First Time on Vinyl. Justin Time Essentials Collection. Remastered for Vinyl includes "Hound Dog", "Ball & Chain" plus unreleased material and incredible new cover painting by John Rummen. Recorded Live in 1977 at Montreal's infamous Rising Sun Celebrity Jazz Club. Willie Mae 'Big Mama" Thornton, is an American Blues Legend known as the amazing voice behind the original "Hound Dog" and "Ball & Chain". She sadly passed away in 1984 at the young age of 57 after a hard life in the music business - She added a female voice to a field that was dominated by white males, and her strong personality transgressed stereotypes of what an African-American woman should be. This transgression was an integral part of her performance and stage persona.