Little Richard has died at 87
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So I saw Little Richard once in Atlanta. This was in 2003 I think and a 15 passenger van full of us from the ISU paintball team were driving to Orlando to play in the college division at World Cup. We were stuck in a traffic jam because you know that’s basically all Atlanta is and there was a black limo about 3 or 4 car lengths ahead of us in the LH lane. Little Richard pops out of the sun roof and stars waving at everyone. Somebody in the back of the van says “Hey look it’s Stevie Wonder.” The guy next to him was half asleep and says back without looking “You dumbass Stevie Wonder can’t drive”.
Listen to In a Metal Mood. It’s a Revisionist History podcast all about Pat Boone. You’ll have more respect for him and less for Elvis after hearing it. It talks about Little Richard saying that at first he was mad, but then he realized that Boone was allowing kids to get interested in the songs and they were coming to find his original version. Obviously this big brain on Twitter didn’t hear it.
http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/38-in-a-metal-mood
This link has background on the songs Rip It Up and Ready Teddy (side B):
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/little-richard/rip-it-up
So it was recorded exactly 64 years ago yesterday.
The link also mentions Bill Haley and His Comets, Pat Boone, and Ike Turner.
The lyrics:
https://www.metrolyrics.com/rip-it-up-lyrics-little-richard.html
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/little-richard/rip-it-up
So it was recorded exactly 64 years ago yesterday.
The link also mentions Bill Haley and His Comets, Pat Boone, and Ike Turner.
The lyrics:
https://www.metrolyrics.com/rip-it-up-lyrics-little-richard.html
A sad day for Rock & Roll. LR was a giant.
To think his music is still pervasive after 60 years speaks volumes of his talent (and yes his showmanship)
To think his music is still pervasive after 60 years speaks volumes of his talent (and yes his showmanship)
Little Richard was kinda miffed Boone got more airplay and record sales, so the next record was purposefully sung at at hyper-speed to confuse the white guy. Boone went on to cover at least 4 Richard songs (as did Elvis).
By the way the original lyrics to Tutti were really out there:
"Tutti Frutti, good booty
If it don’t fit, don’t force it
You can grease it, make it easy"
What a legend. RIP Little Richard.
An inspiration to all the white rockers, particularly the Beatles, who's cover of 'Long Tall Sally' was supposedly done in one take.
Also, check out the video clips from the movie, "Don't Knock the Rock" and, "The Girl Can't Help It'.
My fav Little Richard song is actually a cover from very early in his career, in his band The Upsetters, "Im In Love Again".
An inspiration to all the white rockers, particularly the Beatles, who's cover of 'Long Tall Sally' was supposedly done in one take.
Also, check out the video clips from the movie, "Don't Knock the Rock" and, "The Girl Can't Help It'.
My fav Little Richard song is actually a cover from very early in his career, in his band The Upsetters, "Im In Love Again".
Attachments
A good retrospective from RS
'I majored in mouth': How Little Richard invented the rock star
“I came from a family where my people didn’t like rhythm & blues. Bing Crosby, ‘Pennies From Heaven,’ Ella Fitzgerald, was all I heard. And I knew there was something that could be louder than that, but didn’t know where to find it. And I found it was me.”
'I majored in mouth': How Little Richard invented the rock star
“I came from a family where my people didn’t like rhythm & blues. Bing Crosby, ‘Pennies From Heaven,’ Ella Fitzgerald, was all I heard. And I knew there was something that could be louder than that, but didn’t know where to find it. And I found it was me.”
