horizontal bar

JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS

horizontal bar

LITTLE RICHARD


Little Richard

horizontal bar
Biography Dicography
WEB PAGES
WikipediaWikipedia
Rock & Roll Hall of FameRock & Roll Hall of Fame

horizontal bar
Biography

One of the original rock & roll greats, Little Richard merged the fire of gospel with New Orleans R&B, pounding the piano and wailing with gleeful abandon. While numerous other R&B greats of the early '50s had been moving in a similar direction, none of them matched the sheer electricity of Richard's vocals. With his bullet-speed deliveries, ecstatic trills, and the overjoyed force of personality in his singing, he was crucial in upping the voltage from high-powered R&B into the similar, yet different, guise of rock & roll. Although he was only a hitmaker for a couple of years or so, his influence upon both the soul and British Invasion stars of the 1960s was vast, and his early hits remain core classics of the rock repertoire.

Heavily steeped in gospel music while growing up in Georgia, when Little Richard began recording in the early '50s he played unexceptional jump blues/R&B that owed a lot to his early inspirations Billy Wright and Roy Brown. In 1955, at Lloyd Price's suggestion, Richard sent a demo tape to Specialty Records, who were impressed enough to sign him and arrange a session for him in New Orleans. That session, however, didn't get off the ground until Richard began fooling around with a slightly obscene ditty during a break. With slightly cleaned-up lyrics, "Tutti Frutti" was the record that gave birth to Little Richard as he is now known -- the gleeful "woo!"s, the furious piano playing, the sax-driven, pedal-to-the-metal rhythm section. It was also his first hit, although, ridiculous as it now seems, Pat Boone's cover version outdid Richard's on the hit parade.

Boone would also try to cover Richard's next hit, "Long Tall Sally," but by that time it was evident that audiences black and white much preferred the real deal. In 1956 and 1957, Richard reeled off a string of classic hits -- "Long Tall Sally," "Slippin' and "Slidin'," "Jenny, Jenny," "Keep a Knockin'," "Good Golly, Miss Molly," "The Girl Can't Help It" -- that remain the foundation of his fame. While Richard's inimitable mania was the key to his best records, he also owed a lot of his success to the gutsy playing of ace New Orleans session players like Lee Allen (tenor sax), Alvin Tyler (baritone sax), and especially Earl Palmer (drummer), who usually accompanied the singer in both New Orleans and Los Angeles studios. Richard's unforgettable appearances in early rock & roll movies, especially The Girl Can't Help It, also did a lot to spread the rock & roll gospel to the masses.

Richard was at the height of his commercial and artistic powers when he suddenly quit the business during an Australian tour in late 1957, enrolling in a Bible college in Alabama shortly after returning to the States. Richard had actually been feeling the call of religion for a while before his announcement, but it was nonetheless a shock to both his fans and the music industry. Specialty drew on unreleased sessions for a few more hard-rocking singles in the late '50s, but Richard virtually vanished from the public eye for a few years. When he did return to recording, it was as a gospel singer, cutting a few little-heard sacred sides for End, Mercury, and Atlantic in the early '60s.

By 1962, though, Richard had returned to rock & roll, touring Britain to an enthusiastic reception. Among the groups that supported him on those jaunts were the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, whose vocals (Paul McCartney's especially) took a lot of inspiration from Richard's. In 1964, the Beatles cut a knockout version of "Long Tall Sally," with McCartney on lead, that may have even outdone the original. It's been speculated that the success of the Beatles, and other British Invaders who idolized Richard, finally prompted the singer into making a full-scale comeback as an unapologetic rock & roller. Hooking up with Specialty once again, he had a small hit in 1964 with "Bama Lama Bama Loo." These and other sides were respectable efforts in the mold of his classic '50s sides, but tastes had changed too much for Richard to climb the charts again. He spent the rest of the '60s in a continual unsuccessful comeback, recording for Vee-Jay (accompanied on some sides by Jimi Hendrix, who was briefly in Richard's band), OKeh, and Modern (for whom he even tried recording in Memphis with Stax session musicians).

It was the rock & roll revival of the late '60s and early '70s, though, that really saved Richard's career, enabling him to play on the nostalgia circuit with great success (though he had a small hit, "Freedom Blues," in 1970). He had always been a flamboyant performer, brandishing a six-inch pompadour and mascara, and constant entertaining appearances on television talk shows seemed to ensure his continuing success as a living legend. Yet by the late '70s, he'd returned to the church again. Somewhat predictably, he eased back into rock and show business by the mid-'80s. Since then, he's maintained his profile with a role in Down and Out in Beverly Hills (the movie's soundtrack also returned him to the charts, this time with "Great Gosh a-Mighty") and guest appearances on soundtracks, compilations, and children's rock records. At this point it's safe to assume that he never will get that much-hungered-for comeback hit, but he remains one of rock & roll's most colorful icons, still capable of turning on the charm and charisma in his infrequent appearances in the limelight. In 2017, his debut album, 1957's Here's Little Richard, was given a long-overdue reissue, accompanied by a bonus disc of demos and alternate takes.

--

by 



Richard passed away on May 9, 2020 at ager 87 from cancer.
BACK TO THE TOP

horizontal bar


Tutti Frutti (1956)Tutti Frutti (1956)
Good Golly Miss Molly Live 1964Good Golly Miss Molly Live 1964
Long Tall Sally - 1956Long Tall Sally - 1956

BACK TO THE TOP

horizontal bar
Discography

LINKSYEARTITLE
Here's Little Richard1957Here's Little Richard 
Little Richard [1958] 1958Little Richard and Buck Ham 
Clap Your Hands1960Clap Your Hands
Pray Along With Little Richard, Vol. 1: A Closer Walk With Thee1960Pray Along With Little Richard, Vol. 1: A Closer Walk With Thee
Pray Along With Little Richard, Vol. 2: I'm Quitting Show Business1960Pray Along With Little Richard, Vol. 2: I Believe
King of the Gospel Singers1962King of the Gospel Singers
Sings Spirituals1963Sings Spirituals
Coming Home 1963Coming Home 
Little Richard Is Back (And There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On!)1965Little Richard Is Back (And There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On!)
The Wild and Frantic Little Richard1966The Wild and Frantic Little Richard
The Explosive Little Richard 1967The Explosive Little Richard 
Rock Hard Rock Heavy1970Rock Hard Rock Heavy
Little Richard [1970]1970Little Richard [1970]
The Rill Thing 1970The Rill Thing 
Mr. Big1971Mr. Big
King of Rock and Roll [Reprise] 1971King of Rock and Roll [Reprise] 
The Second Coming 1972The Second Coming 
Right Now1973Right Now
(a.k.a. Call My Name: Struggling in the 70s)
Recorded Live1974Recorded Live
Talkin1974Talkin' 'Bout Soul
Little Richard Live1976Little Richard Live
Lifetime Friend 1986Lifetime Friend 
Shake It All About 1992Shake It All About 

BACK TO THE TOP

horizontal bar

1957 Here's Little Richard

01. Keep A Knockin'
02. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
03. Send Me Some Lovin'
04. Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo
05. Heeby-Jeebies
06. All Around The World
07. Good Golly, Miss Molly
08. Baby Face
09. Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey
10. Ooh! My Soul
11. The Girl Can't Help It
12. Lucille

1958 Little Richard And Buck Ram

01. Little Richard - Aint Nothin' Happenin'
02. Little Richard - Why Did You Leave Me
03. Little Richard - Every Hour
04. Little Richard - I Brought It All On Myself
05. Little Richard - Taxi Blues
06. Little Richard - Get Rich Quick
07. Little Richard - Please Have Mercy On Me
08. Little Richard - Thinkin' 'Bout My Mother
09. Buck Ram - Crazy Lips
10. Buck Ram - Any Hour
11. Buck Ram - Hey Operator
12. Buck Ram - That's A Lot Of Brass

1960 Clap Your Hands

1960 Pray Along With Little Richard, Vol. 1: A Closer Walk With Thee

01. Just a Closer Walk With Thee
02. Milky White Way
03. Does Jesus Care
04. Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley
05. Coming Home
06. I've Just Come From the Fountain
07. I'm Trampin'
08. Need Him
09. God is Real
10. Precious Lord
horizontal bar

1960 Pray Along With Little Richard, Vol. 2: I believe

01. Certainly Lord
02. I Know The Lord
03. I'm Quittin' Show Business
04. Speech: "I'm Quittin' Show Business
05. Search Me Lord
06. Lord I Want To Be A Christian
07. Troubles Of The World
08. Every Time I Feel the Spirit
09. Tell God My Troubles
10. I Want Jesus To Walk With Me

1962 King of the Gospel Singers

01. It's Real
02. Joy, Joy, Joy (Down In My Heart)
03. Do You Care
04. The Captain Calls For You
05. In Times Like These
06. Do Lord, Remember Me
07. Ride On King Jesus
08. (There Will Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)
09. He's Not Just A Soldier
10. My Desire
11. He's My Star
12. It Takes Everything To Serve The Lord

1963 Sings Spirituals

01. His Name's Is So Sweet
02. God Is Real
03. I Want Jesus To Walk With Me
04. Sorrow Valley
05. Or Three Farm
06. Certainly Lord
07. I'm Goin' To Tell God
08. Take My Hand
09. Shilima Jiwe
10. Igana La Bantwana
horizontal bar

1963 Coming Home

01. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
02. Coming Home
03. Search Me Lord
04. I Want Jesus To Walk With Me
05. Milky White Way
06. Need Him
07. Every Time I Feel The Spirit
08. Does Jesus Care
09. I'm Trampin'
10. God Is Real
11. Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley
12. Precious Lord

1965 Little Richard Is Back (And There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On!)

01. A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
02. Going Home Tomorrow
03. Money Honey
04. Only You
05. Hound Dog
06. Goodnight Irene
07. Lawdy Miss Claudie
08. Groovy Little Suzy
09. Short Fat Fanny
10. Cherry Red
11. Memories Are Made Of This
12. Blueberry Hill

1966 The Wild and Frantic Little Richard

01. Baby What You Want Me To Do
02. Do The Jerk
03. Directly From My Heart
04. I'm Back
05. Holy Mackeral
06. Good Golly Miss Molly
07. Send Me Some Lovin'
08. Groovy Little Suzy
09. Baby Don't You Want A Man Like Me
10. Miss Ann
horizontal bar

1967 The Explosive Little Richard

01. I Don't Want To Discuss It
02. Land Of A Thousand Dances
03. The Commandments Of Love
04. Money
05. Poor Dog (Who Can't Wag His Own Tail)
06. I Need Love
07. Never Gonna Let You Go
08. Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go)
09. Function At The Junction
10. Well

1970 Little Richard [1970]

1970 The Rill Thing

01. Freedom Blues
02. Greenwood, Mississippi
03. Two-Time Loser
04. Dew Drop Inn
05. Somebody Saw You
06. Spreadin' Natta, What's The Matter?
07. The Rill Thing
08. Lovesick Blues
09. I Saw Her Standing There

1971 Mr. Big

01. Jenny, Jenny
02. Without Love (There Is Nothing)
03. Cross Over
04. My Wheel's Been Slipping All The Way
05. It Ain't Watcha Do (It's The Way How You Do It)
06. Every Time I Think About You
07. Talking 'Bout Soul
08. I Don't Know What You Got (But It's Got Me) - Part 1
09. I Don't Know What You Got (But It's Got Me) - Part 2
10. Dance What You Wanna
11. Dancin' All Around The World

horizontal bar

1971 King of Rock and Roll [Reprise]

01. King Of Rock And Roll
02. Joy To The World
03. Brown Sugar
04. In The Name
05. Dancing In The Street
06. Midnight Special
07. The Way You Do The Things You Do
08. Green Power
09. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
10. Settin' The Woods On Fire
11. Born On The Bayou

1972 The Second Coming

01. Mockinbird Sally
02. Second Line
03. It Ain't What You Do, It's The Way How You Do It
04. The Saints
05. Nuki Suki
06. Rockin' Rockin' Boogie
07. Prophet Of Peace
08. Thomasine
09. Sanctified, Satisfied Toe-Tapper

1973 Right Now (a.k.a. Call My Name: Struggling in the 70s)

01. But I Try
02. Rockin' With The King
03. Lucille (Live) - From The Original Soundtrack "Let The Good Times Roll"
04. Good Golly Miss Molly (Live) - From The Original Soundtrack "Let The Good Times Roll"
05. He's Not Just A Soldier
06. Why Don't You Love Me
07. In The Name
08. Mississippi
09. Don't You Know!?
10. Chain Of Fools (Chain, Chain, Chain)
11. Geraldine Jones
12. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
13. Chains Of Love
14. Hot Nuts
15. In The Middle Of The Night
16. Where Will I Find A Place To Sleep This Evening
17. Call My Name
18. Steal Miss Liza (Steal Liza Jane)
19. Try To Help Your Brother (Long Version)
20. Send Me Some Lovin' 1978
21. Can't Believe You Wanna Leave 1978

horizontal bar

1974 Recorded Live

01. Introduction - Tutti Frutti
02. Keep A Knockin'
03. Saturday Night Rock
04. Jenny Jenny
05. Bama Lama, Bama Loo
06. Long Tall Sally
07. Ready Teddy
08. Slippin' And Slidin'
09. True Fine Mama
10. Bonnie Marone
11. Lucille
12. Bring It Back Home To Me
13. Do You Feel It
14. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

1974 Talkin' 'Bout Soul

01. Crossover
02. Without Love
03. My Wheel's Been Sleeping
04. It Ain't Whatcha Do
05. Everytime I Think of You
06. Talking 'Bout Soul
07. Dance Whatcha Wanna
08. Dancing All Around the World
09. I Don't Know What You Got, Pt. 1
10. I Don't Know What You Got, Pt. 2
11. Whole Lotta Shaking Going On
12. Going Home Tomorrow
13. Money Honey
14. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
15. Cherry Red
16. Groovy Little Suzy
17. Short Fat Fanny
18. Send Me Some Loving
19. She's Got It
20. Keep a Knockin'
21. Lucille
22. Rip It Up
23. Good Golly Miss Molly
24. Tutti Frutti
25. Long Tall Sally

1976 Little Richard Live

01. Lucille
02. The Girl Can't Help It
03. Tutti Frutti
04. Send Me Some Lovin'
05. Long Tall Sally
06. Get Down With It
07. True Fine Mama
08. Jenny, Jenny
09. Good Golly Miss Molly
10. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
11. Anyway You Want Me
12. You Oughta Feel It

horizontal bar

1986 Lifetime Friend

01. Great Gosh A'mighty (It's a Matter of Time)
02. Operator
03. Somebody's Comin'
04. Lifetime Friend
05. Destruction
06. I Found My Way
07. World Can't Do Me
08. One Ray of Sunshine
09. Someone Cares
10. Big House Reunion

1992 Shake It All About

01. The Hokey Pokey
02. On Top Of Spaghetti
03. Old MacDonald
04. She'll Be Comin' Around The Mountain
05. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
06. Keep A Knockin'
07. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
08. If You're Happy And You Know It
09. When The Saints Go Marching In
10. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
11. Here We Go Loopty-Loo
12. Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?

horizontal bar
BACK TO THE TOP

MAIN PAGE GOLDEN VOICES OLD SCHOOL FUNK PAGE
SILKY SOUL SINGERS GREAT GROUPS RHYTHM AND BLUES
ROCK AND ROLL JAZZ E-MAIL JANICE
graphics by YSM
horizontal bar