"Big Boss Man" is a blues song first recorded by Jimmy Reed in 1960. It became one of his most popular songs, although the songwriting is credited to Luther Dixon and Al Smith. Chicago-based Vee-Jay Records released it as a single, which became one of Reed's last appearances on the record charts. The song has been recorded by artists in diverse styles, including Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Hope Sandoval, who also had chart successes with the song.
"Big Boss Man" is an uptempo twelve-bar blues shuffle that features "one of the most influential Reed grooves of all time".[1] It is credited to Jimmy Reed's manager, Al Smith, and Vee-Jay Records staff writer Luther Dixon.[1] The song is one of the few Reed hits that was written by someone other than Reed and his wife.[2] Reed recorded the song in Chicago on March 29, 1960; backing Reed, who sang and played harmonica and guitar, are Mamma Reed on vocal, Lee Baker and Lefty Bates on guitars, Willie Dixon on bass, and Earl Phillips on drums.[1]
"Big Boss Man" was originally released on Jimmy Reed's 1960 album Found Love. In 1961, Vee-Jay Records released it as a single, which reached number 13 on Billboard's R&B Hot Sides chart and number 78 on its Hot 100 chart.[3]
Legacy
In 1990, the song was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame.[2] In its induction statement, blues historian Jim O'Neal noted that the song's appeal went beyond blues musicians and:
If there ever was a blues theme for the proletariat, it was Jimmy Reed’s 1961 smash, "Big Boss Man". "You got me workin', boss man, workin' 'round the clock, I want me a drink of water but you won’t let Jimmy stop," Reed sang, but the refrain asserted "You ain’t so big, you’re just tall, that’s all."[2]
As one of Reed's best-known songs, "Big Boss Man" has been recorded by numerous artists.[5] In 1967, a version by Elvis Presley that reached number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[6] He performed the song as part of a medley during the Elvis 1968 Comeback Special.[7] In their early days, "Big Boss Man" was part of the Grateful Dead's concert repertoire.[8] It was usually sung by Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, who also provided blues-style harmonica accompaniment.[9] According to group chronicler David Malvinni, McKernan's "powerful voice" was well-suited to deliver convincing renditions of older blues songs, compared to vocals by other blues revival bands.[9] A live recording first appeared on their 1971 self-titled album.
^ abcO'Neal, Jim (November 10, 2016). "1990 Hall of Fame Inductees: Big Boss Man — Jimmy Reed (Vee-Jay, 1960)". The Blues Foundation. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
^ ab Malvinni, David (2010). Tuedio, Jim; Spector, Stan (eds.). The Grateful Dead in Concert: Essays on Live Improvisation. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 79. ISBN978-0-7864-4357-4.
^ abHann, Michael (February 8, 2019). "Mercury Rev: Bobbie Gentry's The Delta Sweete Revisited Review – Fun but Overdone". Theguardian.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
February 06, 2023
boss, song, boss, blues, song, first, recorded, jimmy, reed, 1960, became, most, popular, songs, although, songwriting, credited, luther, dixon, smith, chicago, based, records, released, single, which, became, reed, last, appearances, record, charts, song, bee. Big Boss Man is a blues song first recorded by Jimmy Reed in 1960 It became one of his most popular songs although the songwriting is credited to Luther Dixon and Al Smith Chicago based Vee Jay Records released it as a single which became one of Reed s last appearances on the record charts The song has been recorded by artists in diverse styles including Elvis Presley B B King and Hope Sandoval who also had chart successes with the song Big Boss Man Single by Jimmy Reedfrom the album Found LoveB side I m a Love You ReleasedApril 1961 1961 04 RecordedChicago March 29 1960GenreBluesLength2 46LabelVee JaySongwriter s Luther Dixon Al SmithJimmy Reed singles chronology Close Together 1961 Big Boss Man 1961 Bright Lights Big City 1961 Original song Edit Big Boss Man is an uptempo twelve bar blues shuffle that features one of the most influential Reed grooves of all time 1 It is credited to Jimmy Reed s manager Al Smith and Vee Jay Records staff writer Luther Dixon 1 The song is one of the few Reed hits that was written by someone other than Reed and his wife 2 Reed recorded the song in Chicago on March 29 1960 backing Reed who sang and played harmonica and guitar are Mamma Reed on vocal Lee Baker and Lefty Bates on guitars Willie Dixon on bass and Earl Phillips on drums 1 Big Boss Man was originally released on Jimmy Reed s 1960 album Found Love In 1961 Vee Jay Records released it as a single which reached number 13 on Billboard s R amp B Hot Sides chart and number 78 on its Hot 100 chart 3 Legacy EditIn 1990 the song was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame 2 In its induction statement blues historian Jim O Neal noted that the song s appeal went beyond blues musicians and If there ever was a blues theme for the proletariat it was Jimmy Reed s 1961 smash Big Boss Man You got me workin boss man workin round the clock I want me a drink of water but you won t let Jimmy stop Reed sang but the refrain asserted You ain t so big you re just tall that s all 2 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it in its 1995 list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll 4 As one of Reed s best known songs Big Boss Man has been recorded by numerous artists 5 In 1967 a version by Elvis Presley that reached number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart 6 He performed the song as part of a medley during the Elvis 1968 Comeback Special 7 In their early days Big Boss Man was part of the Grateful Dead s concert repertoire 8 It was usually sung by Ron Pigpen McKernan who also provided blues style harmonica accompaniment 9 According to group chronicler David Malvinni McKernan s powerful voice was well suited to deliver convincing renditions of older blues songs compared to vocals by other blues revival bands 9 A live recording first appeared on their 1971 self titled album B B King recorded the song for his 1985 album Six Silver Strings Released on a single by MCA Records his rendition reached number 62 on Billboard s Hot Black singles chart 3 Hope Sandoval recorded the song for Mercury Rev s 2019 album Bobbie Gentry s The Delta Sweete Revisited 10 An album review noted Hope Sandoval takes Big Boss Man in just the way you d want and expect Hope Sandoval to take Big Boss Man like it s an old Velvet Underground ballad she s just heard 10 References Edit a b c Koda Cub 2000 The Very Best of Jimmy Reed CD notes Jimmy Reed Los Angeles Rhino Records p 14 R2 79802 a b c O Neal Jim November 10 2016 1990 Hall of Fame Inductees Big Boss Man Jimmy Reed Vee Jay 1960 The Blues Foundation Retrieved February 8 2017 a b Whitburn Joel 1988 Artist entries Top R amp B Singles 1942 1988 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research pp 346 240 ISBN 0 89820 068 7 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1995 Archived from the original on May 2 2007 Retrieved July 9 2014 Jimmy Reed Big Boss Man Also Performed By AllMusic Retrieved October 7 2022 Elvis Presley Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved December 15 2020 Bush John Elvis Presley The 68 Comeback Special Review AllMusic Retrieved March 6 2021 Malvinni David 2013 Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation Lanham Maryland The Scarecrow Press pp 30 63 ISBN 978 0 8108 8255 3 a b Malvinni David 2010 Tuedio Jim Spector Stan eds The Grateful Dead in Concert Essays on Live Improvisation Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Company p 79 ISBN 978 0 7864 4357 4 a b Hann Michael February 8 2019 Mercury Rev Bobbie Gentry s The Delta Sweete Revisited Review Fun but Overdone Theguardian com Retrieved March 6 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Big Boss Man song amp oldid 1134922563, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
