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Rating: Operation Resurrection.
Approaching and judging records of this kind is always difficult, I believe. For two reasons: the temporal distance that separates us from the work—and thus the fact that it may seem dated—and the status it has acquired, in the opposite direction. Perhaps then it’s best to think in terms of influences: those that shaped this unruly and brilliant artist, and those he has bestowed over the years. Just to mention the first ones that come to mind, in the first group: the gospel performed in church celebrations and the blues, which on the timeline derived directly from spirituals and culminated in the boogie-woogie vitality. If the testimony of T-Bone Walker is true, that "the first boogie-woogie was heard in church," the circle closes unexpectedly and perfectly. Music that simultaneously flirted with the sacred and the diabolical was from the start that of Mr. Penniman: that’s why it resonated so strongly with the masses of youngsters. Little Richard added a crucial component: jazz and its danceable rhythms. I am obviously referring to the orchestral jazz of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, that is, swing (more precisely: the lindy-hop danced in the forties in black neighborhoods) with its wild and frenetic rhythms. From Malcolm X’s autobiography:
"Count's orchestra was playing full volume. I grabbed Mamie and we started dancing. She was a big, hefty girl, rather rough, and danced the lindy-hop like a bucking horse. I still remember the evening she became known as one of the show champions at the Roseland. The orchestra was playing the high notes and she threw away her shoes and barefoot began to scream and thrash about as if she were in the middle of the African jungle dancing a wild dance; then she made some figures always screaming at every step until the guy dancing with her was forced to use his strength to keep her under control."
It's easy to link this image to the frenzy that Little Richard’s performances unleashed, orgies of youngsters who found in rock 'n' roll the first true liberation from their inhibitions; Ready Teddy, Long Tall Sally, Slippin' and Slidin', Jenny Jenny were tracks that had to arouse the senses of hundreds of youths, and you can easily imagine them freeing and twisting muscles and joints. And how could you forget the track that brought Little Richard to historical fame, that Tutti Frutti covered and looted countless times by everyone, so much so that it’s unnecessary to even mention their names.
In short, is there anything else to say? Little Richard's band, Earl Palmer, Frank Fields, Alvin Tyler, and Lee Allen plays at a thousand, as if every piece should be the last; expertly maneuvering even through the slow tracks—Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave, Miss Ann—which are actually the least representative of the album, but are carried by Little’s strained voice that had no equal at the time. If it's true that rock 'n' roll is mainly short and fast pieces made for having fun and not overthinking, the history starts here and we all know where it will end. We spoke of influences at the beginning. Among the many, I must also mention the one that led a certain Antonio Ciacci to debut ("If they have someone in America called Little Richard, then I can call myself Little Tony"). We Italians always stand out for something, well, okay.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Tutti Frutti (02:24)
Wop-bop-a-loo-mop alop-bom-bom
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Awop-bop-a-loo-mop alop bom bom
I got a girl, named Sue,
She knows just what to do
I got a girl, named Sue,
She knows just what to do
I rock to the east, She rock to the west, but
she's the girl
That I love the best.
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Awop-bop-a-loo-mop alop bom bom
I got a girl, named Daisy,
She almost drives me crazy
I got a girl, named Daisy,
She almost drives me crazy
She knows how to love me ,
Yes indeed
Boy you don't know,
What she's doing to me
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Awop-bop-a-loo-mop
(Saxophone solo)
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Awop-bop-a-loo-mop alop bom bom
Got a girl, named Daisy,
She almost drives me crazy
Got a girl, named Daisy,
She almost drives me crazy
She knows how to love me ,
Yes indeed
Boy you don't know,
What she's doing to me
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Tutti Frutti, aw rutti
Awop-bop-a-loo-mop alop bam boom
02 True Fine Mama (02:41)
Oh, true fine mama, she's really on the ball,
Yes, true fine mama, she's really on the ball,
She hears my every plea, comes to my beckon call.
Oh, come back baby, don't leave me here,
Woo, come back baby, don't leave me here,
You know that I love you, don't dissappear.
Yes, true fine mama, don't go away,
Yes, true fine mama, don't go away,
You know that I love you, every night and day.
Well, singin'
Honey, honey, honey, honey, honey,
Honey, honey, honey, honey, honey,
Honey, honey, honey, honey,
Honey, honey, honey, honey,
Honey, honey, honey, honey,
Honey, honey, honey.
04 Ready Teddy (02:07)
Ready, set, go man go,
I got a girl that I love so,
I'm ready, ready, ready teddy,
I'm ready, ready, ready teddy,
I'm ready, ready, ready teddy,
I'm ready, ready, ready to a rock'n'roll.
Going to the corner, pick up my sweetie pie,
She's my rock'n'roll baby, she's the apple of my eye,
I'm ready, ...
All the flat top cats and the dungaree dolls,
Are headed for the gym to the sock hop ball,
The joint is really jumpin', the cats are going wild,
The music really sends me, I dig that crazy style,
I'm ready, ...
Gonna kick off my shoes, roll up my faded jeans,
Grab my rock'n'roll baby, pour on the steam,
I shuffle to the left, I shuffle to the right,
Gonna rock'n'roll to the early, early night,
I'm ready, ...
06 Slippin' and Slidin' (02:38)
Slippin' and a-slidin'
peepin' and a-hidin'
been told a lang time ago.
Slippin' and a-slidin'
peepin' and a-hidin'
been told a long time ago.
Baby
I've been told
baby
you've been bold
I won't be your fool no more.
Oh
big conniver
nothin' but a jiver
done got hip to your jive.
Oh
big conniver
nothin' but a jiver
done got hip to your jive.
Slippin' and a-slidin'
peepin' and a-hidin' wonY be your feel no more.
Slippin' and a-slidin'
peepin' and a-hidin'
. . .
Oh
Malinda
she's a solid sender
you know you better surrender
Oh
Malinda
she's a solid sender
you know you better surrender
Slippin' and slidin'
peepin' and hidin' won't be your fool no more.
07 Long Tall Sally (02:07)
Gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John,
He claims he has the misery but he has a lot of fun
Oh baby,
Yes baby,
Wooh baby,
Havin' me some fun tonight
Yeah
Well, long tall Sally, she's
Built for speed, she got
Everything that Uncle John need
Oh baby,
Yes baby,
Wooh baby,
Havin' me some fun tonight
Yeah
Well, I saw Uncle John with bald headed Sally
He saw Aunt Mary comin' and he ducked back in the alley
Oh baby,
Yes baby,
Wooh baby,
Havin' me some fun tonight
Yeah
We gonna have some fun tonight
We gonna have some fun tonight
Wooh
Have some fun tonight
Everything's alright
Have some fun,
Have me some fun tonight
10 Rip It Up (02:22)
Well, it's Saturday night and I just got paid,
Fool about my money, don't try to save,
My heart says go go, have a time,
Saturday night and I'm feelin' fine,
I'm gonna rock it up, I'm gonna rip it up,
I'm gonna shake it up, gonna ball it up,
I'm gonna rock it up, and ball tonight.
Got me a date and I won't be late,
Picked her up in my 88,
Shag on down by the union hall,
When the joint starts jumpin' I'll have a ball,
I'm gonna rock it up, ...
'Long about ten I'll be flying high,
Walk on out unto the sky,
But I don't care if I spend my dough,
'Cause tonight I'm gonna be one happy soul,
I'm gonna rock it up, ...
11 Jenny Jenny (02:00)
Jenny Jenny Jenny, won't you come along with me,
Jenny Jenny, ooh, Jenny Jenny,
Jenny Jenny Jenny, won't you come along with me,
Jenny Jenny, ooh, Jenny Jenny,
You know that I love, we could live so happily,
Jenny Jenny, ooh, Jenny Jenny.
Spinnin' spinnin' spinnin', spinnin' like a spinnin' top,
Spinnin' spinnin', ooh, spinnin' spinnin',
Spinnin' spinnin' spinnin', spinnin' like a spinnin' top,
Spinnin' spinnin', ooh, spinnin' spinnin',
Crazy little partner, you ought to see us reel and rock,
Jenny Jenny, ooh, Jenny Jenny.
Jenny Jenny Jenny, you know that you're my girl,
Jenny Jenny, ooh, Jenny Jenny,
Jenny Jenny Jenny, you know that you're my girl,
Jenny Jenny, ooh, Jenny Jenny,
You know that I'll need, I'll buy you diamond rings and pearl,
Jenny Jenny, ooh, Jenny Jenny.
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