This wonderful three-disc set brings together everything Willie Mae Thornton recorded for the folk music label in the mid-'70s. It's comprised of her two released albums from 1975, Jail and Sassy Mama, and a complete unreleased album, Big Mama Swings. Thornton was still in good voice on these sessions and while not as powerful as her Peacock sides, the production is solid and these recordings make an excellent addition to her scant discography. by Cub Koda
Tracklist:
Jail
1-1 Little Red Rooster 6:24
1-2 Ball And Chain 7:14
1-3 Jail 5:47
1-4 Hound Dog 2:50
1-5 Rock Me Baby 6:42
1-6 Sheriff O.E. & Me 3:35
1-7 Oh Happy Day 3:51
Sassy Mama!
2-1 Rolling Stone 4:38
2-2 Lost City 4:48
2-3 Mr. Cool 7:41
2-4 Big Mama's New Love 3:35
2-5 Private Number 6:17
2-6 Sassy Mama 4:53
2-7 Everybody's Happy (But Me) 3:20
Big Mama Swings
3-1 Good-Bye Baby 3:29
3-2 Gonna Leave You 8:54
3-3 Mixed Up Feeling 9:27
3-4 Special 5:27
3-5 Going Fishing 7:17
3-6 Big Mama Swings 5:11
3-7 Happy Me 6:08
Credits:
Bass – Bruce Steverson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-7), Wilbur Bascomb (tracks: 2-1 to 3-7)
Drums – Jimmy Johnson (tracks: 2-1 to 3-7), Todd Nelson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-7)
Guitar – B. Houston (tracks: 1-1 to 1-7), Cornell Dupree (tracks: 2-1 to 3-7), Ronnie Miller (tracks: 2-4), Steve Wachsman (tracks: 1-1 to 1-7)
Harmonica – George "Harmonica" Smith (tracks: 1-1 to 1-7)
Keyboards – Paul Griffin (tracks: 2-1 to 3-7)
Piano – Ernie Heyes (tracks: 3-1 to 3-7), J.D. Nichols (tracks: 1-1 to 1-7)
Tenor Saxophone – Bill Potter (tracks: 1-1 to 1-7), Buddy Lucas
Vocals – Big Mama Thornton (tracks: 2-1 to 3-7)
