Jean Knight: From Mr. Big Stuff to Superbad – A Journey Through Hits and Misses
Jean Knight started out singing in her cousin’s New Orleans bar and soon attracted interest from local musicians, bands, and small labels.
After recording a demo of a Jackie Wilson tune, a small local label signed her. But after four unsuccessful singles, she gave up on the dream and began working as a baker instead.
Fast forward to the early ’70s, and Jean was rediscovered—this time by a producer with connections to the label Stax.
After recording Mr. Big Stuff with a newly refined, super funky sound, it looked like she was back in the game. Unfortunately, the label initially shelved the release.
Luckily, a similar-sounding track recorded in the same studio—Groove Me by King Floyd—started doing well. Riding on that success, Stax decided to release Mr. Big Stuff after all.
An instant smash hit in 1971, Mr. Big Stuff sold two million copies. The album, however, didn’t perform as well, and after a string of non-hits and a disagreement with Stax, Jean Knight moved on to try her luck elsewhere.
Although she didn’t land another major hit for some time, she did tour consistently, including with Gloria Gaynor.
It wasn’t until 1985 that she returned to the charts with a cover of My Toot Toot. Released at the same time as Denise LaSalle’s version (which charted in the U.K.), Jean’s take did well in the U.S.—despite suffering from some of the worst ’80s production you’ll ever hear.
Her most recent brush with success came in 2007, when her original track Do Me was featured on the Superbad soundtrack. The song, from her 1971 debut album, serves as a reminder of just how great her early production was—raising the question of how an artist can go from such a rich, funky sound to the sonic horrors of mid-’80s synths.
But then again, who do I think I am to judge Jean Knight?
Jean Knight Tunes | Related Pages
Mr. Big Stuff | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Mr. Big Stuff by Jean Knight using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Eb | Ab Bb Ab |
Mr. Big Stuff. Who do you think you are…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Mr. Big Stuff (Jean Knight) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Jean Knight on the web
