Good to great LR from unknown period
Phil S. | USA | 10/20/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Some of Richard's best singles came from the Okeh/Columbia label, and now we have them all in a nice, tight group, including the very rare "Get Down With It"/"Rosemary", cut at Abbey Road in 1966. (The A-side is the song that Slade jumped all over; usually confused with a Bobby Marchan number with the same title and one similiar verse. It's hard-drivin', 4/4 Rock 'n Soul, with alotta voice and keyboard. Two previously unreleased numbers, "The Rockin' Chair" (credited to Fats Domino but sounding much more like an instrumental of "Slippin' And Slidin'"), and a number from his show, "Hound Dog", even funkier than what he recorded for Vee Jay about two years before.
Other huge selling-points: The longest "Poor Dog (Who Can't Wag His Own Tail)", with the incongruous chorus removed. Also, "A Little Bit Of Something (Beats A Whole Lot Of Nothing)", until 1982 a single only, another Larry Williams dancer, in a longer form.
The uninitiated should understand, up front, that despite some song titles from the '50s, this material is firmly grounded in the mid-'60s, and quite progessive at that. If you want to hear [what this reviewer believes] the true foundation of Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and other groups trying to mix Big Band and Rock, well, bend an ear!
Just for te proverbial record, Richard had three hits on Okeh: "Poor Dog", "Commandments Of Love", and the album recorded live at the Club Okeh. [The complete, unedited show we hope is inching towards the starting gate!].
So we have "The Explosive Little Richard"..."plus". Nice liner notes with interesting studio notes: Hendrix fans, check out the detail on the February 5th, 1966 session.
The tracks are the same as on the 2004 release from Legacy Recordings. Yes, I bought both!"
OKEH Sessions
zphage | 07/29/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the same as "Okeh Sessions: Get Down With It".
Little Richards' 1967 sessions where he sounds in fine form, more soul/r&b oriented but still rocking. Great James Brown-like vocals delivering stellar performances over tight songs. Not the screaming 50's work, but still great soulful intense vocals/performances; soul/r&b fans, and Little Richard fans will not be disappointed."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1