Mr. Big Stuff
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Mr. Big Stuff --"Mr. Big Stuff" (1971) by Jean Knight |
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"Mr. Big Stuff" (1971) is a musical composition made famous by Jean Knight.
Written by Joseph Broussard, Carrol Washington, Ralph George Williams and released on her debut album of the same title in 1971, it became a huge crossover hit.
It would become one of Stax Records's most popular and recognizable hits.
Background
"Mr. Big Stuff" was recorded in 1970 at Malaco Studio in Jackson, Mississippi, at the same session as "Groove Me" by King Floyd. Knight's single was released by Stax Records because of the persistence of Stax publisher Tim Whitsett; "Groove Me" by King Floyd, which Whitsett strongly urged Malaco to release, also became a hit. Both songs are defined by two bar, off-beat bass lines and tight arrangements by Wardell Quezergue.
The song is addressed to egotistical man, nicknamed Mr. Big Stuff, by an indignant female narrator. The man, who has expensive cars and fancy clothes, breaks other girls' hearts. The narrator demands he acts more maturely and return her love for him. This song features a backup female chorus intoning "Oh Yeah", once in the song's Intro, twice in the first verse, and twice in the third verse.
See also
