Big Mama Thornton - Ball N' Chain

Unlike the list of jazzy ‘Classic Blues Singers’ headed by Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey the roster of down-home female blues singers is sadly very short. If Memphis Minnie was the greatest and best-known of the latter group Big Mama cannot be too far behind. She is one of the greats to be sure. Her voice ranges from a high register that can be ‘silky’ to a very low space that is as gruff and tough as any male’s. Her sense of phrasing intonation and tremolo is very sophisticated at times but never moves her from the mark. She knows where she’s at and where she’s at is the blues. Among the standout cuts are ‘Sweet Little Angel’ ‘Little Red Rooster’ ‘BIack Rat’ and a remake of her famous ‘Hound Dog’. Behind Mama is a cast of brilllant blues artists including Fred McDowell who accompanies her on slide; a small electric group consisting of Buddy Guy, Eddie Boyd, Big Walter Horton, Jimmy Lee Robinson, and the legendary Fred Below; and the 1966 Muddy Waters Band: James Cotton, Otis Spann, Muddy Waters, Samuel Lawhorn, Luther Johnson and Francis Clay. And so to borrow the words of Big Mama herself: ‘Bow-wow to all of you!’(~Baltimore Blues Society Newsletter)

Arhoolie's Ball n' Chain is a terrific collection of late-'60s recordings from Big Mama Thornton. Supported on various tracks by Lightnin' Hopkins and Larry Williams, Big Mama runs through such familiar items as "Hound Dog," "Sometimes I Have a Heartache," "Sweet Little Angel," "Little Red Rooster," "Wade in the Water," and "Ball and Chain," turning in generally powerful performances. By and large, these don't necessarily rival her classic '50s recordings, but they are worth investigating if you're looking for something more.(~Thom Owens)