Little Richard's Greatest Hits: Recorded Live!
Encyclopedia
Little Richard's Greatest Hits - Recorded Live! is the second and last album from Little Richard
for the Okeh label. A live album, it was recorded in the CBS Studios at Hollywood .
was the worst producer in the world. He wanted me to copy Motown and I was no Motown artist. [...] The Okeh stuff didn't sell at all because Okeh was an R'n'B label - a black label. I should have recorded on the Epic label, because I'm not primarily a black artist. It would have done a lot better."
It is worth noting that 'Poor Dog' made #41 on the R&B chart and 'Commandments of Love' made #30 on The Cash Box Black Singles chart. All Okeh 45's are highly regarded in Europe where they were released on the Epic label.
After the recording sessions for this album, (actually the result of then-Richard Manger, Robert A. "Bumps" Blackwell's effort to convince European fans to petition Okeh Records to cut a live album), Richard recorded three more tracks for Okeh on May 17, 1967, one issued in 2004 ('Golden Arrow'), leaving the other two unreleased; then recorded six tracks in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago for the Brunswick Records
label the same year. The Brunswick tracks were released between December '67 - September '68, none of which were hits. Meanwhile, Little Richard saw out 1967 with an appearance in the film Catalina Caper
.
From this point on Richard was out of the recording studios, not returning until March 1970 with the Reprise Records
label.
Drummer unknown; no records kept by Okeh
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
for the Okeh label. A live album, it was recorded in the CBS Studios at Hollywood .
History
After the release of the album Richard himself noted "I was in the second year of the Okey (sic) contract and there was still no hit record. So I tore it up. The contract gave me no say in the material I recorded with them or in what was released. Larry WilliamsLarry Williams
Larry Williams was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana...
was the worst producer in the world. He wanted me to copy Motown and I was no Motown artist. [...] The Okeh stuff didn't sell at all because Okeh was an R'n'B label - a black label. I should have recorded on the Epic label, because I'm not primarily a black artist. It would have done a lot better."
It is worth noting that 'Poor Dog' made #41 on the R&B chart and 'Commandments of Love' made #30 on The Cash Box Black Singles chart. All Okeh 45's are highly regarded in Europe where they were released on the Epic label.
After the recording sessions for this album, (actually the result of then-Richard Manger, Robert A. "Bumps" Blackwell's effort to convince European fans to petition Okeh Records to cut a live album), Richard recorded three more tracks for Okeh on May 17, 1967, one issued in 2004 ('Golden Arrow'), leaving the other two unreleased; then recorded six tracks in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago for the Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
label the same year. The Brunswick tracks were released between December '67 - September '68, none of which were hits. Meanwhile, Little Richard saw out 1967 with an appearance in the film Catalina Caper
Catalina Caper
Catalina Caper is a 1967 comedy musical mystery film starring Tommy Kirk. It is one of the last in the beach party film genre. This entry blends the beach format with a standard crime-caper comedy...
.
From this point on Richard was out of the recording studios, not returning until March 1970 with the Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
label.
Track listing
- "LucilleLucille (Little Richard song)"Lucille" is a 1957 rock and roll song which was one of Little Richard's international hits.Released on Specialty Records in February 1957, Little Richard's single made number 21 on the US pop chart, and number 10 on the UK chart...
" - 2:30 - "The Girl Can't Help ItThe Girl Can't Help It (song)"The Girl Can't Help It" is the title song to the film The Girl Can't Help It, composed by songwriter Bobby Troup. It was performed by Little Richard. It was released in December 1956 and peaked at #49 on the Billboard Top 100 singles chart "The Girl Can't Help It" is the title song to the film...
" – 1:34 - "Tutti FruttiTutti Frutti (song)"Tutti Frutti" is a 1955 song by Little Richard, which became his first hit record. With its opening cry of "A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bop-bop!" and its hard-driving sound and wild lyrics, it became not only a model for many future Little Richard songs, but also one of the...
" – 1:29 - "Send Me Some Lovin'Send me some lovin'Send me some lovin is a 50's standard rock song recorded by various artists including Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly, Stevie Wonder, Hank Williams Jr. and Otis Redding....
" – 2:48 - "Get Down With It (aka Do The Jerk)" – 6:24
- "Long Tall SallyLong Tall Sally"Long Tall Sally" is a rock and roll 12-bar blues song written by Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Enotris Johnson and Richard Penniman , recorded by Little Richard and released March 1956 on the Specialty Records label....
" – 1:43 - "True Fine Mama" – 3:04
- "Jenny, Jenny" – 1:55
- "Good Golly Miss Molly" – 2:37
- "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" – 3:03
- "Baby What You Want Me to Do (listed as Anyway You Want Me)" – 2:54
- "Don't Fight It (listed as You Gotta Feel It)" – 4:22
Personnel
- Little Richard – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
- organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with... - Eddie Fletcher - bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Glenn Willings - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Johnny "Guitar" Watson – guitar
Drummer unknown; no records kept by Okeh
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Pop Albums |
#184 Pop; #28 Black Albums |