Hound Dog

The story of Hound Dog is a fascinating crossroads between the rawest blues and the birth of rock and roll. Originally, this twelve-bar song was conceived by composers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the powerful voice of Big Mama Thornton. She first recorded it on August 13, 1952, in Los Angeles, and its release through Peacock Records in February 1953 was a notable success for her, selling over half a million copies and remaining at the top of the R&B charts for seven weeks. Thornton's performance is considered fundamental, so much so that it was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" and entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.

However, the version most people know is Elvis Presley's, recorded in July 1956. This reinterpretation became a phenomenon, selling around ten million copies worldwide and marking a milestone by simultaneously reaching the number one spot on the U.S. pop, country, and R&B charts in 1956. Its success on the pop charts, with eleven consecutive weeks at the top, set a record that lasted 36 years. Presley's 1956 recording was also recognized with an entry into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1988 and was included in the list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll." The song has been the subject of legal disputes and has appeared in numerous films since the 1970s.