A fun soul song from the seventies. Jean Knight’s birth name was Jean Caliste. She adopted the professional name of Jean Knight because she felt that “Caliste” was too hard to pronounce. Love the bass sound in this song. It peaked at #2 in the Billboard 100 in 1971. The song reminds me of “”Groove Me” and they were recorded at the same studio…Malaco Studios in Mississippi.
After Knight recorded this song, it was given to several different national record labels, all of which rejected it. However, when King Floyd’s hit “Groove Me” became a #1 R&B hit in early 1971, the employees of Stax Records remembered Knight’s recording of “Mr. Big Stuff,” reconsidered, and released it.
From Songfacts.
This stayed on the pop and R&B charts for 16 weeks (it was a #1 R&B hit), went double platinum, and was nominated for a Grammy. >>
In 2000, Everclear sampled this on “AM Radio,” a song about growing up in the ’70s.
In early 2007, this song was used in a Papa John’s Pizza commercial that introduced the XL GrandPapa pizza.
Mr. Big Stuff
(Oh yeah, ooh)
Mr. Big Stuff
Who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You’re never gonna get my love
Now because you wear all those fancy clothes (oh yeah)
And have a big fine car, oh yes you do now
Do you think I can afford to give you my love (oh yeah)
You think you’re higher than every star above
Mr. Big Stuff
Who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You’re never gonna get my love
Now I know all the girls I’ve seen you with
I know you broke their hearts one after another now, bit by bit
You made ’em cry, many poor girls cry
When they try to keep you happy, they just try to keep you satisfied
Mr. Big Stuff, tell me tell me
Who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You’re never gonna get my love
I’d rather give my love to a poor guy that has a love that’s true (oh yeah)
Than to be fooled around and get hurt by you
Cause when I give my love, I want love in return (oh yeah)
Now I know this is a lesson Mr. Big Stuff you haven’t learned
Mr. Big Stuff, tell me
Who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You’re never gonna get my love
Mr. Big Stuff
You’re never gonna break my heart
Mr. Big Stuff
You’re never gonna make me cry
Mr. Big Stuff, tell me
Just who do you think you are
Mr. Big Stuff
You’re never gonna get my love
Mr. Big Stuff
Funky, southern R&B at it’s best, I think. I dare anyone to not get their groove on when the needle drops on this one. The bass really holds it down–in a good way, of course.
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I like the song. Would have guessed it was from a bit late, maybe ’73-74. Good memories
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Man I love that 70s sound. Tight!
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It is. This song and King Floyd’s Groove me…just has a groove you can’t beat.
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