Hound Dog

Elvis Presley's 1956 single "Hound Dog" was a huge hit, but some fans knew it from Big Mama Thornton's earlier recording. Eric Weisbard examines the racial, commercial, and cultural ramifications of Elvis's appropriation of a Black woman's anthem in his book "Hound Dog". He rethinks the history and influences of rock music in light of Rolling Stone's 2021 "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list, which replaced Presley's version with Thornton's.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

Many music enthusiasts first encountered the iconic "Hound Dog" when Elvis Presley's single reached the top of the charts in 1956, encompassing pop, country, and R&B genres. However, a significant portion of his fans had already been acquainted with the song through Big Mama Thornton's earlier recording, a massive hit exclusively in the R&B realm. In his book "Hound Dog," Eric Weisbard delves into the profound racial, commercial, and cultural implications of Elvis Presley's appropriation of a Black woman's anthem. He reevaluates the history and influences of rock music in the context of Rolling Stone's decision to replace Presley's "Hound Dog" with Thornton's version in its 2021 "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. Through a captivating journey that spans from Presley and Thornton to artists like Patti Page with "Doggie in the Window," the Stooges with "I Wanna Be Your Dog," and numerous other canine-themed songs, Weisbard employs "Hound Dog" as a lens to explore one of the core dilemmas at the heart of rock music: the inherent whiteness of the wail.

Many music enthusiasts first encountered the iconic "Hound Dog" when Elvis Presley's single reached the top of the charts in 1956, encompassing pop, country, and R&B genres. However, a significant portion of his fans had already been acquainted with the song through Big Mama Thornton's earlier recording, a massive hit exclusively in the R&B realm. In his book "Hound Dog," Eric Weisbard delves into the profound racial, commercial, and cultural implications of Elvis Presley's appropriation of a Black woman's anthem. He reevaluates the history and influences of rock music in the context of Rolling Stone's decision to replace Presley's "Hound Dog" with Thornton's version in its 2021 "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. Through a captivating journey that spans from Presley and Thornton to artists like Patti Page with "Doggie in the Window," the Stooges with "I Wanna Be Your Dog," and numerous other canine-themed songs, Weisbard employs "Hound Dog" as a lens to explore one of the core dilemmas at the heart of rock music: the inherent whiteness of the wail.

Weight: 249g
Dimension: 178 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478025085