Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
While Little Richard Penniman is well known for his Specialty, Mercury, Veejay, and Modern recordings (though many of the sides on the latter two labels were merely redos of his Specialty hits), he is little celebrated for these wonderful sides recorded for Okeh in 1966 and 1967. The Little Richard on these sessions is a seasoned R&B singer whose feet are deeply rooted in modern-era Southern soul. That said, there are a few traces of Motown that creep in as well -- despite the fact that the material was all recorded in Hollywood. For Okeh, Little Richard recorded devastatingly fine versions of "Function at the Junction," "I Don't Want to Discuss It," Berry Gordy's "M-O-N-E-Y," "Poor Dog," "Hurry Sundown," and Sam Cooke's "Well All Right" to mention a few. To help him pull it all off -- this was seen as a last-ditch survival effort for the singer -- Little Richard's sidemen for these dates include Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Larry Williams, Eddie Fletcher, and Glen Willings -- a crack studio band if there ever was one. In sum, the Okeh material yielded one fine, 11-track album in The Explosive Little Richard released in 1967, and three issued B-sides for its singles. Appearing on this CD for the very first time are three leftover tracks that include smoking raw versions of Fats Domino's "Rocking Chair" and Leiber & Stoller's "Hound Dog." For those who are contemplating a Little Richard CD, the Specialty sides should come first because they contain the original versions of his classics. For those who already have that material, this set is an excellent addition to the Penniman shelf. There isn't a loser in the bunch, and these performances are truly inspired, burning from start to finish; they are startling even today. In addition to the great music, soul expert Charles White's liner notes are thorough and authoritative and offer the same kind of exuberance Penniman put into these performances.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Dick Cooper, Composer, Lyricist - Beth Beatty, Composer, Lyricist - Ernie Shelby, Composer, Lyricist - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally released 1967. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Christopher Kenner, Composer - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Lawrence Williams, Composer - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Janie Bradford, Composer - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Berry Gordy, Composer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar - Lawrence Williams, Composer, Lyricist - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally released 1967. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Lawrence Williams, Composer, Lyricist - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally released 1967. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Dick Cooper, Composer, Lyricist - Beth Beatty, Composer, Lyricist - Ernie Shelby, Composer, Lyricist - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Chuck Willis, Composer, Lyricist - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally released 1967. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Edward Holland, Jr., Composer, Lyricist - Frederick Earl Long, Composer, Lyricist - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally released 1967. All rights reserved by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Guitar - Sam Cooke, Composer - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Hugo Montenegro, Composer - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Buddy Kaye, Composer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Lawrence Williams, Composer, Lyricist - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Unknown, Composer, Lyricist - LARRY WILLIAMS, Producer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal
Originally Recorded 1967 & Released 2004 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Andre Young, Composer, Lyricist - A. Domino, Composer, Lyricist - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Big Jim Sullivan, Guitar - Norman Hurricane Smith, Producer
Originally Recorded 1966 & Released 2004 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Big Jim Sullivan, Guitar - Richard Wayne Penniman, Composer, Lyricist - Norman Hurricane Smith, Producer
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Antoine Domino, Composer, Lyricist - Dave Bartholomew, Composer, Lyricist - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Big Jim Sullivan, Guitar - Norman Hurricane Smith, Producer
Originally Released 1967 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Jerry Leiber, Composer, Lyricist - Mike Stoller, Composer - Little Richard, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Big Jim Sullivan, Guitar - Norman Hurricane Smith, Producer
Originally Recorded 1966 & Released 2004 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Album review
While Little Richard Penniman is well known for his Specialty, Mercury, Veejay, and Modern recordings (though many of the sides on the latter two labels were merely redos of his Specialty hits), he is little celebrated for these wonderful sides recorded for Okeh in 1966 and 1967. The Little Richard on these sessions is a seasoned R&B singer whose feet are deeply rooted in modern-era Southern soul. That said, there are a few traces of Motown that creep in as well -- despite the fact that the material was all recorded in Hollywood. For Okeh, Little Richard recorded devastatingly fine versions of "Function at the Junction," "I Don't Want to Discuss It," Berry Gordy's "M-O-N-E-Y," "Poor Dog," "Hurry Sundown," and Sam Cooke's "Well All Right" to mention a few. To help him pull it all off -- this was seen as a last-ditch survival effort for the singer -- Little Richard's sidemen for these dates include Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Larry Williams, Eddie Fletcher, and Glen Willings -- a crack studio band if there ever was one. In sum, the Okeh material yielded one fine, 11-track album in The Explosive Little Richard released in 1967, and three issued B-sides for its singles. Appearing on this CD for the very first time are three leftover tracks that include smoking raw versions of Fats Domino's "Rocking Chair" and Leiber & Stoller's "Hound Dog." For those who are contemplating a Little Richard CD, the Specialty sides should come first because they contain the original versions of his classics. For those who already have that material, this set is an excellent addition to the Penniman shelf. There isn't a loser in the bunch, and these performances are truly inspired, burning from start to finish; they are startling even today. In addition to the great music, soul expert Charles White's liner notes are thorough and authoritative and offer the same kind of exuberance Penniman put into these performances.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:21
- Main artists: Little Richard
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Epic - Legacy
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
Originally Recorded 1966, 1967 & Released 2004, Originally Released 1967, (P) 2004 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.