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ROCKOLLECTIONS: A LOTTA LITTLE PT.1

Well it is about time we honored one of the Founding Fathers of Rock & Roll!

And it’s reigning madman.

I am talking about Little Richard, or Richard Penniman.

But the reason it took over 10 years was because he has re-recorded his songs so many times, you never knew which version you would be getting.

Rock & Roll fans knew which were the originals though, and I can assure you I will play the REAL, authentic Specialty label recordings of his many many hits here.

It took me a while to catch up with them all.

I will open with the most frenetic Ready Teddy the world has ever heard (with the possible exception of Buddy Holly’s take), and during this and the next chapter I will undoubtedly play some Little Richard you have never heard.

I gave Engineer Ken a few choices, and he picked Richard’s interpretation of the old Wilbert Harrison chestnut, Kansas City.

Listen to this and you will hear how the Beatles got THEIR version of the song!

Unfortunately, the biography I read from was poorly written, and I apologize for that.

But you will discover that Richard used to watch the medicine men at carnivals and used that to forge his style.

He was also greatly influenced by singer, and perhaps an even greater madman, Esquerita.

I would think probably most people have never heard of him, so maybe someday I’ll do a show on him.

For now, please join me for some timeless, high-energy music that without question was vital in the creation of what came to be known as Rock & Roll.

As crazy egotistical as Little Richard can be at times, he does have the credentials.

Mike

Tags: Beatles, Buddy Holly, Engineer Ken, Esquerita, Kansas City, Ready Teddy, Richard Penniman, Wibert Harrison