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Alice In Chains - s/t (30th Anniversary) TBD

The Smiths - Meat Is Murder (40th Anniversary) TBD

This reissue actually had a release date of 12-13-24, but I just found out about it. It’s Little Richard’s 1970 "comeback" album on Reprise Records entitled The Rill Thing, and from the report I heard (plus descriptions of it from it’s original release) it sounds like a must have for lovers of 1950’s Rock ’n’ Roll. I’m picking up my copy tomorrow.

The album was recorded not in Los Angeles (home of his record label in the 50’s, Specialty Records), but in Muscle Shoals. I was thrilled to read that, as that means Roger Hawkins is playing drums. And playing guitar is Travis Wammack, well known to Rock ’n’ Roll guitar aficionados and players (like Jeff Beck).

As with many 1950’s black artists from the South (Georgia in his case), Richard included Country & Western/Hillbilly music in his repertoire. On this album that means Hank Williams. And, believe it or not, "I Saw Her Standing There" by you-know-who. Paul McCartney was/is a huge Little Richard fan, and sang respectable versions of "Long Tall Sally" and "Kansas City". Lennon included a couple Little Richard songs on his dreadful 1975 Rock ’n’ Roll album, (mis)produced by Phil Spector.

For more info, watch this video:

https://youtu.be/0ia4zSf8EsY?si=B3Cfph7ut1EU5nHA

Branford Marsalis

Artemis