Richard Wayne Penniman, known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as 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 powerful raspy vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll. Richard's innovative emotive vocalizations and uptempo rhythmic music played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk. He influenced singers and musicians across musical genres from rock to hip hop; his music helped shape rhythm and blues for generations.
"Good Golly, Miss Molly" is a rock 'n' roll song first recorded in 1956 by American musician Little Richard and released in January 1958 as Specialty single 624, and later on Little Richard in July 1958. The song, a jump blues, was written by John Marascalco and producer Robert "Bumps" Blackwell. Although it was first recorded by Little Richard, Blackwell produced another version by the Valiants, who imitated the fast first version recorded by Little Richard, not released at that time. Although the Valiants' version was released first, Little Richard had the hit, reaching No. 4. Like all his early hits, it quickly became a rock 'n' roll standard and has subsequently been recorded by hundreds of artists. The song is ranked No. 92 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
John S. Marascalco was an American songwriter most noted for the songs he wrote for Little Richard. He was born in Grenada, Mississippi and died in Los Angeles, California.
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".
Eskew Reeder, Jr., usually known by the stage name Esquerita, and occasionally as S.Q. Reeder or The Magnificent Malochi, was an American R&B singer, songwriter and pianist, known for his frenetic performances. He has been credited with influencing rock and roll pioneer Little Richard.
Robert Alexander "Bumps" Blackwell was an American bandleader, songwriter, arranger, and record producer, best known for his work overseeing the early hits of Little Richard, as well as grooming Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Ernestine Anderson, Lloyd Price, Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert, Larry Williams, and Sly and the Family Stone at the start of their music careers.
Playin' Possum is the 1982 debut solo album by Moe Tucker, who was the drummer in the Velvet Underground. The album includes a number of renditions of classic rock and roll songs,, as well as renditions of more modern rock songs. Tucker performs every instrument on the album and recorded it in her living room, dubbed "Trash Records". "Ellas" was dedicated to Bo Diddley.
Together: Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter Live is a 1976 album by brothers Johnny Winter and Edgar Winter. Released just three months after Johnny Winter's Captured Live!, it is composed entirely of rock and roll and soul standards. This album is a chance to hear The Edgar Winter Group playing with Johnny Winter's band together on a same stage.
"Slippin' and Slidin' (Peepin' and Hidin')" is an R&B/rock 'n' roll song performed by Little Richard. The song is credited to Little Richard, Edwin Bocage (Eddie Bo), Al Collins, and James Smith.
Little Richard's Greatest Hits - Recorded Live! is the second and last album by Little Richard for the Okeh label. A live album, it was recorded in the CBS Studios at Hollywood.
Friends from the Beginning – Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix is an album attributed to Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix, purportedly recorded sometime between 1964 and its 1972 release date. Contrary to the album title and claims in the liner notes, Hendrix does not contribute anything to the recording. Little Richard's involvement in some of the songs has also been questioned. Over the years, similar albums have been released in various formats by small record labels in many countries.
Little Richard Is Back is Little Richard's first album of rock and roll songs for Vee-Jay Records. The label went out of business and its records were not accurate, leaving many to speculate about the recording details. Despite claims to the contrary, Jimi Hendrix does not play on any of the album's songs.
Talkin' 'bout Soul consisted of tracks recorded by Little Richard for Vee-Jay Records in 1964 and 1965. All of the songs had been released before except "You Better Stop". "Something Moves In My Heart" had previously been included on the 1971 UK released album, Mr. Big, under the title "Every Time I Think About You". This album is essentially the Mr. Big album with one extra previously unreleased track.
The Incredible Little Richard Sings His Greatest Hits – Live! is the first of two albums Little Richard made for the Modern Records label. A live recording from the Domino Club in Atlanta compiled from more than one concert, all the tracks on the album have overdubbed audience noises. Ace Records has yet to release these on CD. Ace reports a legal entanglement prohibiting such.
The Wild and Frantic Little Richard is the second and last Little Richard album released on the Modern Records label. It is composed of songs released on singles during his time with the label, live tracks, and material licensed or left over from Vee-Jay.. Some tracks released on 45 were different versions, shorter or longer, with or without horns and overdubs. Live material appears to be from 1 December 1965, at the Domino Club, Atlanta, Georgia. Studio from 31 August 1964, Los Angeles; 1 January 1966, Memphis.
Little Richard Live! 20 Super Hits is a recording of a live-in-studio performance by Little Richard. Recorded at the Jack Clement Studio in Nashville before an audience, the album featured remakes of twenty of his Specialty Records tracks. Counting the live takes on this album, this was the second time that Richard had rerecorded his 1950s hits in studio. These August 1976 sessions and an early 1990s session with Japanese guitarist Masayoshi Takanakka are the last times that Penniman would re-record his 1950s hits for an album before his death in May 2020. Alternate takes from these sessions are found on a full stereo "Audiophile" album from 1980.
This page is a discography for American musician Little Richard (1932–2020). Described as "the architect of rock and roll", Little Richard was a pioneering singer-songwriter whose career also encompassed rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel. He began his recording career in 1951, signing to RCA Victor, releasing his first singles, and his first album in 1957, although he released his last album in 1992, he continued to tour into the 21st century. He attained international success after signing with Specialty Records in 1955.
Mr. Big, released in the middle of his Reprise Records period, was another compilation of Little Richard's mid-1960s recordings for Vee Jay Records, released on the UK Joy label. None of the tracks had previously been released on an album - many had been released on singles in 1965, the rest were previously unreleased. A later album with not only the same name, but also the same cover was released for the US market in 1974 with different tracks. . Another similar release came in the form of Talkin‘ ‘bout Soul, also in 1974, with one previously unreleased track and stereo versions of released single sides.
Little Richard is the second album by American musician Little Richard, released in July 1958, ten months after Richard announced a retirement from rock and roll to pursue a life in the ministry. Like his first album, it largely contains previously released A-sides and B-sides including several which reached Billboard's Rhythm & Blues and Hot 100 charts. Nine of its twelve tracks charted in the US including Richard's fourth million-seller "Lucille", the rock and roll standard "Good Golly, Miss Molly" and "The Girl Can't Help It", the title song from the motion picture of the same name. Among the previously unreleased tracks are two Tin Pan Alley songs recorded in Richard's frantic style.
Instant Karma: All-Time Greatest Hits, a three-disc compilation album of music recorded by John Lennon, is a budget release targeted for sale at warehouse-type stores such as Sam's Club and Costco. The album was released in 2002 by Timeless/Traditions Alive Music under license from Capitol/EMI Special Projects.
