Elvis Presley-Hound Dog

“I do not care what they say,” he told a reporter in defense of his music and his body language. “I’m not repulsive.”

We couldn’t agree more! Elvis had definitely set the Rock n Roll bar of what was to come for many future generations.

Hound Dog was originally recorded in a blues style by Big Mama Thornton in 1953. Like many blues musicians, she never made much money, but was a huge influence on many singers who did. Janis Joplin went on to record a song Thornton wrote- you may have heard of a little ditty- “Ball and Chain“? The song appeared on several Joplin compilations, and became one of the singers top hits.

Elvis’ version of this song is based on how he heard it performed by a Texas group called Freddie Bell and The Bell Boys. One night, Elvis and his band explored the Vegas strip and landed at the Sahara, where Freddie Bell and The Bell Boys had been performing. When Elvis heard their comedic version of “Hound Dog,” he was so impressed he decided to do his own in a similar vein.

Hound Dog received such a reaction whenever Presley performed it live, that he added it to his live performances. It soon became the standard closer. With those hip shakes, and baby blue eyes- whats not to love about The King?

+Hound Dog lyrics below+

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
Cryin’ all the time
You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
Cryin’ all the time
Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine
Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
Cryin’ all the time
You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
Cryin’ all the time
Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine

Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine

Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Ya know they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
Cryin’ all the time
You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
Cryin’ all the time
Well, you ain’t never caught a rabbit you ain’t no friend of mine