“The main lesson I learned from Earth, Wind and Fire, especially Maurice White, was never let a lyric get in the way of a groove. Ultimately it's the feel that is the most important, and someone will feel what you're saying if those words fit in there right.” »read more
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Originally, this was a ballad Richard wrote called "Directly From My Heart to You." He sped up the song and changed the woman's name from Queen Sonya (the name of a real Macon, Georgia, female impersonator whom Richard knew) to Lucille.
This was released at a time when Richard was hot - he sold 32 million records in 1956 and 1957.
The Everly Brothers matched Richard's #21 peak position with their version in 1960. (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 3)
B.B. King's guitar is named "Lucille."
According to the movie Little Richard, which debuted on NBC in 2000, this song is about a breakup between a girl named "Lucille" and Little Richard. (thanks, Zeb - Charlotte, NC)
Waylon Jennings had a #1 Country hit when he recorded this on his 1983 album It's Only Rock and Roll. Other artists to cover the song include Van Halen, Deep Purple, Johnny Winter, Bill Haley & His Comets, Otis Redding, AC/DC and The Hollies. (thanks, Julian - Oakland, AR)
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Recorded J&M studios New Orleans July 1956 - Specialty 598 (Billboard R&B #1)
Max Weinberg: 'When the pulse of rock'n'roll grabs you and won't let go, it becomes the Big Beat. That's how it was when Earl Palmer laid into Lucille sounding as if he were using baseball bats and kicking a thirty-foot bass drum.' This where Earl Palmer really did get hold of that rock beat. Out went the jazz shuffle, replaced by the sound of an insistent, pounding parade band. Palmer recalls, 'Little Richard moved from a shuffle to that straight eighth-note feeling...the only reason I started playing what they come to call a rock'n'roll beat came from trying to match Richard's right hand.' Tony Scherman, 'his achievement was to overhaul pop music's rhythmic foundation, discarding an old fashioned, jazz-based sound for something new'. The Girl Can't Help It, Keep a-Knockin', Good Golly Miss Molly, they've all got that solid backbeat. Eddie Cochran was listening to it; he poached Earl Palmer and got him to pound his way through Summertime Blues, C'mon Everybody and Something Else. Music would never quite be the same again. Billboard March 1957: "The first disk by the dynamic stylist in a number of weeks is a wild wailing smash."
Nick Duckett
http://www.rhythmandbluesrecords.co.uk/
- Nick, london, United Kingdom
Bruce Springsteen has performed this song in concert 38 times...
- Barry, Sauquoit, NY
The man in Scotland may be right, however, it doesn't matter if Little Richard is gay or not. He brought happiness to millions of people and that's what matters. Same for Elton.
- gregg, OKC Oklahoma, OK
I love this song, and I think the way Little Richard says Lucille is very cool!!
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC
maybe it was the lippy and mascara
- pete, nowra, Australia
The Beatles covered this song; it's on the "Live at the BBC" disc.
- Amanda, New York City, NY
Yeah! Little richard and Chuck Berry are very under-rated.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
So the self-styled Georgia Peach is gay? What tipped you off? Everthing about him?
- Calum, Edinburgh, Scotland
Little Richard and Chuck Berry are the real innovators of rock 'n roll. They don't get enough credit.
- Richard, Louisville, KY