Little Willie John
He never received the accolades given to the likes of Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter, and James Brown, but Little Willie John ranks as one of R&B's most influential performers. His muscular high timbre and enormous technical and emotional range belied his young age (his first hit came when he was 18), but his mid-'50s work for Syd Nathan's King label would play a great part in the way soul music would sound. Everyone from Cooke, McPhatter, and Brown to Jackie Wilson, B.B. King, and Al Green has acknowledged his debt to this most overlooked of rock and soul pioneers.
His debut recording, a smoking version of Titus Turner's "All Around the World" from 1955, set the pattern for a remarkable string of hits: "Need Your Love So Bad," "Suffering with the Blues," "Fever," "Let Them Talk," and his last, "Sleep," from 1961. His version of "Fever" was copied note for note by Peggy Lee and Elvis Presley, both of whom had bigger hits with it; John's version, however, remains definitive. His second hit, "Need Your Love So Bad," contains one of the most intimate, tear-jerking vocals ever caught on tape.
John had a volatile temper, fueled by a taste for liquor and an insecurity regarding his slight height (5 feet 4 inches). He was known to pack a gun and knife; in 1964, he stabbed a man and was sent to the Washington State penitentiary, where he died of pneumonia in 1968. James Brown recorded a tribute album to John that year, and his material has been recorded by scores of artists from the Beatles to Fleetwood Mac to the Blasters. Nevertheless, Little Willie John remains a stranger to most listeners and has never received the respect his talent deserves.
Little Willie John was one of the first artists featured in Rhino's King reissues series. Fever was issued late in 1993, and the single-disc, 20-track anthology included such John releases as "Need Your Love So Bad," "Suffering with the Blues," and the title cut.
© John Floyd /TiVo
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Fever (Original Version 1956)
R&B - Erschienen bei J Records am 12.03.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R&B Legends Vol.11
Soul - Erschienen bei Vintage Jukebox am 09.08.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Let's Rock While the Rockin's Good.
R&B - Erschienen bei El Toro Records am 15.11.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Sleep - The Singles As & Bs, 1955 - 1961
Soul - Erschienen bei Jasmine Records am 11.01.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered)
R&B - Erschienen bei Master Tape Records am 03.10.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Early King Sessions
Jazz - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 02.12.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sure Things
World Music - Erschienen bei TP4 Music am 09.08.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Will the Sun Shine Tomorrow
Pop - Erschienen bei Beatbusters am 01.06.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Talk To Me
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei 4Beat am 01.01.1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Talk to Me, Talk to Me (Mono Version)
Rock - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mister Little Willie John
Rock - Erschienen bei Discos Cada am 09.05.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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I'm Shakin'
Jazz - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 22.10.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Need Your Love so Bad
Jazz - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 08.08.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fever! And Other Smashing Hits
R&B - Erschienen bei Big Kahuna Music am 01.04.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sleep - The Best of Little Willie John
Jazz - Erschienen bei AP Digital am 01.01.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Remastered Hits (All Tracks Remastered)
R&B - Erschienen bei jjjedizionimusicali am 07.12.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo