‘Hound Dog,’ Elvis Presley’s top-selling song, started out as a hit for the blues singer ‘Big Mama’ Thornton. Thornton’s 1953 version was a hit in its own right, selling two million copies and spending nearly two months atop Billboard’s R&B chart.
Thornton’s version was far more sexually suggestive, depicting a Black woman giving a no-good man the kiss-off. “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog, been snoopin’ ’round my door,” she sings, “You can wag your tail but I ain’t gonna feed you no more.”
‘Return to Sender’ is an Elvis Presley track from the 2002 compilation 30 No. 1 Hits. At least that’s where it lives in my music collection. It was originally released as a single in 1962 and performed in the film Girls! Girls! Girls!, a clip from which is embedded below.
The song made it to only #2 on the U.S. charts but spent three weeks at #1 in the U.K. Indeed, 11 of the #1 hits on the compilation reached that pinnacle only in the U.K.
Note: Because I posted my Random Weekend Tom Petty SOTD during the week, I’m using this slot for the weekday post that was bumped.
Mother’s Day was months ago, but here’s another chance to honor your mamas, as Day 20 of the 30 Day Music Challenge asks you to name ‘A Song That Reminds You of Your Mom.’
Many artists fit this bill for me, from Frank Sinatra (who, to be fair, reminds me even more of my father) to Traveling Wilburys, Carole King, Carly Simon, George Winston, Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen.
This year’s family vacation brings us to the majestic Beehive State, Utah. My family is flying into Las Vegas, spending a couple of days there, then driving through Utah’s “Mighty Five” National Parks before ending up in Denver, Colorado.
Continue reading
