Little Richard Albums Ranked

Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Nicknamed “The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll”, Richard’s most celebrated work date from the mid-1950s, when his charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding backbeat, and raspy shouted vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll. Richard’s innovative emotive vocalizations and uptempo rhythmic music also played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres, including soul and funk. He influenced numerous singers and musicians across musical genres from rock to hip hop; his music helped shape rhythm and blues for generations. Richard was honored by many institutions. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of its first group of inductees in 1986. He was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 2015, Richard received a Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music for his key role in the formation of popular music genres and helping to bring an end to the racial divide on the music charts and in concert in the mid-1950s changing American culture significantly. “Tutti Frutti” was included in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2010, which stated that his “unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music”. Here are all of Little Richard albums ranked.

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10. The Rill Thing (1970)

“There’s a great jump-blues here, originally from Penniman friend, Esquerita, called “Dew Drop Inn”, yes the site where R & R was born; where LR demonstrated to all what he really had in mind during that first New Orleans recording session – a wop bop a lu bop b’lop bam boom. Completely different, fully contemporary, employing an electric piano, is the surging and mysterious beat ballad, Somebody Saw You.”

9. The Georgia Peach (1991)

“This is just a superb collection with 16 fantastic songs, with all or most of the essentials. Even with the more recent acclaim, I still think his importance in rock history is underrated. Turn this up loud, scare the neighbors, and have a great time! With informative liner notes by Billy Vera, and thorough documentation of recording dates and personnel.”

8. 18 Greatest Hits (1985)

“I think this music has more in common with New Orleans boogie woogie & r&b. The music is all uptempo and can easily be danced to if you know how to jitterbug or jive. The music also qualifies as sort of “jump blues.” Many modern swing bands today like Indigo Swing, Royal Crown Review, and many others use the basic wailin’ saxes, wailin’ vocals with pounding boogie piano, so this music in many ways would influence the swing revival of the late 90’s, which has already faded. In any case this is awesome r&b, r’n’r, jivin’ swingin’ jumpin’ blues and boogie woogie. Awesome vocals throughout.”

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7. Little Richard Is Back (And There’s A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On!) (1964)

“Richard was still in his prime by the mid 60’s, as exemplified by this diverse offering, which has a splendid blend of Rock & Roll, R&B, Soul, and even a smattering of Blues. The energy and passion on display is simply powerful. This also happened to be Richard’s first Rock album in years after he spent a while recording gospel music.”

6. The Very Best Of Little Richard (2008)

“The sound is excellent for tracks recorded from 1955-1957. Little Richard was a ribald spirit whose flare bubbled with fun. His hits like “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally” & “Good Golly, Miss Molly” are all here. Tracks like “Rip It Up” & “Ready Teddy” explode with Richard’s voice rough & raunchy. “The Girl Can’t Help It” that I knew from records by Bobby Vee, The Everly Brothers and The Animals burns here in Little Richard’s version. “Lucille” still rips me up with its unvarnished rock n’ roll joy. “Jenny Jenny” & “Keep A-Knockin'” are both classic blasts. It’s hard to believe that one guy could have recorded so many rock classics in such a short period, but Little Richard was burning hot. This disc captures that energy 50 years later.”

5. Lifetime Friend (1986)

“Little Richard wanted to do an inspirational album, using his original rockin style. So, he wrote some songs with inspirational lyrics (one of them with Billy Peston – the hit from the motion picture soundtrack – Down and Out in Beverly Hills “Great Gosh A’Mighty (It’s A Matter of Time)”) and went to a studio in England to lay it down his way. The result is an uplifting rocker, which Little richard referred to as “Message Music.” If anyone likes Little richard and is open to his faith in the Lord, they’ll like this one. It has none of the marks of some of his earlier gospel recordings – this one really rocks!!! And for those who don’t think rock n roll and Gospel mix well – just remember that rock n roll was born out of the fire of the Pentacostal movement and Azuza Street a hundred years ago.”

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4. King Of Rock And Roll (1971)

“It is an incredible recording. Richard’s voice is in top form, and the backing musicians are sizzling. Sadly, none of them are listed on the album credits, but these are top guns and the arrangements are first-rate.”

3. The Fabulous Little Richard (1959

“This is a phenomenal, power-packed collection: “Tutti Frutti”, “Slippin’ And Slidin'”, “Rip It Up” – Richard’s lets rip with his vocal cords and bashes his piano like none before. “Ready Teddy”, “She’s Got It”, Jenny, Jenny” – The energy is palpable. And who’s that guy on sax? He almost steels the show from Richard. “Lucille”, “Keep A Knockin'”, “Good Golly Miss Molly” – music that makes you want to dust off those dancing shoes, grease your hair back and SHAKE. If your feet don’t get tapping then rigor mortis must have set in.”

2. Little Richard (1958)

“For the record, it is nothing less than an absolute crime to stick an album like Little Richard’s ‘Vol. 2’ in an oldies section.  This is one of the most intense Rock & Roll albums ever produced!!!  Literally it sounds as if he is going to jump through the speakers at any moment.  If life were an episode of Family Guy that very thing would have happened long ago.”

1. Here’s Little Richard (1957)

“One of the places where rock n’ roll began. The stuff on here will shock the hell out of people who only think of today’s pop songs as rock music. These songs would make someone like Bruno Mars hide in the corner whimpering and he is one of the newer artists with some talent. This is raw rock and roll filled with energy and the excitement and essence of something new being born.”