Willie Mae \"Big Mama\" Thornton doing \"Hound Dog\" backed by \"Night Mare,\" a 1952 Peacock Records release. Obviously this tune is best remembered for Elvis Presley's version on RCA. Unlike his early Sun R&B covers, which Elvis was inspired to record by hearing the original versions, it was hearing Freddie Bell and the Bell Boys' (a Las Vegas rocking lounge act) version of Hound Dog that inspired Elvis to put the tune in his repertoire.
