LITTLE RICHARD: A CD to show why his music matters
PERFORMER: Little Richard
CD: “The Very Best of Little Richard” (Specialty/Concord Music Group)
On the strength of a handful of major hits, Little Richard Penniman helped define a decade. “Tutti Frutti” (cleaned up from the original “Tutti Frutti, Good Bootie” for the recording), “Long Tall Sally,” the irrepressible “Lucille” and “Rip It Up” were his calling cards.
Like many black artists of the day, Little Richard’s versions were eclipsed by white artists, in this case Elvis and Pat Boone. Unlike tepid Boone’s covers, two other LR hits, “Good Golly Miss Molly” and “Jenny Jenny” were respectfully turned into potent top 10 hits by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels.
A true original, Little Richard began his career playing in dives and performing in drag for college frat parties. He parlayed that sense of full-on flair — pounding on the piano with coiffed hair — into one of the wildest live acts on the circuit.
Other tracks to cue up are “The Girl Can’t Help It” (from the movie which featured Jayne Mansfield and originally intended for Fats Domino), the flat-out screamin’ “Keep A-Knockin’” and a blistering version of the ballad “Send Me Some Lovin’.” And I dare you to listen to “Bama Lama Bama Loo” and tell me you can’t hear who inspired John Fogerty.
– by Michael Lipton
