By all accounts Big Mama Thornton was a force of nature. Her talent and striking personality took her all around the United States in her twenties and thirties and later to many places around the world. John Norris in Coda magazine wrote of her: "Her voice is gutsy, earthy and coarse, but at the same time there is a beauty, sensitivity and control to everything she does." Big Mama created tension without harshness, excitement without strain. She can make you weep. The proof of such acclaim is found in abundance here on this 180g vinyl compilation of her biggest and best songs.