CD Review
Big Mama Thornton with The Muddy Waters Blues Band
Big Mama Thornton with The Muddy Waters Blues Band—1966
(Arhoolie Records)
by Dick Houff
Review date: October 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award"
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by The Blues Foundation
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This album clearly demonstrates what the blues is about—raw and unpretentious. Also, hands-down, it would be criminal to deny this record a W.C. Handy Award as Best Re-Issue, and also as Album Of The Year for the seven previously unreleased tracks. However, politics seem to govern most award ceremonies—always have, but not with this album! What we have here is a George W. Bush Buster modestly priced at $10.98. You have to love Arhoolie’s mid-price series—they know your wallet is near empty (I know mine is). Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, blues singer and songwriter was born on December 11, 1926, in Montgomery, Alabama. Her father was a minister and her mother sang in the choir. It’s easy to see where those early influences came from. If you look at the history of the blues you’ll find a close link to the church and gospel leanings—and oh what voices they have—Big Mama, being no exception! Her first big hit was “Hound Dog” and the B-side was “They Call Me Big Mama.” The record sold over two million copies. Big Mama heard the record, went out and bought it along with a player, and later was paid $500.00. And three years later. Elvis had some nice wheels! The same deal occurred with “Ball And Chain,” Mama gets a hit with: “Gee, where the hell’s the money?” And then, Janis Joplin records the same song and buys a nice beach house. For these unfortunate warriors, they laid the ground work for generations of players that have no idea how they suffered. Their payment is in the preservation of what they contributed. The blues from the farm to city, a most beautiful gift. Big Mama Thornton, died of a heart attack on July 25, 1984.
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