Maps of Music

The Explosive Little Richard (1967)

Where the lyrics of The Explosive Little Richard take you, and where it was really made.

Richard asked Okeh not to release this album, yet the label's Okeh-era records later drew praise in Europe, where the 45s came out on Epic.

Key places

Columbia studio, Hollywood (1967)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — The recording is listed at Columbia in Hollywood, California. The point is at city-center level, so it marks the area rather than a building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Explosive Little Richard: first album by Little Richard for Okeh Records
• Released January 1967
• Produced by Larry Williams and Johnny "Guitar" Watson
• Williams was Richard's long-time friend
• Songs reflect the soul and Motown styles popular at the time
• No track was written by Richard
• Standard listing: ten tracks

Background

• Richard said that in the second year of his Okeh contract there was still no hit record
• He said the contract gave him no say over the material recorded or what was released
• He called Williams the worst producer and said Williams wanted him to copy Motown
• He said the Okeh records did not sell because Okeh was an R&B label
• He added that he should have recorded on Epic, as he was not primarily a black artist

Recording

• Richard had wished Okeh would not release the album
• Reason given: the album favored horns over rhythm

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Richard Wayne Penniman (1932–2020), known as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist and songwriter.
• Called the "Architect of Rock and Roll"; his mid-1950s work laid the foundation for rock and roll.
• Hits: "Tutti Frutti" (1955), "Long Tall Sally" (1956, No. 1 on the R&B chart), followed by a rapid run of further hits.
• Retired from rock and roll for evangelism in 1957, returned in 1962 after a European tour with Don Arden.
• The Beatles opened for him on some 1962 tour dates; he taught Paul McCartney his vocal style.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, its first group of inductees.
• "Tutti Frutti" was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2009.

Influence

• His raspy shouting vocals and boogie-woogie, New Orleans R&B and gospel fusion shaped rock, soul and funk.
• Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and many others cited him as an influence.
• Covered by Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Jerry Lee Lewis and the Everly Brothers.

Reception

Reappraisal

• Record Collector (2007): four stars for the CD reissue
• i-News: four stars for the 2016 vinyl release, saying Richard still had an immaculate voice
• Rolling Stone, in a review of the whole Okeh recordings: Richard's vocals on the Motown song 'Money' made the song his own

Records

• 'Poor Dog' reached No. 41 on the R&B chart
• 'The Commandments of Love' reached No. 30 on the Cash Box Black Singles chart
• Okeh 45s are highly regarded in Europe, where they came out on Epic

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Richard had wished Okeh would not release the album because it favored horns over rhythm.
• Richard later said the Okeh albums did not sell because the label was an R&B label, and that he should have recorded on Epic.
• Okeh 45s are highly regarded in Europe, where they were released on the Epic label.
• 'Money (That's What I Want)' is a Motown song, credited to Janie Bradford and Berry Gordy, Jr.
• 'Function at the Junction' is credited to Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, Frederick Long and Lamont Dozier.
• The album charted none on the Billboard album chart, while its single 'Poor Dog' opened the Okeh era.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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