Ball and Chain (Big Mama Thornton song)

For other uses, see Ball and chain (disambiguation).
"Ball and Chain Part 1"
Single by Big Mama Thornton
from the album Ball and Chain
B-side"Wade in the Water"
Released1968 (1968)
GenreBlues
Length2:25
LabelArhoolie
Songwriter(s)Willie Mae Thornton a.k.a. Big Mama Thornton

"Ball and Chain" (also "Ball 'n' Chain" or "Ball & Chain") is a blues song written and recorded by American blues artist Big Mama Thornton. Although her recording did not appear on the record charts, the song has become one of Thornton's best-known, largely due to performances and recordings by Janis Joplin.

Background and releases

In the early 1960s, Thornton recorded several songs for Bay-Tone Records. Two were released on a single, "You Did Me Wrong" and "Big Mama's Blues".[1] A review by Billboard magazine noted "moderate sales potential",[2] but it did not enter the magazine's R&B single chart.[3] According to music writer Gillian Gaar, Thornton also recorded "Ball and Chain" for Bay Tone, although it was never released.[4]

In 1968, Arhoolie Records released "Ball and Chain".[5] An edited version, titled "Ball and Chain Part 1" was released as a single, while the complete four and a half minute song is included on a joint album by Thornton, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Larry Williams titled Ball and Chain.[6] Thornton is backed by a small combo with her frequent guitar accompanist Edward "Bee" Houston.[7] She later recorded several live and studio performances of the song, including one on her 1969 Billboard Top 200 album Stronger Than Dirt.[8]

Janis Joplin / Big Brother and the Holding Company renditions

Janis Joplin, who frequently acknowledged Thornton's musical influence, recorded several live performances of "Ball and Chain". According to Big Brother and the Holding Company guitarist James Gurley, Joplin first heard the song during a performance by Thornton at a bar in San Francisco.[9] The group transformed the song into a slow minor-key blues with breaks.[9] They performed the song at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 to an enthusiastic audience and critical reception.[10] The first performance on June 17 was not filmed, so the band was persuaded to perform the song again on the next day. Drastically edited footage of this second performance (cutting out the second verse and a lengthy guitar solo) featured in the 1968 film Monterey Pop, while the full June 17 performance was released in 1993 on the three-disc box set Janis. Another live version of "Ball and Chain", recorded March 8, 1968, at the Fillmore East, was included on Big Brother's 1968 breakthrough album Cheap Thrills. Other live versions are included on Cheaper Thrills, Live at Winterland '68, Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968, The Woodstock Experience, and In Concert.

According to Gaar, Thornton originally had recorded the song for Bay-Tone Records in the early 1960s, although the label did not issue it.[4] Gaar adds that "[Bay-Tone held] on to the copyright—which meant that Thornton missed out on the publishing royalties when Janis Joplin recorded the song later in the decade."[4] By another account, Thornton signed an agreement with Bay Tone which caused problems with later releases.[11] In a 1972 interview, Thornton acknowledged giving Joplin permission to record the song and receiving royalty payments from its sales.[12]

Recognition

Big Mama Thornton's "Ball and Chain" is included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame list of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".[13]

References

  1. ^ Bay Tone Records no. 107
  2. ^ Billboard (May 15, 1961). "Reviews and Ratings of New Records". Billboard. Vol. 73, no. 19. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 411. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
  4. ^ a b c Gaar, Gillian (1992). She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll. Seattle: Seal Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-1580050784.
  5. ^ Dahl, Bill (1996). "Big Mama Thornton". In Erlewine, Michael (ed.). All music guide to the blues : The experts' guide to the best blues recordings. All Music Guide to the Blues. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 251. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.
  6. ^ Ball and Chain (Back album cover). Big Mama Thornton, Lightnin' Hopkins, Larry Williams. Arhoolie Records. 1968. 1039 – via Discogs.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Schulte, Tom. Bee Houston: The Hustler – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  8. ^ Mercury Records SR 61225
  9. ^ a b Friedman, Myra (2011). Buried Alive: The Biography of Janis Joplin. Crown Publishing Group. p. 334. ISBN 978-0307790521.
  10. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 47 - Sergeant Pepper at the Summit: The very best of a very good year. [Part 3]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  11. ^ Spörke, Michael (2014). Big Mama Thornton: The Life and Music. McFarland Inc. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7864-7759-3.
  12. ^ Sporke 2014, p. 70.
  13. ^ "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 1995. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2013.

Read other articles:

Budi Hardjono

Budi HardjonoPotret resmi, 1987 Ketua Umum Partai Demokrasi Indonesia ke-6Masa jabatan27 Agustus 1998 – 10 Januari 2003 PendahuluSoerjadiPenggantiTidak adaAnggota Dewan Perwakilan RakyatRepublik IndonesiaMasa jabatan1 Oktober 1987 – 30 September 1999Daerah pemilihanJawa Timur Informasi pribadiLahir(1939-09-03)3 September 1939Pacitan, Jawa Timur, Hindia BelandaMeninggal4 September 2003(2003-09-04) (umur 64)Jakarta, IndonesiaKebangsaanIndonesiaPartai politikPartai...

 

Elizabeth Anscombe

Elizabeth AnscombeLahir(1919-03-18)18 Maret 1919Limerick, IrlandiaMeninggal5 Januari 2001(2001-01-05) (umur 81)Cambridge, InggrisKebangsaanBritania[1]PendidikanSydenham High SchoolAlmamaterSt Hugh's College, OxfordNewnham College, CambridgeSuami/istriPeter GeachEraAbad ke-20KawasanFilsafat BaratAliranFilsafat analitikInstitusiNewnham College, CambridgeSomerville College, OxfordGagasan pentingFakta kasar, berdasarkan suatu deskripsi, arah kesesuaian Dipengaruhi Ludwig Wittge...

 

Nokia 7100 Supernova

Nokia 7100 Supernova adalah produk telepon genggam yang dirilis oleh perusahaan Nokia. Telepon genggam ini memiliki dimensi 98 x 48.4 x 15 mm dengan berat 103.5 gram. Fitur & Komponen Memori internal 4 MB Kamera digital 1.3 MP, 1280 x 1024 pixels SMS MMS Email Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML Permainan Radio FM dengan RDS Bluetooth v2.0 Java MIDP 2.1 MP3/WAV/AAC player MP4/H.263 player Baterai Li-Ion 860 mAh (BL-4S) Lihat pula Daftar produk Nokia Pranala luar informasi di GSM Arena lbsNokiaAnak usah...

Carl Edwards

Carl EdwardsCarl Edwards pada musim 2016.LahirCarl Michael Edwards II15 Agustus 1979 (umur 44)Columbia, Missouri, Amerika SerikatKebangsaanAmerika SerikatAlmamaterUniversity of Missouri (drop out)Tinggi185 cm (6 ft 1 in)Berat84 kg (185 pon)Suami/istriKatherine Downey ​(m. 2009)​Anak2Karier NASCAR Seri Piala445 lomba dalam kurun waktu 13 tahunHasil terbaikPosisi 2 (2008, 2011)Lomba pertamaGFS Marketplace 400 2004 (Michigan)Lomba terak...

 

1928 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

1928 Rhode Island gubernatorial election ← 1926 November 6, 1928 1930 →   Nominee Norman S. Case Alberic A. Archambault Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 121,748 113,594 Percentage 51.59% 48.13% Governor before election Norman S. Case Republican Elected Governor Norman S. Case Republican Elections in Rhode Island Federal government Presidential elections 1792 1796 1800 1804 1808 1812 1816 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 ...

 

Hélène Geoffroy

Pour les articles homonymes, voir Geoffroy. Hélène Geoffroy Hélène Geoffroy en 2011. Fonctions Maire de Vaulx-en-Velin En fonction depuis le 4 juillet 2017(6 ans, 8 mois et 29 jours) Élection 4 juillet 2017 Réélection 4 juillet 2020 Prédécesseur Pierre Dussurgey 5 avril 2014 – 24 mars 2016(1 an, 11 mois et 19 jours) Élection 5 avril 2014 Prédécesseur Bernard Genin Successeur Pierre Dussurgey Vice-présidente de la Métropole de Lyondéléguée à l...

Country and West

Country and WestAlbum studio karya Dottie WestDirilisMei 1970Direkam1970 at RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TNGenreCountry, Nashville SoundLabelRCAProduserDanny DavisKronologi Dottie West Makin' Memories (1969)Makin' Memories1969 Country and West (1970) Forever Yours (1970)Forever Yours1970 Country and West adalah album musik country penyanyi, Dottie West. Album ini dirilis pada tahun 1970. Daftar lagu It's Dawned on Me You're Gone (Hank Cochran, Red Lane) As Long As I Love (Dolly Parton) L...

 

جامع نطنز

جامع نطنز إحداثيات 33°31′13″N 51°54′47″E / 33.520194444444°N 51.913027777778°E / 33.520194444444; 51.913027777778   معلومات عامة الموقع نطنز[1][2][3][4]  القرية أو المدينة نطنز، محافظة أصفهان الدولة  إيران الارتفاع عن سطح الأرض 37 متر[3][4]  تاريخ الافتتاح الرسمي 999[...

 

Gulf Cooperation Council Athletics Championships

The Gulf Cooperation Council Athletics Championship (also known as the GCC Athletics Championships) is a biennial international athletics competition between athletes from nations within the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. It was first held in 1986. In addition to the senior championship, the GCC also holds the Gulf Cooperation Council Youth Athletics Championships.[1] The GCC holds championships for various other sports, including golf, basketball and fencing. Th...

Кронос

У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Кронос (значения). Кронос(Κρόνος) Мифология Древнегреческая мифология Пол мужской Занятие Бог времени, земледелие Отец Уран Мать Гея Братья и сёстры Рея[1], Иапет, Гиперион, Фемида, Тейя, Океан и Тефида �...

 

Quinto Poppedio Silone

Quinto Poppedio SiloneNascitaMilonia, ? MorteTeanum Apulum, 88 a.C. Cause della morteferite in battaglia EtniaMarso Dati militariPaese servitoSocii italici Forza armataesercito dei Socii italici Anni di servizio90 - 88 a.C. Gradogenerale comandante in capo GuerreGuerra sociale BattaglieAssedio di Alba FucensBattaglie nel territorio dei MarsiBattaglia di val CominoBattaglia del lago del FucinoAssedio di AeserniaBattaglie di Boviano Quinto Poppedio Silone, su visitabruzzo.altervist...

 

En Avant Guingamp

French association football club based in Guingamp This article is about the men's football club. For the women's football team, see En Avant Guingamp (women). Football clubGuingampFull nameEn Avant GuingampNickname(s)Les GuingampaisLes Costarmoricains (The Costamoricans)Les Rouge et Noir (The Red and Blacks)L'En-Avant[1]Short nameEAGFounded1912; 112 years ago (1912)GroundStade de RoudourouCapacity19,033PresidentFrédéric LegrandHead coachStéphane DumontLeagueLigue...

Kabinet Abdullah I

Kabinet Abdullah IKabinet Pemerintahan Malaysia ke-15Dibentuk3 November 2003Diselesaikan26 Maret 2004Struktur pemerintahanKepala negaraTuanku Syed SirajuddinKepala pemerintahanAbdullah Ahmad BadawiWakil kepala pemerintahanNajib Razak (2004-2008)Partai anggota BN UMNO MCA PBB MIC Gerakan SUPP SNAP UPKO LDP SAPP PBS SPDP PPP PBDS Status di legislatifUMNO memimpin mayoritas di pemerintahanPartai oposisiPartai Islam Se-MalaysiaPartai Tindakan DemokratisPartai Keadilan RakyatPemimpin oposisiAbdul ...

 

Annabel Jones

Annabel JonesJones (left) with Joe Wright and Charlie Brooker at the screening of the Black Mirror episode Nosedive at the 2016 BFI London Film FestivalBornJanuary 1972 (age 52)Milford Haven, WalesEducationLondon School of EconomicsOccupationProducerYears active2006–present Welsh television producer Annabel Jones (born January 1972)[1] is a Welsh television producer, best known for producing Black Mirror with Charlie Brooker.[2] She is a co-writer of the 2018 ...

 

Amen

Religious declaration of affirmation This article is about the interjection. For other uses, see Amen (disambiguation). This is missing information about occurrence in Islamic texts. Please expand the to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (October 2020) Amen (Hebrew: אָמֵן, ʾāmēn; Ancient Greek: ἀμήν, amḗn; Classical Syriac: ܐܡܝܢ, 'amīn;[1] Arabic: آمين, ʾāmīn) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation[2] which is ...

Utopia Parkway

For the street, see Utopia Parkway (Queens). 1999 studio album by Fountains of WayneUtopia ParkwayStudio album by Fountains of WayneReleasedApril 6, 1999StudioStratosphere Sound, New York CityGenre Alternative rock power pop pop punk Length45:35LabelAtlanticProducer Adam Schlesinger Chris Collingwood Fountains of Wayne chronology Fountains of Wayne(1996) Utopia Parkway(1999) Welcome Interstate Managers(2003) Singles from Utopia Parkway DeniseReleased: 1999 Red Dragon TattooReleased: 1...

 

Misogi

Shinto practice Night misogi under a waterfall at Tsubaki Grand Shrine Part of a series onShinto Beliefs Kami List of deities Polytheism Animism/Animatism Mythology Sacred objects Sects and schools Major kami Amaterasu Ame-no-Uzume Inari Izanagi Izanami Susanoo Tsukuyomi Important literature Kojiki (c. 711 CE) Nihon Shoki (720 CE) Fudoki (713–723 CE) Shoku Nihongi (797 CE) Kogo Shūi (807 CE) Kujiki (807–936 CE) Engishiki (927 CE) Shinto shrines List of Shinto shrines Ichinomiya Twe...

 

NGC 3512

NGC 3512   الكوكبة الأسد الأصغر[1]  رمز الفهرس NGC 3512 (الفهرس العام الجديد)2MASX J11040298+2802125 (Two Micron All-Sky Survey, Extended source catalogue)UGC 6128 (فهرس أوبسالا العام)IRAS F11013+2818 (IRAS)MCG+05-26-041 (فهرس المجرات الموروفولوجي)IRAS 11013+2818 (IRAS)PGC 33432 (فهرس المجرات الرئيسية)PSCz Q11013+2818 (كتالوج PSCz)SDSS J110402.94+280212.4 (مسح سل...

أسس نقد الاقتصاد السياسي

جزء من سلسلة حولالماركسية مؤلفات نظرية المخطوطات الاقتصادية والفلسفية (1844) أطروحات حول فويرباخ الأيديولوجية الألمانية بيان الحزب الشيوعي برومير الثامن عشر للويس بونابرت غرندريسه مساهمة في نقد الاقتصاد السياسي رأس المال جدليات الطبيعة مفاهيم اشتراكية علمية حتمية اقتصاد...

 

Byzantine Empire under the Heraclian dynasty

Byzantine EmpireΒασιλεία Ῥωμαίων (Ancient Greek)Imperium Romanum (Latin)610–711 The calvary cross potent motif was commonly minted on coins by various emperors.The Byzantine Empire after the death of Emperor HeracliusCapitalConstantinopleCommon languagesGreek LatinGovernmentMonarchyEmperor • 610–641 Heraclius• February–May 641 Constantine III• February–October 641 Heraclonas• 641–668 Constans II• 668–685 Const...