John, Little Willie ‎– The Complete R&B Hit Singles [Yellow Vinyl] - LP

While the label description below gives John some well-deserved credit for being an architect of soul music, when it comes to so many Black artist, we tend to keep them away from the rock n roll genre...which I suppose can be respectful in some ways, but it also keeps them out of so many discussions.  I mean if you compare the number of books (or college classes) about rock n' roll compared to ones about post-war R&B--I'd guess there are literally hundreds times more, maybe even thousands times more-- you realize that keeping Black artists out of rock 'n roll keeps their importance out of too many discussions.  John is a good example of this, especially when one examines the dates of cuts housed this collection, these hits coming from 1955 - 1961.  He wasn't rockin' out like Chuck Berry or Little Richard, but he was clearly part of the story of rock n roll, like so many others, bringing that post-war R&B into the so-called era of rock n roll, carrying the flame and continuing with the hits after the "day the music died."  Yes, of course, Little Willie helped create soul music (with this bridge from R&B a bit less connected with gospel than most created to building these bridges)...but those ain't the only bridges he helped build and the books on rock n roll need to include a chapter on this cat from Detroit.-- winch 

"Diminutive in size but gigantic in stature, Little Willie John was a genuine architect of soul. Along with Clyde McPhatter, Ray Charles, and Sam Cooke, the visionary singer stood at the forefront of fusing gospel intensity to rhythm and blues tradition. And had he not died inside a Walla Walla prison at the age of 30, his name would likely be etched in the same soul Pantheon as his peers. Despite his abbreviated career, Willie cut a string of seminal sides for Cincinnati-based King Records from 1955 to 1961 that rank among the finest R&B waxed by any singer for any label of the period. It didn't matter whether the song was an after-hours blues ballad or an uptempo foot stomper: Willie's agile, melismatic voice made the number soar. As Motown legend Lamont Dozier says in Bill Dahl's notes to this collection, 'Willie John was just an extraordinary talent. He knew how to touch you with a song, and he knew how to raise the hairs on the back of your neck.' Now, comes the definitive vinyl anthology for this overlooked soul superstar: 17 tracks that include every R&B chart hit! That means such landmark tunes as 'Fever,' 'All Around the World,' 'Need Your Love So Bad,' 'Home at Last,' and 'Leave My Kitten Alone,' all documented by liner note writer Bill Dahl on the accompanying insert. Pressed on yellow "fever" vinyl...an essential addition to any soul library!"

Side One

1. All Around the World
2. Need Your Love So Bad
3. Home at Last
4. Fever
5. Letter from My Darling
6. Do Something for Me
7. Talk to Me, Talk to Me
8. You’re a Sweetheart
9. Tell It Like It Is


Side Two

1. Leave My Kitten Alone
2. Let Them Talk
3. Heartbreak (It’s Hurtin’ Me)
4. Sleep
5. Walk Slow
6. (I’ve Got) Spring Fever