Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
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, and for this CD reissue, six more tracks have been added, including alternate takes of "Hound Dog" and "Swing It on Home," which brings the length of this generous disc to just under 80 minutes. 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," "School Boy," and the ominous and stunning "Chauffeur Blues." The album ends with Strachwitz interviewing Thornton, and the whole set provides a perfect introduction to this spunky and innovative blues artist.
© Steve Leggett /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 13,50€/month
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Unknown, Composer - Big Mama Thornton, MainArtist - Chris Strachwitz, Producer
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Albumbeschreibung
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, and for this CD reissue, six more tracks have been added, including alternate takes of "Hound Dog" and "Swing It on Home," which brings the length of this generous disc to just under 80 minutes. 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," "School Boy," and the ominous and stunning "Chauffeur Blues." The album ends with Strachwitz interviewing Thornton, and the whole set provides a perfect introduction to this spunky and innovative blues artist.
© Steve Leggett /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:18:38
- Main artists: Big Mama Thornton
- Composer: Unknown
- Label: Arhoolie Records
- Genre: Blues/country/folk Blues
(C) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (P) 2005 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Originally released on Arhoolie Records.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.