The Rill Thing

Infobox Album
Name = The Rill Thing
Type = Studio Album
Artist = Little Richard


Released = August 1970
Recorded = 11 March 1970 - 2 June 1970
Genre = Swamp Rock
Length = 39:22
Label = Reprise Records
Last album = ""
(1967)
This album = "The Rill Thing"
(1970)
Next album = "Mr. Big"
(1971)

"The Rill Thing" was Little Richard's comeback album after three years away. Utilising yet another new sound, the largely swamp rock album contained Little Richard's biggest post-Specialty single in Freedom Blues, which broke the Billboard top 50, and a lesser success with the follow-up single, Greenwood, Mississippi, which made the top 90. The title track itself was a ten minute plus instrumental penned by Richard. Despite the success of the two tracks as singles and the inclusion of two cover versions, the album itself failed to chart.

History

Between the release of The Rill Thing and Little Richard's last album" " (1967) there had been several album releases, but all were repackaged collections of songs that had already been released previously, including some of his Specialty work.

The release of the album came less than a year after Richard's performance at Atlantic City Pop Festival, and with Freedom Blues he had his first hit single in thirteen years. However, the period coincided with Richard's growing usage of cocaine White, Charles. (2003). "The Life and Times of Little Richard: The Authorised Biography." Omnibus Press. ] and concerts to promote the album on the back of the single were increasingly shambolic. After the album failed to chart, Richard returned to the studios in May 1971 to produce a follow-up for Reprise with a more traditional sound.

Track listing

# "Freedom Blues" - 3:01
# "Greenwood, Mississippi" – 3:32
# "Two-Time Loser" – 3:20
# "Dew Drop Inn" – 2:41
# "Somebody Saw You" – 3:39
# "Spreadin' Natta, What's The Matter?" – 4:37
# "Rill Thing" – 10:27
# "Lovesick Blues" – 4:34
# "I Saw Her Standing There" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:31

Personnel (Tracks 1,2,4,6)

*Little Richard – vocals, piano

Rest of personnel unknown, records not kept by Reprise.

Personnel (Tracks 3,5,7,8,9)

*Little Richard – vocals, piano
*Harrison Callay - trumpet
*Ronnie Eader - baritone saxophone
*Harry Thompson - tenor saxophone
*Charles Rose - trombone
*Clayton Ivey - piano
*Jerry Masters - bass
*Travis Womack - guitar
*Albert Lowe - guitar
*Roger Hawkins - drums
*Eddie Fletcher - bass
*Wade Jackson - tenor saxophone

Charts

Album

Single

References