In December 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it No. [148][149] While credited solely to Kennedy, this song has a similar melody to "Hound Dog":[150] "'Country Boy' has a deceptively slouching flip on the 'Hound Dog' motif – this time with Tiny proclaiming proudly that he 'ain't nothing but a country boy'".[151]. You ain't nothin' but a hound dog cryin' all the time. [320] On June 4, 1953, Jet reported that: On July 8 Robey wrote to Phillips again, thanking him "kindly for your co-operation in this matter",[97] but Phillips still refused to purchase a mechanical license for Thomas' "Bear Cat". Leiber and Stoller along with Johnny Otis, also wrote a different version to the "Hound Dog" song structure on behalf of Big Mama Thornton, recorded with an alternative lyric entitled "Tom Cat".

No one can nail that groove like you." Mike Weatherford, Cult Vegas: The Weirdest!

[246] During his second Sullivan show appearance on October 28, Presley introduced the song thusly (although unable to keep a straight face): "Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention please. 1982. Thornton maintains a confident attitude, bringing the blues tradition of outspoken women into the R&B context and helping to set the style for rock and roll by putting sexuality and play with gender expectations in the foreground. "[53][54] In 1984, she told Rolling Stone, "Didn't get no money from them at all. Lo these many times I have heard bad records, for sheer repulsiveness coupled with the monotony of incoherence, Hound Dog hit a new low in my experience. So that evening I sang it on the show, and everybody went for it. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. [40], In late February 1953, "Hound Dog" was released by Peacock (Peacock 1612),[5][35] with the song credited erroneously on the label to Leiber-Stroller [sic]-Otis. "But, oh well, if I dwell on that I get quite unhappy, so we try to move on. But if someone was counting it off, just a couple notes and we stop, that's a take. Beautiful lyrics. In an interview with Wayne Robins, Leiber recalled that it was terrible, "It was like Ethel Waters's 'Cabin in the Sky' thinking that's what the song required. Michael Coyle, "Hijacked Hits and Antic Authenticity", in Roger Beebe, Denise Fulbrook, Ben Saunders, ed., Rock Over the Edge: Transformations in Popular Music Culture (Duke University Press, 2002) p. 97. 'Cause I hadn't heard the record in so long I forgot the words myself. Now, a first-of-its-kind Hound Dog Portrait Doll captures the spirit of that groundbreaking performance in this exclusive talking and singing Elvis from The Ashton-Drake Galleries. "[96], While "the result was peppier than Big Mama's version, with a more straight-ahead beat ... [Phillips] was under no illusions about surpassing the original": "Hell, we didn't come close to being as good as Big Mama.

That's where he heard 'Hound Dog,' and shortly thereafter he said: 'Let's try that song.

The Latin riff that was used in "Hound Dog" was known as "Habanera rhythm", that is a Spanish and African-American musical beat form.

"[259] By the end of summer 1956, after Presley's recording of the song was a million-seller, Freddie Bell, who had introduced the song to Presley in April, told an interviewer: "I didn't feel bad about that at all. I'm just livin. This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience. On July 26, 1956, Leiber met the just-rescued Stoller on the docks and told him, "We got a smash hit on Hound Dog," Stoller said, "Big Mama's record?" It is a triumph." Later, both "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel" were awarded platinum status.

[295] In January 1957, Jewish American satirist Mickey Katz released a Yinglish novelty song version, "You're a Doity Dog" (Capitol F3607), singing with a Yiddish accent, and having a klezmer break between verses. In February 2013, Thornton's recording of "Hound Dog" was inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame.
[315] By June 1953 in a "precedent-setting" decision the Court ruled against Phillips, and upheld the charges of plagiarism, finding the tune and some of the lyrics of "Bear Cat" to be identical to those of "Hound Dog". Four steps you can take to feel better, faster. "Hound Dog" has been recorded more than 250 times.

(In 1969 he called Fats Domino the King of Rock n Roll) Singers do not ensure that songwriters get paid for their songs. Dolly Parton wrote and recorded I Will Always Love You. At one point, he decided to dedicate his next number to the audience and the staff at the International: 'This is the only song I could think of that really expresses my feeling toward the audience', he said in all earnestness, before bursting into 'Hound Dog'."[264][265].
Copyright Claimant: Murphy L. Robey (W) & Willie Mae Thornton (A). John Swenson.

And I'm looking at her, and I'm a little intimidated by the razor scars on her face, and she's about 280–320 pounds, and I said, 'It don't go that way.' [256] "Hound Dog" would go on to sell 10 million copies worldwide, including 5 million in the United States alone. Interestingly, Elvis not only rock and rolled "Hound Dog" up, but he changed the original lyrics. Quit snoopin' 'round my door A young rock and roll singer named Elvis Presley was the hottest act in show business. Elvis gave credit in words here and there during this career about his respect and admiration for the talents of black music that had influenced him. A rockin' addition to your collection, this Elvis Hound Dog doll is sure to stir up excitement. The first and most popular answer song to "Hound Dog" was "Bear Cat (The Answer To Hound Dog)" (Sun 101), recorded at Sun Studios at 706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee on March 8, 1953,[97] just two weeks after Thornton's original version was released,[98] and even before a review of "Hound Dog" had been published in Billboard. In fact he sang it 21 times, live, at concerts and on television, using Bell's vocal arrangement but which also included his own blues version, at half speed, and only at the end, until he recorded it with what was undeniably, his own arrangement based not just on Scotty Moore' tremendously modern guitar work but his own rage and disgust at what had taken place the night before, at Steve Allen' s Tonight show, when he was forced to sing the song to a bassett hound, and dressed in tails while simultaneously facing an audience of 40 million. In March 2005, Q magazine placed Presley's version at number 55 of Q Magazine's 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. "Sure," I said. You ain't nothin' but a hound dog cryin' all the time. No, I didn't know that, Tim. Then Elvis Presley made it a mega hit, and they got greedy. '"[328] Thus, Otis received a co-writing credit with Leiber and Stoller on Thornton's Peacock Records release and on all of the 1953 cover versions.