Little Richard

[wiseguide]

What do you think of this rock 'n' roll legend? He used to call himself the father of rock 'n' roll during the 80's (as opposed to Elvis) or something like that. He had at least one great song in the 80's. "Great Gosh A' Mighty" from the soundtrack to Down and Out in Beverly Hills. I like that song better than most of his classic 50's hits.

If you listen to his classic recording of "Lucille" there is a very strange sounding instrument playing the backbeat. It must have been an early electric bass, but it sounds very synthesized. Like a cheesy 80's keyboard (ie Loverboy's "Take Me To the Top"). It sounds surprising but it's there if you listen.

 

[puppy]

my father used to love all the rock n roll music, it was what he grew up with and he used to play the records when my brother and myself were little but id have to say little richard was the only one i really liked and still like today

i helped myself to his little richard vinyl

 

[cygnusx1]

Little Richard is a star ..................Hendrix used to be in his band!!

Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom!
Tutti frutti, oh rutti,
Tutti frutti, oh rutti,
Tutti frutti, oh rutti,
Tutti frutti, oh rutti,
Tutti frutti, oh rutti,
Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom!

 

[wiseguide]

There's a video called The London Rock'n'Roll Show from 1972 that's got some great performances by Richard, Berry, Hailey, and Lewis. During one scene they alternate between brief segments of interviews:

Little Richard: "Jerry Lee Lewis is the King...of stupidity, first of all."

Jerry Lee Lewis: "That's strictly a bunch of c---, if he said that. I haven't seen any hit records by Little Richard lately, but I've seen a lot of them by Jerry Lee Lewis. Now, wait a minute. Let's just break it down. I got nothin' against Richard. He's a good friend of mine..."

Little Richard: "I can't see Jerry Lee Lewis even having the nerve to put on the shoes that I gave away..."

Bill Hailey: "There's always been a brothership between all of us, really. I think there's professional jealousy in all entertainers. But still somehow, I don't know if it's the success that's bonded us together, or the years. Somehow if I were down, I always knew that Chuck Berry would be picking it up for me, understand? And then the Beatles picked it up for all of us. The Rolling Stones picked it up. We kind of have a brotherhood between all of us."

 

[wiseguide]

He also mentioned (in the 1972 interview) that blacks had given up rock 'n' roll. His audiences were practically all white, unlike other performers like James Brown and Wilson Picket.

But he always played rock 'n' roll. Maybe he really IS the King of Rock 'n' Roll. He has always sounded great in every post 1950's clips I've seen of him. Very powerful rock 'n' roll energy.