Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Little Red Rooster [Live]
2. Ball and Chain [Live]
3. Jail [Live] - Big Mama Thornton, Big Mama Thornton
4. Hound Dog [Live]
5. Rock Me Baby [Live]
6. Sheriff O. E. & Me [Live]
7. Oh Happy Day [Live]

Disc 2:

1. Rolling Stone
2. Lost City
3. Mr. Cool
4. Big Mama's New Love - Big Mama Thornton, Big Mama Thornton
5. Private Number
6. Sassy Mama
7. Everybody's Happy (But Me) - Big Mama Thornton, Big Mama Thornton

Disc 3:

1. Goodbye Baby [#]
2. Gonna Leave You [#]
3. Mixed up Feeling [#]
4. Special [#]
5. Going Fishing [#]
6. Big Mama Swings [#]
7. Happy Me [#]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111785 in Music
• Released on: 2000-04-18
• Number of discs: 3
• Formats: Box set, Original recording remastered

Customer Reviews

Turbocharged, hard drivin, lip smaking, foot stompin BLUES!!
I am a "born again" blues listener. This colletion of three CD's could probably be called the rollercoaster of Texas-based blues. Ms Thornton is the connection to past female blues greats, such as Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie. This is the performer that inspired Janis Joplin. The first CD, (a live performance recorded in a jail) includes "Ball and Chain", which she dedicates to Janis. The second CD entitled "Sassy Mama" includes "Rolling Stone", "Mr Cool and "Sassy Mama", the title track rocks as if it were a live recording. The final CD is a previously unreleased collection that, to me is the best of the three. All are good!

The collection includes a booklet written by Ed Ward, the rock historian for National Public Radio's "Fresh Air". In this booklet one will discover that Ms Thornton was a far more flamboyant personality than Janis, preferring Gin and Milk to Janis' Southern Comfort. Another fact that will surprise you will be her connection to Elvis Presley's fame. Every track rocks, she lifts you by the collar and screams you into the blues. This collection is a must for anyone that enjoys hard drivin female blues vocalists

A Powerhouse
This three disc set is one that I keep finding myself returning to time and time again. It's raw power and energy, like being assualted with rythm. Each track refuses to be ignored. Big Mama Thornton rips into song with a power reminiscent of Koko Taylor and Janice Joplin. Every time I've listened to this I find it incredible that Big Mama Thornton hasn't received more recognition than just "Hound Dog". If you like music as an experiance (versus just background noise) do not miss this!

Mama's great but who hired the band?
Big Mama Thornton is without a doubt one of the legends of the blues. What is so upsetting to me is that her wonderful vocals are coupled with an extremely untalented backing band. I haven't done enough research to know the history of the musicians she recorded with but if you listen to the majority of Big Mama's songs, the guitar and piano solos are just horrendous. It's really a shame that someone didn't have the foresight to team her up with some seasoned musicians.