Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
1957
Album Summary
Here's Little Richard is the debut album by American musician Little Richard, released on March 4, 1957. Promoted as "six of Little Richard's hits and six brand new songs of hit calibre", the album compiles many of the A-sides and B-sides from Richard's hit singles including the Billboard top 40 entries "Tutti Frutti", "Long Tall Sally", "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Rip It Up" and "Jenny, Jenny" and the top 10 Rhythm and Blues Best-Sellers hits "Ready Teddy", "She's Got It" and "Miss Ann".The album's twelve tracks were produced by Robert "Bumps" Blackwell and recorded in New Orleans and Los Angeles in a highly collaborative process. Several of the songs included have been characterised as innovative and important in the development of rock and roll. Here's Little Richard was Richard's highest charting album, peaking at 13 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. In the years since its release, the album has been included in several lists of the greatest albums of all time including those by Rolling Stone and Time.
WikipediaI'm no afficianado but having had a little exposure to Little Richard previously and some knowledge of this era of pop I expect neither this or any other studio album represents him at his very best. He predated the era of studio album as apotheosis so it's a bit disappointing to see pre-60s artists entered into this list in this way. Suggests history is being skewed to bring it in line with what came later. Still, when you hear this you can't fail to be struck by what a firecracker he must have been - and still is, even if his incendiary screaming, relentless pounding and 100 mph tempos no longer shock you into running out of the record store clutching your pearls and heading straight for confession. There's a direct line running from his pit of the belly yowls to Nirvana choruses that are just variations of "Yeah" and Migos' electrifying ad libs.
Little Richard's first record. This is the absolute powerhouse of a record that rocketed him into the American cultural conciousness and paved the path for him to grow into the funk god that he became. The bones of his later music are here in the way that he attacks his vocal performances with reckless abandon and faultless control. The songs are firmly rooted in the musical ethos of the 50s but that's not a bad thing in this case due to the fact that Little Richard defined the style going forward in the minds of music fans. This debut album is thick with bangers like "Tutti Frutti," "Ready Teddy," "Miss Ann," and "Long Tall Sally." Little Richard is one of the main artists credited for bringing "black music" to white america. THIS is the record that white teenagers hid under their beds to listen to when their parents weren't around. It's no hyperbolic to say that, in his own way, Little Richard was a civil rights pioneer. And the record reflects that. It's relatable, using the musical shorthand of mainstream 50s pop, but keeps the undeniable edge, angst, and sheer sexual energy that was missing from white popular music at the time but which was available by the bucketload in black music.
The 'patient-zero' for 99% of this list. Modern music owes everything to Little Richard's innovation. Sure, he was riding a wave of change in the 1950's, but the bands that influence the bands that are listened to now were influenced by Little Richard. 4.5/5 for musicality. 5/5 for originality.
The energy on this album is amazing and infectious. The songs are composed flawlessly, and the way Little Richard uses his voice is incredible - not just as a vehicle for the lyrics but as an instrument and the way he expresses emotion. Album is literally full of high, high quality from front to back. No skips on this album at all.
9. Really good but also it’s good that it’s only 30 minutes because i can only listen to 12 bar blues for so long
I love how much fun he had with his art. His music is so playful and it makes me so happy.
These are the kind of records I expect to see on this list. Classic in every sense of the word. An undoubtedly important and influential piece of music. However, this seems like a "you had to be there" kind of thing. Seeing him perform during that era was probably insane. It's definitely a product of it's time, so it's not really something I enjoy listening to. It's good, fun music, though. Just not my vibe.
Here's Little Richard is the debut album by American musician Little Richard, In all, nine of the LP's 12 songs made the US Billboard Hot 100 charts between 1955 and 1958. Nicknamed "The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll," Richard's most celebrated work dates from the mid-1950s, when his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding back beat and raspy shouted vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll. His performances during this period resulted in integration between White Americans and African Americans in his audience. During this time, the Beatles opened for Richard on some tour dates. Richard advised the Beatles on how to perform his songs and taught the band's member Paul McCartney his distinctive vocalizations. In the fall of 1963, Richard was called by a concert promoter to rescue a sagging tour featuring The Everly Brothers, Bo Diddley and the Rolling Stones. In November/December 1964, Jimi Hendrix joined Richard's Upsetters band as a full member.
Little Richard helped shape rock ’n’ roll into everything it is today, but sometimes we find that fact difficult to contemplate. After all, it's hard to think about anything at all when we're busy wearing a hole in the carpet to the sound of vintage, rip-roaring cuts like "Tutti Frutti", "Slippin' and Slidin'" and "Rip It Up". The raw energy of his raspy howl and his way with the 88s are utterly electrifying—and just as irresistible today as they were more than half a century ago. The most important album we’ve had so far. Without it we wouldn’t have much of the music we have today. 5/5
7th June 2021 Listened on the way to and from a swim walking in the sunshine. Sounds like a greatest hits it's just banger after banger. Prince etc wouldn't be who they are without Little Richard, what an icon and one of the greatest voices of all time.
Classic rock 'n roll. As good as Elvis's first album was, this is so much purer of an expression of the early days of the genre. The black roots of rock are on full display, yet it's fully in this new type of music. This is fun rock stuff.
“Here’s Little Richard” by Little Richard (1957) This album is classic for good reason. In this, his debut album (although he had released several successful singles), Little Richard introduced a number of innovations that have remained hallmarks of rock and roll to this day. Among other creative initiatives, (1) He took the shuffle out of boogie woogie and replaced it with steady but explosive backbeat. (2) He developed vocal stylings that added raspy and gravelly accents, making the lead vocal an additional percussion instrument. And also, (3) with his left hand-heavy piano technique, he opened the door to more innovative bass lines. The net effect was to elevate the rhythm section (drums & bass) of the band to a new level of importance. This is why we love rock. This album pounds those innovations into the ears of the listener, forcing him or her to get sensitized to the new direction popular music would henceforth be going. The best way to listen to this today is to try to imagine how it contrasts with what preceded it, and how it was appropriated by what followed it. It’s one of the reasons that seriously listening to popular recorded music produced over nearly a century can both sustain interest and feed the soul. From a distance of 61 years, this music may sound trite and repetitive. But heard as the foundation of what was to come, it is compelling. 5/5
Little Richard's music from this era is the blueprint for modern R&B. And all the songs clock in at under 3 minutes. It's a good listen and a window into what Pop and R&B turn in to.
86. Here's Little Richard - Little Richard 15 tracks. Amazing. Simply amazing. This is definitely getting another listen. I'm dancing! I'm proper dancing in the kitchen, (I may have had a drink), but this is brilliant. This must have been mind-blowing in it's day. #Bangers 5/5
Again, what's not to like about this classic Rock 'n' Roll album. just have to Listen to John Lennon speak about Richard Penniman's influence on the Beatles AND The Stones to know this is an extra special moment in rock history. I love "Baby", of course "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally" as Classics and "Rip It Up" for it's energy and bravado. Great Album rightfully on this list in my opinion.
It puts you in a space and time this album where you need to be surrounded by others, dancing, drinking, sweating and just good vibing. Good to hear a range of Little Richie songs as I've only really known 'Tutti Fruitti'
Rock and roll history here so another album that exists on another plane… I always loved Little Richard but had never listened to an album before. Perhaps what is most surprising about this album is that this is his debut album… talk about an introduction! Little Richard is on fire and this album is packed with incredible performances and hits. I also am surprised at the bite this album still has after all these years. The songs are fantastic. I was surprised to hear several tunes that I haven’t heard before but are up there with the monster hits we all know. What a gift Little Richard is to the world!
Full of soul and exuberance, this album had me dancing and grinning from start to finish. I gave it five stars before the end of the first line of Tutti Frutti and it just got better from there. Whooooo!
Toward the end of their sets performed during the No Nukes concerts (available in video and audio formats as "The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts"), Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform a rousing "Detroit Medley", which includes versions of Good Golly Miss Molly and Jenny Jenny. And that medley is a freaking party. I recommend watching the performance to really appreciate the Boss at the peak of his powers. And I couldn't help but feel that Little Richard's version of "Jenny Jenny" pales in comparison to the brouhaha Springsteen and Company put on those nights at Madison Square Garden. That isn't too diss the legend that is Little Richard at all. If anything, it's a testament to Little Richard's influence across generations. This is likely one of the album that Springsteen listened to repeatedly as a child growing up in Long Branch, New Jersey. And you can absolutely hear why he and millions more would be so into Little Richard. This album is an absolute marvel. So was Little Richard. Quick aside. Apparently Rolling Stone had this thing ranked at number 50 in their first two editions of their "500 Greatest Albums of All-Time" list. Then for no good reason, they dropped it all the way down to number 227 in their third edition of their silly little list. That 3rd list was released just months after we lost Little Richard. I'm glad he wasn't around to see Rolling Stone diss him like that.
Little Richard is a magnificent human being. He introduced me to my 3rd wife, Linda. She was a sailor and a poet with dark rings around her eyes and below her baggy vagina. She wore a solemn expression on her face and glumly shuffled around the house like a depressed ewok with the weight of the world on its shoulders. I used to lock her away in a drawer at night and fed her damaged tulips that I would purchase from the local florists on the way home from a busy day of being Nigel Spackman. She took her own life in the autumn of '73. I found her hanging, lifeless listening to Little Richard on the radio in the kitchen. She stank of salmon fillets. There was a note on the sideboard that read "Try locking me away in a drawer now, you cunt". To this day, I have no idea what she meant. The funeral was a fine affair. Many of Linda's friends and family did not bother coming and so Little Richard and I, drank whisky and danced into the wee hours of the morning, laughing and joking about how Linda would always say that she hated us and wanted us to die. We couldn't work out what she meant, the silly billy. That woman remains a mystery. Why did you do it, Linda? I keep an empty drawer for her and often smile as I pass the florist on the way home. She was special and I'll never understand why she hanged herself that day. Little Richard still pops by for supper every fortnight and we make a big deal about re-enacting her final hours. We eat salmon fillets and tell eachother we hate eachother, then laugh. Why Linda?
Not sure where the dividing line is between Little Richard and rock writ large, but this feels thoroughly rocking to me. I've heard Tutti Frutti before of course, but never this version. While some of the melodic tropes of the era wear, the horns and (real) pianos only add. Wish we got more of that instrumentation nowadays.
Arguably the beginning of Rock & Roll as we know it, Little Richard was belting these songs and people were going fucking insane for the music. And there's a good reason for it: it's so loud, energetic, and passionate that it leaves the whole performance on the floor. You got your money's worth with Little Richard. As is the problem with these sorts of albums, it often sounds like it would be better live in the moment of Richard's prime. Unfortunately, we're all several decades too late so we won't get to experience the true awesomeness of Little Richard killing it on stage in the 50's, but the album is still great.
Smashes it out of the park every track. What a talented vocalist. We’re all familiar with the screams and wails but I never really listened to how controlled and precise Little Richard’s singing can be. And this is music that just smashes convention - No wonder 50s America was terrified of rock and roll - Richard is singing about sex - doing it, thinking about doing it, asking a girl to do it, all to a grinding, pumping beat. It’s filth, pure filth. And it’s stunning.
Super energetic, no wonder Rock'n'Roll became a craze at the time. I cannot deny how influential Little Richard and this album were but music moved foreward and it doesn't stand out as much as it used to. Songs are quite simple melodically which makes them very similiar to one another.
Definitely worth the listen. It all sounds like the same song but, hey, it's Little Richard.
There's like 5 songs that are literally the same song with different lyrics. But overall not bad and definitely classic
Let's forget a minute how influential Little Richard was and is, especially vocally--it's hard to imagine James Brown, Paul McCartney, Wilson Pickett or David Lee Roth without him. Is there any reason we shouldn't just consign Little Richard to rock 'n roll history? Surprisingly, yes. Here's Little Richard is more or less evenly split between rock 'n roll and Crescent City R&B, and it's pretty basic stuff. But two things set it apart and keep it relevant: Little Richard's pounding piano style and the sheer energy and stylistic innovation of his vocals. Even now, Little Richard's vocals are exciting. That said, a whole of album of this gets a little samey, but I'll give it 3.5 stars on the strength of Little Richard's performance alone.
Every song is kinda the same... but they're all Little Richard, so it's cool.
Tres solide. J’adore toutes les chansons sont bonnes et ca secoute comme un charme. 5
Àlbum fundacional del rock and roll, ple de temazos immortals como "Tutti Frutti" o "Long Tall Sally". Un clàssic.
parece que estoy bailando con una chica con pollera en un baile de escuela
Woooooohooooo fantastic! Little Richard - the ultimate showman. The absolute Queen of Rock 'n Roll. Amazing song writing and incredible delivery. Just joyful.
I mean it's little Richard. Good short listen and solid album start to finish.
Enjoyed the whole album. Fun and exciting. Little Richard is amazing (9/10) Favorite Tracks: Long Tall Sally
Such awesome energy. A few albums can get me to sing along but this is the 1st to make me scream!
This should be the album link https://open.spotify.com/album/213RGeLPPCuZjSEfTv0j2r
My previous experiences with Little Richard is that I can enjoy him only In little doses. I enjoyed this entire album.
Stunningly good. Little Richard at his finest. So good I listened to it three times over!
The shortness of hte album really impressed me. Each song is not even 3 minutes long. For a guy who normally listens to 10 minute songs without batting an eye, this was a nice change of pace. And the energy! Wow, I haven't heard this kind of enthusiasm since punk, but happier. It made sense that this is just the A & B sides they work really well. There's no need for there to be an album flow, it's just hit after hit after hit. Don't listen to the extended cut / anniversary version of this, the 30 minutes in and out is all you need. Great stuff.
Listening to the whole album it's like the same song over and over but boy what a song! Even after over 60 years it's so full of life- I defy anyone not to start jigging around. Amazing. I left it playing track after track.....dancing in the kitchen :-)
Another record I own! Little Richard's first, and what a first album it is! I don't know if there's a song on here that won't get caught in your brain when you listen to it. I know I had 'Tutti Frutti' going through my head for most of the day. I also appreciate that it's a quick listen and doesn't outstay it's welcome. A really solid, important first album.
Like the Louis Prima record, this is another one that's just pure entertainment from head to toe. Also, I love the way he sings the line "Well long, tall Sally She's built for speed, she got" I'm talking about the cadence of that, it's just incredible. That kickass voice. This is five stars for me.
This album is so fun. Just makes me wanna dance. Definitely going to look for this at my record store.
Brilliant. This is exactly the type of album that should be in the book. Pioneering and fantastic album.
Removed Tutti Frutti. Rest of album saved for good. How brilliant is this?
p36. 1957. 5 stars The raw DNA of rock'n'roll and that would follow. Little Richard crams in more excitement and energy in the opening track than some artists manage in an entire career. There isn't a weak track on this.