The most apparent difference between the two versions of the song “Hound Dog” is that Big Mama Thornton’s version is slower, characteristic of blues, while Elvis Presley’s cover is a classic example of upbeat rock-and-roll. It is faster and does not have the interlude in the middle as the original does. Additionally, the cover, as relayed by Elvis Presley (2013), introduces the extra line “You ain’t never caught a rabbit, you ain’t no friend of mine” that is absent in the version provided by warholsoup100 (2011). This sentence is indicative of the shift in the song’s meaning, with Elvis taking its name more literally while Big Mama Thornton was singing about a gigolo pursuing her. To my taste, the original version sounds better because I have listened to more rock’n’roll than blues, and Elvis’s version, while foundational to the genre, no longer sounds fresh.
In terms of fidelity, the recording of Big Mama Thornton’s song sounds less clear, though the effect created is not necessarily negative, as the distortions create a warmer sound. Elvis’s version is crisper, which is particularly apparent if one compares the clapping accompaniment present in both versions. It is also considerably higher in volume, though overall, both songs maintain consistent sound levels internally throughout their entire duration. Elvis’s song has both increased sound density due to the number of instruments used and overall higher loudness to create this difference. Lastly, both the instruments and the vocals in Big Mama Thornton’s version are lower-pitched than the cover by Elvis, which is overall brighter. I still struggle to find signs of editing in either song, though, considering their time period, likely not much of it was done.
References
Elvis Presley. (2013). Elvis Presley – Hound Dog (audio) [Video]. YouTube. Web.
warholsoup100. (2011). Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog (1952) blues [Video]. Web.