LITTLE RICHARD

Richard Penniman, better known as Little Richard, was born in 1932. The 9 songs reviewed here were released between 1955 and 1959. All songs have tempoes faster than moderate. Drums, a piano, and a sax are commonly heard; some songs also feature a guitar. I've heard other versions of all 9 songs; other artists who sang them include the Everly Brothers, Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers, the Beatles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Richard later gave up his singing career to become a preacher.

Tutti Frutti (2:23) - The narrator has at least two girlfriends, Sue and Daisy. Daisy may drive him nuts, but he loves Sue best. My favorite part of this song is when Richard sings "Wa bop a lu bop a lom bam boom!"

Long Tall Sally (2:07) - Whose Aunt Mary and Uncle John is the narrator talking about--his or his girlfriend's? In any case, the narrator sees John walking hand-in-hand with Sally; they duck away when they see Mary coming. Since John has had his fun, the narrator and his girlfriend will have some fun of their own.

Slippin' And Slidin' (2:42) - The narrator was told a long time before the setting of this song that his girlfriend was cheating on him. Whether he is declaring the relationship over is not clear, but he does refuse to be her fool any longer.

Rip It Up (2:21) - The narrator just received his paycheck, and he plans to spend the weekend at the dance hall with his girlfriend. He doesn't care if he spends all of the money he just earned, for he will be "one happy soul."

Ready Teddy (2:06) - This song has a similar theme to the previous one. I doubt that the narrator is talking to a buddy called Teddy; instead I think he's using "teddy" as emphasis that he's very ready to take his girlfriend to the sock hop.

Lucille (2:28) - In some versions, including this one, I hear "Lucille, you won't do your sister's will"; in other versions, her daddy is the one whose command she won't follow. Anyway, the narrator wakes up one morning to find Lucille gone. He asks her friends where she is and what she's doing, but they keep quiet. He begs Lucille to come back to him and resume satisfying him.

Good Golly Miss Molly (2:09) - I like the rapid piano rolls here. When Molly rocks and rolls, the narrator asks her if she can hear her mother calling. In the third verse he goes to a store to buy a diamond ring; apparently he plans to propose to Molly.

Ooh! My Soul (2:11) - Richard sings the title in a breathy voice. The title implies that the narrator's soul is on fire because he is in love with the girl. He tells her that his love his true; he asks her to give him all the love she has.

Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey (2:17) - The lyrics here confuse me. First the narrator says he will get himself some women from Kansas City, then he says "Bye bye baby," and then he says he misses his girlfriend and is begging her to come home. The narrator may seem capricious, but the Beatles sang a good version of this medley.

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