as a blues diva! Also Mama Thornton has influenced everyone from rock singer Janis Joplin to new blues diva Candye Kane. Thornton was a powerful singer, and this cd should not be overlooked, and should be essential to blues fans. Even myself, strictly a fan of rockabilly music, love all of Thornton's work from the 50's and 60s'.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Excellent Blues
6 Aug 1998
Format:Audio CD
"Big Mama" is truly a legend. I've listened to this CD many many many times and each times I'm surprised by how much I enjoy it. There are several slower tunes, but if you've got the rhythm in your soul I don't think you'll be disappointed (in particular "Wade in the Water"). I myself enjoy hearing different versions of different songs so i found BB King's Sweet Little Angel (I don't know if it was his originally but that's where I knew it from) and the Janis Joplin standard Ball and Chain to be wonderful.
On that note - Ball and Chain is - as thornton does it - a different and nonetheless amazing song.
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