Big Mama Thornton • The Complete Vanguard Recordings 3CD
Big Mama Thornton was one of the most powerful voices in post-war blues, a commanding singer whose raw intensity helped shape the sound of rhythm and blues. The Complete Vanguard Recordings brings together three albums on one generous 3CD set: the live Jail, the studio collection Sassy Mama! and Big Mama Swings, previously unreleased when this collection appeared in 2000. The result captures Thornton in a later period of her career, still delivering blues with formidable personality and conviction.
The live performances include her own classic “Ball and Chain”, the stomping “Hound Dog”, “Little Red Rooster” and “Rock Me Baby”. The studio recordings move into horn-backed blues, from the swagger of “Sassy Mama” and “Mr. Cool” to the looser grooves of “Lost City” and “Mixed Up Feeling”. The musicians include guitarist Cornell Dupree, harmonica player George “Harmonica” Smith, bassist Wilbur Bascomb and drummer Jimmy Johnson.
With all three albums collected together, this set offers nearly two hours of tough, electric blues, from live prison performances to studio workouts and previously unreleased material. It is an excellent choice for blues enthusiasts, fans of powerful female vocalists and collectors exploring the roots of blues-rock. The accompanying 12-page booklet adds further value to this substantial overview of a remarkable performer.
