Customer Reviews

Specialty Sessions Boxed Set

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I purchased this boxed-set (vinyl) in '89 after I purchased the European version on Ace Records, which contains much more. However, the domestic set remains as perhaps one of the most comprehensive Specialty LR releases - most do not include the final sessions from '64. I believe that "Long Tall Sally" is THE first 100% R & R recording - and remember Elvis & the Beatles relied heavily on this number! And there are many more here equal to "Sally" in Rock & Soul power. Richard recut these tunes many times from '64 to '94, and a few recuts are excellent, but the '50s originals beg to be heard and sound better with time!

Little Richard is one of the most important figures in the history of rock music, if not the most important. Original, unique, a force of nature. We will never see someone like him again. This boxed set contains his best works, it is essential for any fan of real rock n roll. I count myself privelleged as having had the honor of seeing the man perform live. Even though he was well into his sixties, it is still the best concert I have ever seen. Elvis may be considered the King, but Richard Penniman is right up there with him. This collection is the greatest testament to the majesty of Little Richard. Get it!

Little Richard was one of the founding fathers of rock and roll. He made his reputation with Specialty Records, although he had recorded for other record labels before that, without success. Richard signed with Specialty in 1955 and became a big star upon the release of his first Specialty single, "Tutti Frutti". He had several other hits after that, but at the height of his fame in 1957 he became a born again Christian and quit performing rock and roll. He eventually did return to rock and roll, and recorded a few more songs for Specialty in 1964. This three cd box set includes all the songs Richard recorded for Specialty, plus some alternate takes, rehearsals and demos. These are among the most important recordings from the early days of rock and roll and also among the best.

I own this on vinyl, an astounding 5-LP boxed set. I love Little Richard. Of all the piano players of the '50s, he is easily the most fun, energetic, lively and animated. This set combines master takes and alternate versions and rehearsal demos, culminating in the ultimate Little Richard anthology!

I would not recommend this to casual fans, or newbies, as they will find themselves in way over their heads. However, for the serious collector, and more dedicated fans, it is truly a celebration of Richard's great talent. Everything is here, and it is a pleasure to listen to for anyone with a lust for the 1950s.

"Long Tall Sally (The Thing)" is a highlight here -- a very different version of the song than what most people know. Also the alternate takes sometimes are complimented with bits of studio dialogue here and there. I find that fascinating. And unlike other out-takes compilations, this collection brings you the master version directly after the alternate take, so you can compare the two back-to-back and watch Richard's development of the song. That is a good way of doing things.

As of the time of this writing (March 2011) it seems like this box set is getting scarce. I recommend, if you are interested, you pick up this must-have collection before it's gone forever.

I purchased this boxed-set (vinyl) in '89 after I purchased the European version on Ace Records, which contains much more. However, the domestic set remains as perhaps one of the most comprehensive Specialty LR releases - most do not include the final sessions from '64. I believe that "Long Tall Sally" is THE first 100% R & R recording - and remember Elvis & the Beatles relied heavily on this number! And there are many more here equal to "Sally" in Rock & Soul power. Richard recut these tunes many times from '64 to '94, and a few recuts are excellent, but the '50s originals beg to be heard and sound better with time!

Excellent 6cd set of Little Richard's crucial 50's work.
The vocal firepower he displays and maintains take after take is stunning. The intent of this box was to be exhaustive and show a vocalist in the light as a instrumentalist(e.g jazz, classical, etc.), hence the reasons for the multiple takes.

However, this is not the place to start. Start with "Georgia Peach", add "Shag On Down by The Union Hall" for additioinal 50's work, then consider the 3cd "Specialty Sessions".

Both the 6cd set and the 3cd set are called "Specialty Sessions". The 3cd set is an abridged version retails for $39.00 and is still readily available through Amazon.

There are certainly some box sets that go on way too long--primarily with the outtakes and alternate versions; the Jerry Lee Lewis box issued by Bear is the prime example of this--but this is not the case here. Yes there are 4 versions of Slippin' and Slidin' but for the most part the partial versions, the false starts, etc. are intersting and really don't seem to impeed the flow of the collection. This is not a 10-CD box. This is 3 CDs of great music. A lot of box sets talk about how you can see the development of the artist or the genre. This is about the only collection of the period that the development is evident and interesting. Listening to the CDs in sequence definetly gives you a great impression of what Little Richard was discovering and developing. Few artists could deliver rockers and ballads so convincingly. This set is well worth your time and money.

Forget all those other "Best Of" Little Richard compilations, unless they are offering his Vee-Jay, Okeh, Reprise, and Greene Mountain cuts from the mid-Sixties to 1973, or his pre-Specialty releases on RCA Victor in the early Fifties.

This, as the box cover says, are The Specialty Sessions, and what sessions they were. Nineteen R&B and nine Top 40 Pop hits later, they had solidified his position as one of the giants of R&R and paved the way for his induction into the R&R Hall of Fame in its first year of existence in 1986.

In the beautiful box (about the size of an old LP) are three CDS presenting, as the reverse of the box says, "73 of the wildest rock 'n roll cuts of all time..." along with a 30-page booklet (also about the size of an old LP).

In that you will find extensive liner notes written by Rob Finnis and Rick Coleman in 1989, surrounded by numerous full-page photographs, a complete discography, and chart performances (including the U.K. charts) of all his hits. The booklet alone is almost worth the price.

Not to be missed, believe me.

This is the stuff that was making the girls scream, cry and dance before anyone knew about Elvis. Richards great music and flamboyant stage presence opened many eyes and paved the way for a music form soon to be called rock n roll. These tunes are great fun and will have everyone on their feet and shakin'. The history of Little Richard and his music makes it even more fun and meaningful.

Box Sets are quite often for not the typical fan of a genre, or the fan of a particular artist. They are often for someone who wants to get much further into a body of work.

For that reason, this set may not be the place to go for Little Richard. It has three (maybe four) versions of "Slippin and-a Slidin", several versions of "Ready Teddy", "Long Tall Sally" and several others.

This is by no means a dig at Richard Penniman himself. He was the originator, and did things no one was even contemplating back in his day. I would recommend going with a fantastic single disc sold by Amazon, "The Essential Little Richard". It has everything that Uncle John needs.