4. Big Mama ThorntonSassy Mama (Live)

Willy Mae Thornton, who called herself Big Mama, was one of those unsung but hugely influential musicians from Alabama that we heard on the radio in New Orleans a lot. For instance, Janis Joplin raked it in big with Big Mama’s song ‘Ball And Chain’. Among Big Mama’s other major musical accomplishments was ‘You Ain’t Nothin But A Hound Dog’ later made famous by lots of wannabes. Her original rendition of the song had a subtle backbeat hipshake to it that nobody else ever got close to.