Customer Reviews

Little Richard - Greatest Hits Recorded Live

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Penniman's first (documented?) live *recording* was made at the Domino in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, January, 1966 and apparently withheld until after this Okeh album was released the following year. Whatever the reason, both records contain some of the most exciting sounds ever laid down on disc! Until the Modern set re-emerges (hopefully remastered sans added crowd noise), we can enjoy the (requested by European fans)session from the makeshift "Okeh Club"- actually live in a studio! It was probably Richard's best-selling album of the 1960's and for good reason: his in-person charisma is captured on disc. But, sadly, his MUSIC does not fare as well. With arrangements emphasizing horns and not rhythm, his struggle to keep the band in sync and his voice from giving out, we ultimately have an album that should have been. Incredibly, we still do not have a real live-in-concert album by the Quasar of Rock! [By the way, the final two numbers are better known as "Baby, What You Want Me To Do" (Jimmy Reed) and "Don't Fight It" (Wilson Pickett)].

Little Richard, as everyone knows, thundered a new sound (explosive, funky R&B) across the airwaves in 1955, which was a primary key in the transition from R&B to what became known as Rock n Roll. In 1957, he became a born again Christian and abandoned the secular music industry for Bible college and the ministry. From 1964 until 1977, he 'backslid' into secular music until he returned to the ministry. At first (in 1964/65, record execs tried to capture his mid-50s style, but it didn't return him to the top of the charts. Then, in 1966 he was reunited with his old friend that he met in New Orleans in 1955, Larry Williams, who was groomed by Specialty Records to take over 'the throne' when Richard bolted from the secualr music world. Larry produced funky, soul-style Little Richard music for EMI/Columbia's R&B/Soul label Okeh Records, with Johnny Guitar Watson replacing Jimi Hendrix on guitar for Richard, in a Motown 'on the fours' pace. The Okeh studio records should have hit big, with sensational singles such as "Poor Dog (Can't Wag His Own Tail)", but it is a bit of a mystery (many think poor pr to the proper market) as to why the recordings by the innovator of Rockin and Rollin, Rhythm & Blues Soulin' didn't return him to chart prominence. After he left Okeh and the Rock n Roll Revival period of the late-60s began, this collection of some of the live Okeh Club recordings was released and by far outsold the studio recordings. It is an experience to listen to 'The Architect' performing these soul classics live with support from Williams and Watson, who released their own funky soul album together from the same period. Any fan of Little Richard, who wants to sample something other than his 50s classics (or rerecordings of same) best jump into this one - a fun, rollicking rollercaoster - with both feet!!

First, let me say that when Little Richard is playing, the music is exceptional even though he does erroneously call himself "I Am" which is a Biblical term for God. Little Richard is great but not that great. As I said, the music is great.

The biggest and most annoying problem with this CD is the excessive talking between songs. While this is a normal thing to expect in any live concert, the producers of this CD should have curbed most of the talk and let the music play. However, since the CD is only about 30 minutes long, the deletion of the talking would have made this a 15 minute long CD. Not worth the purchase.

Unless you are a die-hard Little Richard fan (like me I guess), purchase any of his other CDs. They are longer in length and have more of his music. I wish that more of his live performances would be available except with more music and less talking.

As the title would suggest this is Little Richard singing some of his big hits in concert. The quality is good and of course Little Richard is WAY TO ENERGETIC to be human. It's a good cd and fun to listen to. I especialy like the bits where he talks to the audience. I have the vinly of this so they may have "cliped" that part out but if they did demand your money back because he's hilarious to listen to!

If my 5 stars manage to kick the overall rating of this currently rated 4 star Lp to a HEAVY 5ive+, my life will not have been in vain! I bought this one years and years ago and was just thinking I was getting "Little Richard's Greatest Hits," the title on the spine. Man, I was absolutely floored when I put the platter on, the doors sprang open and the Man hurdled through my bedroom for 34 minutes of pure bliss! Of course we all know this platter was recorded at the studio "Okeh Club" in HollyWood and can you imagine that? How many people could that joint hold?! I'd a given a hundred dollars, BIG $ for a ticket in the late 60's, to have been one of the divine few of the blessed brethren who gathered in that sanctified club too hear that sacred sermon, Ooh My Soul! "It ain't whatch you do, it's the way how you do it!" Listen for the intro to Jenny, Jenny and you'll be amazed to find those are tears dripping down your face AND you'll be laughing your head off as you hoot 'n' holler along with Little. A Music Fan Dec 14 2002 must have fallen off his rocker when he dropped this one on his player! Comes up spewing technicalities and technical words I don't understand at all but he loses his hearing obviously 'cause he fails to understand the soul and spirit of Little Richard. Little Richard let loose in a small club and AMF is worried about...WHAT?! Words like context, values, rendition, stop-time Good Golly Miss Molly?! I don't even know what stop-time means! It sounds illegal though and is probably not allowed at a Little Richard gig! I do know what Good Golly Miss Molly means and don't need no help with that! It won't even play on my computer but sounds like Heaven in my bedroom boombox as it should be. Hopefully nobody is stupid enough like me to try and harness Little Richard in a computer?! Lawd, forgive me! Take it to your bedroom on a dark and stormy night and throw it on your Stack-O-Matic. The weather will be forgotten and you won't even notice the sun is shining through your bedroom window at tres in the AM! I think Gabriel May 3 2001(17 years old, appropiate, a child then shall lead them, etc, though a young man now) would agree with me even now and I pray he still carries that same spirit he had in 2001. 9/11 was not the end of the world after all. I KNOW RGaynor Jan 2 2001 would agree with me though with fewer words, I am sure! He nails the whole thing in ONE line, but I am 5ifty AND longwinded! Forgive Me. Rejoice we still live on the same planet as Little Richard and that to this day he's still out there on the road testifying to both sinners and saints alike like you and I. Poorly Produced Vehicle? I'd be proud to get in that black caddy and ride down the road ANYWHERE with that man! When I sat next to him at the Ga Music Hall of Fame Gala Event, almost ten years ago, he was kind enough to sign my copy and added the words GOD BLESS so I think that must be why I am not "seeing" the hideousness of the photo on the cover that AMF is referring to as all I can see is a brown eyed, handsome man (Thanks 2 ChuckB.!) POUNDING the HellFire out of a pianner, testifying to the world! I'll bet you could hear him a mile away as you was headed in tord the door, huh? Now, as Little Richard, The King of Rock 'N' Roll, would say, "Get out on the flo' and do whatever you want to!" Man, You gotta love 'im! I'm Sending Y'all Peach Baskets Filled With Bushels of Love From Down Here In Middle(Macon)Georgia! Peace and Y'all All Have A Lovely Valentine's Day With Y'all's SweetHearts and Stay Warm! -BlackVinylCadillac a.k.a. dustyRhodes

It might be. If you don't want to dance to this one, you're dead.

Little Richard is THE KING OF ROCK-N-ROLL.and what Better Place than the Stage To Showcase His Great Talent? The Songs are Timeless and are Music History.He Broke Down So-Many Doors And Is A True Musical Force.He Does it All&Gives His All Here.What A Musical Giant.

I had this "live " session on an LP album. It was always one of my favorite rock pieces. This is really done in a studio, but has the flavor of a live performance.

This seller provided excellent service and a very good price on this product.

As a whole, this set has its' moments, indeed the first four numbers provide us with the Richard of the '50s with a proper vocal mix; the incredibly intense '60s dancer "Get Down With It" [aka "Do The Jerk"]; one the best renditions of "Whole Lot A Shakin' Goin' On" and "Baby, What You Want Me To Do" (both LR concert staples). The problem for those of us who want the musical values to match the "atmosphere" - which the star controls magnificently - is that very few of the twelve numbers work well out of context. The old songs are jazzed up, undercutting the rhythm, indeed the bass is practically inaudible. Added to this, the normally indestructible voice of Richard slips and slides where it is expected to soar. For example, on the stop-time "Good Golly, Miss Molly" he barely makes his high note and this seems to confuse the drummer (who has his own troubles here).
Following his closer "Don't Fight It" (titled "You Gotta Feel It") there is a long pause before the MC returns for the outro. There are many such awkward moments on this set.
Who knows why producer Larry Williams (who successfully adapted the LR style in the '50s) did not keep it simple; or why he apparently allowed a hideous photo to be used on the album cover.

With this live recording, Little Richard comes out of the deaths of Rock and roll, and in the midst of a new Rock era, he sings smoother, but a much louder and cleaner, and more soulful howl, then in his old days. With absolutely beautiful new arrangements of his old songs, example of the very first song on the album "Lucille", He cuts it down, and adds real soul to it. My other favorite is a grooving ride in the tradition of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together"- But the beautiful part is that this came out before Mr. Green sang his masterpiece, It's Little Richard's song from the old days, "Send Me Some Lovin'. On the bottom line, all the songs, are in a whole different world, sounding better than they came the first time around. He puts himself up as a true genius at musical arrangements, standing next to The Beatles (Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally, "Miss Ann", "Kansas City/HeyHeyHeyHey", Buddy Holly's "Mailman Bring me No More Blues" Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got A Hold on me), Eric Clapton(Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff", (Robert Johnson's "Crossroads", Elmore James (Robert Johnsons's "Dust My Broom"), And Canned Heat (Elmore James' "Rollin And Tumblin") They've all been very important to Blues Music in this country, and Little Richard inspired half of them , and came out as a kid, inspired, from the other half. I love his beautiful Howl, woooooooo!, and I'm going to step in the same tradition some day. Listen to it, and them, to know what i'm talking about.