This essential LP release includes Richard’s third album, The Fabulous Little Richard, originally issued in March 1959 by the Specialty label. It contains early recordings that weren’t included on the first two LPs, some of which were cut before “Tutti Frutti” (1955), and others that were taken from Richard’s last Specialty session (October 1957), but went unissued. All of these original gems feature a virtual who’s who of fabulous musicians from the Crescent City scene, including Lee Allen, Alvin “Red” Tyler, Ray Montrell, Frank Fields and Earl Palmer, among others. Some of the earlier recordings were overdubbed with backing vocals by The Stewart Sisters, perhaps in an attempt to update them in the wake of ex-Specialty artist Sam Cooke’s pop success. In addition to the original masterpiece, this collector’s limited edition contains 4 bonus tracks from the same period – the rocking “Heeby- Jeebies,” “Baby Face,” the soulful ballad “Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave,” and the joyful “Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey.”

LITTLE RICHARD, vocals and piano, plus: SIDE 1, TRACKS 1, 3, 6 & 8 / SIDE 2 TRACKS 7 & 8: Lee Allen (tenor sax), Alvin “Red” Tyler (baritone sax), Ray Montrell (guitar / out on Side 2, track 8), Edgar Blanchard or Ernest McClean (guitar on Side 2, track 8), Frank Fields (bass), Earl Palmer (drums), The Stewart Sisters (overdubbed backing vocals). Recorded by Cosimo Matassa at J&M Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana, May- August 1956. SIDE 1, TRACKS 2, 4, 5 / SIDE 2, TRACKS 2, 3 & 5: Lee Allen (tenor sax), Alvin “Red” Tyler (baritone sax), Justin Adams (guitar), Melvin Dowden (piano on side 1, track 5, and side 2, track 5), Frank Fields (bass), Earl Palmer (drums), The Stewart Sisters (overdubbed backing vocals). Recorded by Cosimo Matassa at J&M Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 14, 1955. SIDE 1, TRACKS 7 & 9 / SIDE 2, TRACKS 4 & 6: Clifford Burks, Wilbert Smith, Grady Gaines (tenor sax), Jewell Grant (baritone sax), Nathaniel Douglas (guitar), Olsie Robinson (bass), Charles Connor (drums). Recorded at Master Recorders, Los Angeles, California, October 18, 1957. SIDE 2, TRACK 1: Ronald Richard (trumpet), Joseph Tillman (saxophone), Clarence Ford (tenor saxophone), William Pyles (guitar), Lloyd Lambert (bass), Oscar Moore (drums), The Stewart Sisters (overdubbed backing vocals). Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California, November 29, 1955.

1. Shake a Hand
2. Chicken Little Baby
3. All Night Long
4. The Most I Can Offer (Just My Heart)
5. Lonesome and Blue
6. Wonderin'
7. She Knows How To Rock
8. Heeby-Jeebies (Bonus Track)
9. Baby Face (Bonus Track)
10. Kansas City
11. Directly From My Heart
12. Maybe I'm Right
13. Early One Morning
14. I'm Just a Lonely Guy
15. Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
16. Can't Believe You Wanna Leave (Bonus Track)
17. Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey (Bonus Track)