Prior to this newest CD release, the best Little Richard collection was arguably Rhino's 18 Greatest Hits, which also focused on the Specialty years. This new collection adds seven tracks of variable interest. None of 'em truly fall under the title Very Best, but when you've already run your listener through the original "Long Tall Sally," "Good Golly, Miss Molly, "Slippin' And Slidin'" and "Rip It Up," the final tracks almost serve as a cool down.
Two marginally successful attempts at reviving Tin Pan Alley hits ("Baby Face" and "By the Light of the Silvery Moon") with a New Orleans beat much as Fats Domino did with "My Blue Heaven" mainly serve as object lessons in just how different the two singers were. Domino's tracks are more genial and slyly lecherous; Richard's strengths lay in shouting out his intentions.
Additionally, the new disc includes one of two blues tracks that Richard assayed for a demo tape. For hardcore Penniman fans, this is akin to Elvis Presley's early tape of "My Happiness: more interesting as historical artifact, than as a fully realized piece of music. That someone (in this case, Specialty Records owner Art Rupe) was able to hear the manic potential buried deep within "Baby" is definitely Good Rudy.
Article comments