Little Richard Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
In 1991, Little Richard's rendition of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" was the highlight of Disney's For Our Children compilation, leading to this full-length collection, which is his first newly-recorded album in six years and his first children's album ever. Taking on 12 children's songs (including his own "Keep a Knockin'," appropriately peppered with knock-knock jokes), Little Richard re-arranges them to sound like the kind of '50s rock & roll for which he's famous. So, for example, "Old MacDonald" bears a certain resemblance to "Boney Maronie." It's all good fun, though, since it's also all uptempo, but you may not want to play it all the way through for small children; they're apt to get overexcited. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'The Fabulous Little Richard'
Release Date 10/17/1990
Tracks 13
Label Specialty
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What The Critics Say
This album was Specialty's attempt to show that ball-of-fire Little Richard was versatile enough to handle pop songs, blues, and ballads equally as well as rockers. Tunes include "Chicken Little Baby" and "Directly from My Heart." ~ Roundup Newsletter, All Music Guide
'Good Golly Miss Molly'
Release Date 1/1/1974
Tracks 12
Label Hallmark
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What The Critics Say
The Rill Thing represented Little Richard's most serious attempt at a comeback since his 1950s heyday. "Freedom Blues," Richard's debut Reprise single, released in April 1970, was a mid-chart hit, his first in five years. "Greenwood Mississippi," released as a single concurrently with the album, also charted. Richard adopted a Cajun/country-rock approach (even covering "Lovesick Blues"), with a heavy beat and twangy guitar backing up his rough, forceful vocals. Despite the indulgence of the rambling ten-minute instrumental title track, the LP was a convincing update on his early work. But it did not propel Little Richard back to the top of the charts. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'The Explosive Little Richard'
Release Date 1/1/1967
Tracks 11
Label OKeh
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What The Critics Say
In 1966, OKeh Records took its turn at trying to revive the recording career of Little Richard. In the fall of that year, they put him in a studio in Hollywood with his former Specialty Records associate Larry Williams producing, and the two cut this album of rock & roll ravers, which was released in January 1967. Little Richard is as frantic as ever, notably on the leadoff track, "I Don't Want to Discuss It," later a showstopper for Delaney & Bonnie, but rock music trends were far removed from his style of rocking abandon by 1967, and this album went unnoticed. OKeh recorded Little Richard doing his hits that January and released the results several months later as Greatest Hits Recorded Live, but that was the end of this comeback. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Little Richard appeared in the film Down and Out in Beverly Hills in 1986 and sang the movie's theme song, "Great Gosh A'Mighty," which became a chart hit and led Warner Bros. Records to sign him for another comeback attempt. Lifetime Friend -- which leads off with "Great Gosh A'Mighty" -- an uptempo raver in the style of his 1950s hits, is Little Richard's first newly recorded album not consisting of re-recorded oldies or exclusively devoted to religious material since his tenure at Reprise Records, 1970-1971. It is a reasonable attempt to update his style while retaining his traditional rock & roll approach and is one of the few Little Richard recordings that mixes his previously contradictory attractions to rock and to inspirational music: Rather than preaching against rock, he uses rock to preach. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
