- Format: CD
- Label: RPM
- Genre: 60s Garage / Surf / RnB
Crossover
Without Love
My Wheel’s Been Sleeping
In Ain’t Watcha Do
Everytime I Think Of You
Talking ‘Bout Soul
Dance Watcha Wanna
Dancing All Around The World
I Don't Know What You Got Pt’s &
/ Whole Lotta Shaking Going On
Going Home Tomorrow
Money Honey
Lady Miss Clawdy
Cherry Red
Groovy Little Suzy
Short Fat And Fanny
Send Me Some Loving
She’s Got It
Keep A Knocking
Lucille
Rip It Up
Good Golly Miss Molly
Tutti Frutti
Long Tall Sally
Jenny Jenny
The Girl Can’t Help It
You Better Stop
Goodnight Irene /
This CD presents a comprehensive selection of material recorded by Little Richard Penniman for Vee Jay between June 1964 and mid-1965, and the intention is to present a revised perspective on Little Richard - soul singer. It should be understood that when he cut these tracks, he was still perceived as a 'rock 'n' roll' act, both by his fans and his record company, to which end his third session in December 1964 was spent re-creating a dozen of his Specialty hits. As a committed fan, I bought the records at the time and, like most others, made the mistake of direct comparison with the hits from the previous decade.
Now, some 30 years on, comes the opportunity to re-assess the artistic merit of the Vee Jay performances in more objective light and gain greater value by subjective dissemination. Other material reflects more directly the metamorphosis to Little Richard - soul singer, the prime concept of this selection, including the highly individual, almost preaching balladry of Don Covay's epic song 'I Don't Know What You've Got (But It's Got Me), of which two different takes of Part One are presented here; The original US 45, Parts 1 & 2 over two sides, was also issued as such in the UK by Philips, but some years later an alternate take of Part 1 was found and issued on a UK Joy LP 'Mr Big'. In hindsight, Richard signing with Vee Jay was a positive move which should have served to revive his career, and certainly the choice of repertoire for his first and later sessions was creative.