"A Big Hunk O' Love" - The Chris Kenner link

[Mister Moon]

I recently started a thread about the musical similarities between Elvis' 1958 recording of "I Need Your Love Tonight" and Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters' 1954 recording of "Honey Love".

Well, here's another similar topic that's been in my mind for many years. I would like to hear your thoughts about it.

Elvis recorded "A Big Hunk O' Love" at the same sessions as "I Need Your Love Tonight", the last ones he did before leaving for Germany. This happened on June 10 - 11, 1958, in Nashville. Elvis was backed by a brand new cast of musicians, led by Hank Garland, one of the greatest guitar players around. At the same sessions, he also recorded "I Got Stung", "A Fool Such As I", and "Ain't That Loving You Baby". All of these songs appeared as singles during the 1958 / 1959 period, except for "Ain't That Loving You Baby", which had to wait until 1964 to see escape, uh, release.

"A Big Hunk O' Love" was written by Aaron Schroeder and Sid Wyche (some pressings credited him as Sid Jaxon), and was first released one year after it was recorded, on June 23, 1959 (RCA Victor 47-7600), backed with "My Wish Came True", a recording dating from the September 5 - 7, 1957 Hollywood sessions that produced the Christmas album tracks, as well as "Don't", and the record version of "Treat Me Nice".

Elvis nailed "Hunk" in only four takes, all of which were complete. For release, they chose take 3, but they had to insert the piano solo from take 4. This was the splice that was released as a single, and as a part of "Elvis' Gold Records - Volume 2". In later years, some releases have included the complete, undoctored, take 3 instead, by mistake. But here's the real hit version :

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All four original session takes, and the single splice, are available in perfect sound quality in FTD's deluxe edition of "Elvis' Gold Records - Volume 2".

What can be said about the track itself ? Well, it is probably one of Elvis' best and most distinctive fifties tracks, one that spells E-L-V-I-S from start to finish. It reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100, and number 10 on Billboard's R&B chart. It was also part of his live repertoire during the early seventies, and was even included in the setlist for the "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" show, on January 1973.

So much for "A Big Hunk O' Love". Now, let's move on...

Fourteen months before Elvis' last fifties studio sessions, on April 22, 1957, a then unknown singer and songwriter named Chris Kenner recorded in New Orleans his first single for Imperial Records, under the production of legendary R&B personality Dave Bartholomew. The A-side of this single was a song he had written called "Sick And Tired". The record was issued as Imperial single 5448 in May of that year, and by early August it had reached number 13 in Billboard's R&B charts.

Fast forward a few months, and in February 1958 we find Fats Domino recording the same song in the same Cosimo Matassa studios, backed by probably most of the same musicians who were used for the Kenner single, and under the supervision of Bartholomew, too. This was released as Imperial single 5515 in April 1958, and during the first half of May it reached number 14 on Billboard's R&B charts, and number 22 on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop charts.

Well, I've always thought "Sick And Tired" may have been the inspiration for "A Big Hunk O' Love". The structure of the choruses is very similar, not so with the verses, though. But the overall feel of both songs I think is pretty much the same.

Here are both versions, which share virtually the same arrangements. First the 1957 original by Chris Kenner. Then, the 1958 cover by Fats Domino :

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Well, what do you think ?

Thanks in advance !

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Edited 21/06/2017 in order to restore the Chris Kenner YT link.

[JimmyCool]

One of my favorite songs since I first heard it as a kid.
I like the 70's arrangement aswell; Elvis treated this song with respect, same as "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy" and "Trying To Get To You."

About "Sick & Tired," I can clearly hear the similarities with "A Big Hunk O' Love," and you could even mix them together easily.

P.S.: A few years ago I even made a music video of Spankox's 2009 remix (88.404 views so far, not too bad!):

..

[Mister Moon]

I like the 70's arrangement aswell; Elvis treated this song with respect, same as "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy" and "Trying To Get To You."

Yes, he did a very good version in the 70's. It would have been a gas to hear it as part of the 1961 Honolulu concert too, with Hank Garland on lead guitar, as in the studio cut !

About "Sick & Tired," I can clearly hear the similarities with "A Big Hunk O' Love," and you could even mix them together easily.

Thanks ! They are very alike - the arrangements and the performances make each of them classics in their own right.

A few years ago I even made a music video of Spankox's 2009 remix (88.404 views so far, not too bad!):

Very nice video, Jimmy. There's a lot of work behind those two minutes and a half, I can see this. To be honest, I loathe those remixes, though. I would rather stay with the original recordings as such.

Thanks again !

[Mister Moon]

Hmm...

Any other opinions ?

[KevinK]

One of my all time favourite Elvis songs.

As far as the arrangement is concerned, it was nothing overly unique. There are many songs with similar arrangements. Even 'Santa Claus Is Back In Town', though a lot slower, is similar, with the 12 bar chorus, stop start verses etc..

The overall effect in 'A Big Hunk Of Love' though, is magnificent, and deserves to be in anyone's top ten Elvis songs.

[Mister Moon]

As far as the arrangement is concerned, it was nothing overly unique. There are many songs with similar arrangements. Even 'Santa Claus Is Back In Town', though a lot slower, is similar, with the 12 bar chorus, stop start verses etc..

The Kenner classic and "A Big Hunk O' Love" have different arrangements. For "Sick And Tired" we hear a typical New Orleans solid, stomping, sound. For Elvis' 1958 track we have the hard-rocking, urbane rockabilly, sound, that's also heard on many other similar records of the era, even with many of the same A-Team musicians.

What I think is very similar is the structure of the song, the overall feel, especially concerning the choruses. Even fonetically. Yes, there are many songs with this structure. But, in this case, the similarities go beyond this, I think.

The overall effect in 'A Big Hunk Of Love' though, is magnificent, and deserves to be in anyone's top ten Elvis songs.

It's a masterpiece in every respect. Dare I say it's an underrated classic, even though it was a number 1 when it came out ?

Many thanks, Kevin, for your comments.

[drjohncarpenter]

"A Big Hunk O' Love" is Elvis' final #1 single from his most powerful decade, the 1950s.

There are definitely some similarities to the Chris Kenner and Fats Domino singles, but it seems pretty obvious, from the rollicking piano solo to the aggressive, suggestive vocal stance, that songwriters Aaron Schroeder and Sid Wyche are aiming for the hit sound of Jerry Lee Lewis' stunning 1957 Sun singles, "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On" (Sun 267) and "Great Balls of Fire" (Sun 281).

It also seems pretty clear Elvis picks up on their goal, just listen to how he boldly exclaims "That's right!" Like everyone else, he heard those incendiary Sun recordings, owned copies of them, and no doubt was suitably impressed. He must have loved trying to beat Lewis at his own game and, given that Jerry's tracks only made Billboard #3 and #2, respectively, perhaps he did just that.

Nice topic!

[Mister Moon]

"A Big Hunk O' Love" was Elvis' final #1 single from his most powerful decade, the 1950s.

There is definitely some similarities to the Chris Kenner and Fats Domino singles, but it seems pretty obvious, from the rollicking piano solo to the aggressive, suggestive vocal stance, that songwriters Aaron Schroeder and Sid Wyche were aiming for the hit sound of Jerry Lee Lewis' stunning 1957 Sun singles, "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On" (Sun 267) and "Great Balls of Fire" (Sun 281).

It seems pretty clear in Elvis' vocals he picked up on this, just listen to how he boldly exclaims "That's right!" He heard those Sun recordings, owned copies of them, and no doubt was suitably impressed. He must have loved trying to beat Lewis at his own game and, given that Jerry's tracks only made Billboard #3 and #2, respectively, perhaps he did just that.

Nice topic!

Food for thought ! Very interesting perspective.

You know, I have always thought, despite the similarities I mentioned, that this was such an Elvisy record, and it never occurred to me that it could be "derivative" of Jerry Lee. But I think you're right. And it's easier to make this association if you imagine Jerry singing it.

It's surprising, and beautiful, how things work out in an artistic process. You have this Elvis song, one of his biggest classics of the fifties, unmistakably HIM, but you can hear echoes of other great records of the era in it, and that doesn't make it lose any of its appeal or validity. Really fascinating.

Many thanks for your comments, Doc !

[drjohncarpenter]

"A Big Hunk O' Love" is Elvis' final #1 single from his most powerful decade, the 1950s.

There are definitely some similarities to the Chris Kenner and Fats Domino singles, but it seems pretty obvious, from the rollicking piano solo to the aggressive, suggestive vocal stance, that songwriters Aaron Schroeder and Sid Wyche are aiming for the hit sound of Jerry Lee Lewis' stunning 1957 Sun singles, "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On" (Sun 267) and "Great Balls of Fire" (Sun 281).

It also seems pretty clear Elvis picks up on their goal, just listen to how he boldly exclaims "That's right!" Like everyone else, he heard those incendiary Sun recordings, owned copies of them, and no doubt was suitably impressed. He must have loved trying to beat Lewis at his own game and, given that Jerry's tracks only made Billboard #3 and #2, respectively, perhaps he did just that.

Nice topic!

Food for thought ! Very interesting perspective.

You know, I have always thought, despite the similarities I mentioned, that this was such an Elvisy record, and it never occurred to me that it could be "derivative" of Jerry Lee. But I think you're right. And it's easier to make this association if you imagine Jerry singing it.

It's surprising, and beautiful, how things work out in an artistic process. You have this Elvis song, one of his biggest classics of the fifties, unmistakably HIM, but you can hear echoes of other great records of the era in it, and that doesn't make it lose any of its appeal or validity. Really fascinating.

Many thanks for your comments, Doc !

My pleasure.

Here's a well-written blog by great Presley historian Alan Hanson about the relationship between the two artists:

Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis
The Killer and The King … Jerry Lee Lewis Versus Elvis Presley
http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-jerry-lee-lewis.html

[Mister Moon]

Here's a nice blog from the great Alan Hanson about the relationship between the two artists:

Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis
The Killer and The King … Jerry Lee Lewis Versus Elvis Presley
http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-jerry-lee-lewis.html

Thanks a lot for this link. This was an interesting read.

There was a whole lotta talent going on in fifties rock and roll, that's for sure. But the more time passes, the more convinced I am that Elvis and Jerry Lee were the two greatest white rockers of that era. By far.

[drjohncarpenter]

Here's a nice blog from the great Alan Hanson about the relationship between the two artists:

Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis
The Killer and The King … Jerry Lee Lewis Versus Elvis Presley
http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-jerry-lee-lewis.html

Thanks a lot for this link. This was an interesting read.

There was a whole lotta talent going on in fifties rock and roll, that's for sure. But the more time passes, the more convinced I am that Elvis and Jerry Lee were the two greatest white rockers of that era. By far.

You have to at least put Buddy Holly in there, too. He was incredible.

[mysterytrainrideson]

Here's a nice blog from the great Alan Hanson about the relationship between the two artists:

Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis
The Killer and The King … Jerry Lee Lewis Versus Elvis Presley
http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-jerry-lee-lewis.html

Thanks a lot for this link. This was an interesting read.

There was a whole lotta talent going on in fifties rock and roll, that's for sure. But the more time passes, the more convinced I am that Elvis and Jerry Lee were the two greatest white rockers of that era. By far.

You have to at least put Buddy Holly in there, too. He was incredible.

Nice topic, guys. Yes, we must include Buddy Holly. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer...an all-round musician and entertainer. Prob the first major Rock'n'Roller to write his own songs...very talented guy was Buddy. The Beatles admired him very much!

[Mister Moon]

You have to at least put Buddy Holly in there, too. He was incredible.

I've been a huge Buddy Holly fan since I first heard the "Buddy Holly Lives ! - 20 Golden Greats" MCA album in the late seventies, and I think I own almost every known, surviving, second of music he ever recorded (no, not the recent box-set). He was out of this world.

But, somehow, I feel that his early death deprived him from fully developing his incredible talent. He was in a different league than Elvis and Jerry Lee. Not better or worse, just different. And, in this sense, he was just starting to create.

Nice topic, guys. Yes, we must include Buddy Holly. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer...an all-round musician and entertainer. Prob the first major Rock'n'Roller to write his own songs...very talented guy was Buddy. The Beatles admired him very much!

Many thanks, glad you enjoy the topic.

But of course there were other major rock and rollers to write his own songs before him : Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley, even good ole Bill Haley.

[drjohncarpenter]

But, somehow, I feel that his early death deprived him from fully developing his incredible talent. He was in a different league than Elvis and Jerry Lee. Not better or worse, just different. And, in this sense, he was just starting to create.

One may credibly argue that the Holly influence is reflected in nearly every major band of the 1960s, so regardless of his tragic early death, he is a major, influential artist and merits being spoken of in the company of Lewis, Presley and anyone else.

[Mister Moon]

But, somehow, I feel that his early death deprived him from fully developing his incredible talent. He was in a different league than Elvis and Jerry Lee. Not better or worse, just different. And, in this sense, he was just starting to create.

One may credibly argue that the Holly influence is reflected in nearly every major band of the 1960s, so regardless of his tragic early death, he is a major, influential artist and merits being spoken of in the company of Lewis, Presley and anyone else.

You're absolutely right. This is historical fact, and nobody in their right mind can deny this.

But I like to think that the music created by the great artists of the fifties can be evaluated, and enjoyed, in its own terms, without necessarily taking into account how much people they may have influenced, or if this or that sixties personality chose to cover or mention this or that song or artist.

I mean, there's a lot of great music of the fifties that never, or rarely, was covered by any sixties artist, but it's still great music.

What I meant to say with Buddy is that, although he's of course one of the great early rock and rollers, he didn't fit the same "pattern" as Elvis and Jerry Lee. The latter were geniuses at absorbing multiple, incredibly varied, musical influences, and thus creating their own style of performing, with an astounding ease. This made them, I think, very unique. In a way, they were like walking catalysts of American music. Other artists in this "league"? I would think of Ray Charles, James Brown, or Bob Dylan. All of these people are, in my mind, in the same mould. At heart, they are all, very basically speaking, "folk" artists, in the sense that they were instinctively capable of creating a new link in the enormous chain that's American music.

Holly would be like a link of that chain that's able to create a new chain, a more "modern" kind of artist, much like in the sixties were The Beatles, The Beach Boys, or Phil Spector.

It's hard to explain, even more in a language that's not mine, but that's the way I see it.

As with everything else, it all depends on the personal vision of the listener, I guess.

The important thing is that we all enjoy, basically, the music created by the same geniuses. And I think we also despise many of the same things in music.

[drjohncarpenter]

And I think we also despise many of the same things in music.

No need to bring up Kiss.

[Mister Moon]

And I think we also despise many of the same things in music.

No need to bring up Kiss.

I don't like Kiss. But my brother reads this forum from time to time and Kiss is one of his favorite bands.

I keep telling him that there was another Gene Simmons !

But I forgive him , because he likes most of the above mentioned people, too, especially Elvis.

[drjohncarpenter]

I don't like Kiss. But my brother reads this forum from time to time and Kiss is one of his favorite bands.

I keep telling him that there was another Gene Simmons !

But I forgive him , because he likes most of the above mentioned people, too, especially Elvis.

I was being tongue-in-cheek. Kiss actually made some excellent rock records in the 1970s.

Every era, to the present day, has its mix of greatness and folly. But not everything that glitters rises to the top.

[mysterytrainrideson]

But, somehow, I feel that his early death deprived him from fully developing his incredible talent. He was in a different league than Elvis and Jerry Lee. Not better or worse, just different. And, in this sense, he was just starting to create.

One may credibly argue that the Holly influence is reflected in nearly every major band of the 1960s, so regardless of his tragic early death, he is a major, influential artist and merits being spoken of in the company of Lewis, Presley and anyone else.

This is what i should have said in my post, that Holly , as a writer that influenced more, rather than being the first R'n'Roller to write his own songs.

[Good Time Charlie]

Undoubtedly one of his best. Perhaps his 'hardest' Rock number along with "Hound Dog".

[Chris Roberts]

Along with 'Hound Dog', 'A Big Hunk O' Love' is my favourite, post Sun, 50's Elvis recording. However I have never noticed any similarity to 'Sick and Tired'.

Eddie Cochrane's fantastic 'Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie' is in a similar league. try listening to it with the volume turned up - a true rock'n'roll classic.

Unfortunately I do not have the expertise to upload the track onto here, could someone else, cleverer than I, perhaps do so?

[drjohncarpenter]

Along with 'Hound Dog', 'A Big Hunk O' Love' is my favourite, post Sun, 50's Elvis recording. However I have never noticed any similarity to 'Sick and Tired'.

Eddie Cochrane's fantastic 'Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie' is in a similar league. try listening to it with the volume turned up - a true rock'n'roll classic.

Unfortunately I do not have the expertise to upload the track onto here, could someone else, cleverer than I, perhaps do so?

..Eddie Cochran "Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie" (Liberty Records 55123, January 1958)
Billboard U.S. #94, March 10, 1958
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannie_Jeannie_Jeannie

[norrie]

Jeannie,Jeannie,Jeannie is a classic Rock N Roll number,fast,furious never lets up for a second,great guitar solo.Great.


norrie

[mike edwards66]

.

[Mister Moon]

Along with 'Hound Dog', 'A Big Hunk O' Love' is my favourite, post Sun, 50's Elvis recording. However I have never noticed any similarity to 'Sick and Tired'.

Eddie Cochrane's fantastic 'Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie' is in a similar league. try listening to it with the volume turned up - a true rock'n'roll classic.

Unfortunately I do not have the expertise to upload the track onto here, could someone else, cleverer than I, perhaps do so?

Eddie Cochran "Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie" (Liberty Records 55123, January 1958)
Billboard U.S. #94, March 10, 1958
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannie_Jeannie_Jeannie

Thanks, Doc.

I saw Chris's post while at work, and intended to post Eddie's song when I got home, but somehow I finally forgot about it. Sorry.

As a bonus, here's a couple more of versions of the song. First, by Jimmie Maddin on Imperial, from 1958, which is sometimes quoted as being the original version. I'm not really sure :

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http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artist.php?key=madd2000

Also, here's a cute version by girl singer Kay Cee Jones on Dot, from 1958 too :

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http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artist.php?key=jone4900

Anyway, these two versions, plus Eddie's, appear to have been released within the same few early months of 1958.

Needless to say, Eddie is the winner of the contest. His recording is an absolute classic. Everything in this recording is a total joy to listen to, and one never gets tired of this record. The wild vocals, the fantastic guitar solo, the fabulous drumming by Earl Palmer...

So far, only one take of this song has ever surfaced by Eddie, but it's neat to listen to it in its three different incarnations :

http://www.eddiecochran.info/Sessions/IV.htm

Thanks again Chris and Doc.

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Edited 02/08/15 in order to restore the YT link to Kay Cee Jones' recording.