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1970's Second Edition "25 Cents for Catalog on Back Cover" Stereo Reissue of Classic 1966 Arhoolie Release of Bandleader/Composer/Blues Vocalist Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton Entitled Big Mama Thornton in Europe, Produced and Recorded by Chris Strachwitz, Album Recorded at Wessex Studio in London on October 20 of 1965 - "Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton only notched one national hit in her lifetime, but it was a true monster. "Hound Dog" held down the top slot on Billboard's R&B charts for seven long weeks in 1953. Alas, Elvis Presley's rocking 1956 cover was even bigger, effectively obscuring Thornton's chief claim to immortality. That's a damned shame, because Thornton's menacing growl was indeed something special. The hefty belter first opened her pipes in church but soon embraced the blues. She toured with Sammy Green's Hot Harlem Revue during the 1940s. Thornton was ensconced on the Houston circuit when Peacock Records boss Don Robey signed her in 1951. She debuted on Peacock with "Partnership Blues" that year, backed by trumpeter Joe Scott's band. But it was her third Peacock date with Johnny Otis's band that proved the winner. With Pete Lewis laying down some truly nasty guitar behind her, Big Mama shouted "Hound Dog," a tune whose authorship remains a bone of contention to this day (both Otis and the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller claim responsibility) and soon hit the road a star. But it was an isolated incident. Though Thornton cut some fine Peacock follow-ups � "I Smell a Rat," "Stop Hoppin' on Me," "The Fish," "Just like a Dog" � through 1957, she never again reached the hit parade. Even Elvis was apparently unaware of her; he was handed "Hound Dog" by Freddie Bell, a Vegas lounge rocker. Early-'60s 45s for Irma, Bay-Tone, Kent, and Sotoplay did little to revive her sagging fortunes, but a series of dates for Arhoolie that included her first vinyl rendition of "Ball and Chain" in 1968 and two albums for Mercury in 1969-70 put her back in circulation (Janis Joplin's overwrought but well-intentioned cover of "Ball and Chain" didn't hurt either). Along with her imposing vocals, Thornton began to emphasize her harmonica skills during the 1960s. Thornton was a tough cookie. She dressed like a man and took no guff from anyone, even as the pounds fell off her once-ample frame and she became downright scrawny during the last years of her life. Medical personnel found her lifeless body in an L.A. rooming house in 1984." - "Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton was part of the American Folk Blues Festival revue which toured Europe in 1965, so when it was time to record this session on October 20 at Wessex Studio in London, she had a crack impromptu blues band at her disposal, including a young Buddy Guy on guitar, Fred Below on drums, Eddie Boyd on piano and organ, and Jimmie Lee Robinson on bass. Walter "Shakey" Horton added his harmonica on a trio of tracks, and Thornton also sat down and recorded three powerful songs accompanied only by Mississippi Fred McDowell's elegant slide guitar playing. Thornton added her own harmonica and drums to a few tracks, as well, and the end result is a very special blues session that shows off Thornton's multifaceted and expansive stage presence. The original LP from the session came out that same year from Chris Strachwitz's Arhoolie Records. Among the many highlights are a spooky, atmospheric reading of Willie Dixon's "Little Red Rooster," the seemingly autobiographical "Unlucky Girl," which Thornton wrote with Jack DuPree, and a pair of takes of her signature song, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's "Hound Dog." Also worth noting is Thornton's gutbucket drumming on "Session Blues" and the raggedly perfect "I Need Your Love." The showstoppers, though, are the three songs she does with McDowell, whose gorgeous slide playing sets up some of Thornton's most nuanced and measured singing on "My Heavy Load," and "School Boy." The album ends with Strachwitz interviewing Thornton, and the whole set provides a perfect introduction to this spunky and innovative blues artist." - Magnificent Personnel for the Various Groups Feature Legendary Vocalist Big Mama Thornton on Vocals, the Great Big Walter Horton on Harmonica, Mississippi Fred McDowell or the Brilliant Buddy Guy on Guitars, the Amazing Eddie Boyd on Keyboards, Jimmie Lee Robinson on Bass & the Talented Fred Below on Drums! - Selections on Side A Are Original Big Mama Thornton Composition Swing It on Home, B.B. King's Sweet Little Angel, the C. Morris/H. Rutledge Song the Place, Willie Dixon's Little Red Rooster, Champion Jack Dupree/Big Mama Thornton's Unlucky Girl and the Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller Classic Hound Dog - Tracks for Side B Are the Big Mama Thornton/Mississippi Fred McDowell Penned My Heavy Load, School Boy & Original Big Mama Thornton Compositions Down-Home Shakedown, Your Love Is Where It Ought to Be, Session Blues - Used Copy, Cover Very Good++, Record Has some very Light Surface Wear - Stereo Recording, Product Code F 1028 - California Residents Add 10.25% Sales Tax - International S & H Extra -