Podcast: Play in new window | Download
It seems particularly fitting at the time we find ourselves in to be discussing the art and career of rock pioneer Little Richard, who passed recently at 87. He represented a marginalized group in society, and his breakthrough, as unlikely as it was, carried with it resonance relevant to the present day. Add to that his absolutely key role in the development of The Beatles – going back to The Quarry Men days, really – and you can see why he is a subject worthy of a deep discussion.
But the springboard for this show is the article published online at Vulture just after Richard’s passing; it was written by returning guest, journalist Bill Wyman and really is essential reading: https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/little-richard-put-wild-sex-into-the-top-40-for- good.html
The salacious aspects of Little Richard’s life must be discussed in any thorough conversation about his life, but there’s much more to the story. And as this is SATB, you can count on any number of other topics coming up, including Motown – touring – Elton John – David Bowie – the record industry – even The Replacements and The Ramones. (We also sneak in a word or two about The Beatles…)
Isn’t this the guest you had on about a month ago who said Beatles music was average/overrated and for evidence of that he asked his 12 year old son who liked prog rock. Apparently his empirical study concluded with his son telling him, “yeah, the Beatles were trash.”
I tried listening to this guy again on this topic of Little Richard. 20 minutes of faux intellectualism mixed in with his far left political points was enough for me. 95% of your guests I enjoy. This one does it for ego in my opinion. Not my cup of tea. Great show though for the most part Robert. I particularly enjoy your analysis of the Let It Be sessions.
Isn’t this the guest you had on about a month ago who said Beatles music was average/overrated and for evidence of that he asked his 12 year old son who liked prog rock. Apparently his empirical study concluded with his son telling him, “yeah, the Beatles were trash.”
I tried listening to this guy again on this topic of Little Richard. 20 minutes of faux intellectualism mixed in with his far left political points was enough for me. 95% of your guests I enjoy. This one does it for ego in my opinion. Not my cup of tea. Great show though for the most part Robert. I particularly enjoy your analysis of the Let It Be sessions.
Well I thought this was a fine show. Bill is a great writer and his piece on Little Richard is almost certainly the best thing I’m ever going to read about the man. For me Little Richard existed as a personality who’d pop up here and there on a sitcom, a commercial, a talk show. He was always hilarious but it’s so great to hear somebody knowledgeable about the artist bring it all back home and explain Richard’s greatness as a unique musical artist whose contributions to rock and roll were monumental. The image of John Lennon‘s jaw dropping after hearing his first Little Richard record says a lot.
Well I thought this was a fine show. Bill is a great writer and his piece on Little Richard is almost certainly the best thing I’m ever going to read about the man. For me Little Richard existed as a personality who’d pop up here and there on a sitcom, a commercial, a talk show. He was always hilarious but it’s so great to hear somebody knowledgeable about the artist bring it all back home and explain Richard’s greatness as a unique musical artist whose contributions to rock and roll were monumental. The image of John Lennon‘s jaw dropping after hearing his first Little Richard record says a lot.
Great show. I discovered all the original RnR guys of the 50’s via The Beatles or The Stones. That fact really kept them going in many ways but they were fabulous talents. Little Richard maybe the greatest singer of them all. Jerry Lee is the last of them left really, although Dion just put out a good album at age 80 but Dion was almost in the 60’s as as star… Little Richard was amazing.
Great show. I discovered all the original RnR guys of the 50’s via The Beatles or The Stones. That fact really kept them going in many ways but they were fabulous talents. Little Richard maybe the greatest singer of them all. Jerry Lee is the last of them left really, although Dion just put out a good album at age 80 but Dion was almost in the 60’s as as star… Little Richard was amazing.
TERRIFIC episode. Luv-luv it.
TERRIFIC episode. Luv-luv it.