Today’s classic song of the day is a one-hit wonder by soul singer Jean Knight. The song is “Mr. Big Stuff” and, when it was released in May of 1971, it went all the way to #2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Soul chart (for five consecutive weeks!).
“Mr. Big Stuff” was written by the team of Joseph Broussard, Carrol Washington, and Ralph George Williams. Jean Knight recorded it at a session at Malaco Studio in Jackson, Mississippi for Stax Records. It was the same session where saxophonist King Curtis recorded his hit, “Groove Me,” and used the same musicians: Jerry Puckett on guitar, Paul Davis on keyboards, Wardell Quezerque on organ, Vernie Robbins on bass, and James Stroud on drums. Wardell Quezerque also produced.
The “Mr. Big Stuff” single was the big break for Ms. Knight, a New Orleans native who started singing professionally in the mid-60s and was working as a baker when she recorded this track. She was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female, but lost to Aretha Franklin’s cover of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Stax released four more singles by Ms. Knight, most in the same groove, but none of them clicked. The label released her from her contract in 1973 and she decided to go to nursing school and later worked full time as a nurse, although she still did a little recording and performing on the side. Jean Knight passed away in 2023, age 80.
So here’s today’s daily bonus video of the day, Jean Knight performing “Mr. Big Stuff” on Soul Train in 1971. I always liked this one.
