Little Willie John
He never received the accolades given to the likes of Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter, and James Brown, but Little Willie John ranks as one of R&B's most influential performers. His muscular high timbre and enormous technical and emotional range belied his young age (his first hit came when he was 18), but his mid-'50s work for Syd Nathan's King label would play a great part in the way soul music would sound. Everyone from Cooke, McPhatter, and Brown to Jackie Wilson, B.B. King, and Al Green has acknowledged his debt to this most overlooked of rock and soul pioneers.
His debut recording, a smoking version of Titus Turner's "All Around the World" from 1955, set the pattern for a remarkable string of hits: "Need Your Love So Bad," "Suffering with the Blues," "Fever," "Let Them Talk," and his last, "Sleep," from 1961. His version of "Fever" was copied note for note by Peggy Lee and Elvis Presley, both of whom had bigger hits with it; John's version, however, remains definitive. His second hit, "Need Your Love So Bad," contains one of the most intimate, tear-jerking vocals ever caught on tape.
John had a volatile temper, fueled by a taste for liquor and an insecurity regarding his slight height (5 feet 4 inches). He was known to pack a gun and knife; in 1964, he stabbed a man and was sent to the Washington State penitentiary, where he died of pneumonia in 1968. James Brown recorded a tribute album to John that year, and his material has been recorded by scores of artists from the Beatles to Fleetwood Mac to the Blasters. Nevertheless, Little Willie John remains a stranger to most listeners and has never received the respect his talent deserves.
Little Willie John was one of the first artists featured in Rhino's King reissues series. Fever was issued late in 1993, and the single-disc, 20-track anthology included such John releases as "Need Your Love So Bad," "Suffering with the Blues," and the title cut.
© John Floyd /TiVo
Discografia
257 album • Ordinato per Bestseller
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I'm Shakin'
Jazz - Pubblicato da Stars and Stripes il 22 ott 2014
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
I'm Shakin'
Jazz - Pubblicato da Black Sheep Music il 22 ott 2014
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Fever (Original Version 1956)
R&B - Pubblicato da J Records il 12 mar 2020
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Fever / All Around The World
Rock - Pubblicato da Back Beat il 5 mag 1956
Disponibile in24-Bit/48 kHz Stereo -
Let's Rock While the Rockin's Good.
R&B - Pubblicato da El Toro Records il 15 nov 2013
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Sleep - The Singles As & Bs, 1955 - 1961
Soul - Pubblicato da Jasmine Records il 11 gen 2013
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Sure Things
World music - Pubblicato da TP4 Music il 9 ago 2021
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered)
R&B - Pubblicato da Master Tape Records il 3 ott 2020
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Mister Little Willie John
Rock - Pubblicato da Discos Cada il 9 mag 2011
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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You're My Sweetheart
Soul - Pubblicato da Reminisce Music il 29 mag 2023
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Will the Sun Shine Tomorrow
Pop - Pubblicato da Beatbusters il 1 giu 2020
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
The Early King Sessions
Jazz - Pubblicato da Black Sheep Music il 2 dic 2013
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Talk To Me
Musica vocale (sacra e profana) - Pubblicato da 4Beat il 1 gen 1959
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Need Your Love so Bad
Jazz - Pubblicato da Black Sheep Music il 8 ago 2013
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Fever! And Other Smashing Hits
R&B - Pubblicato da Big Kahuna Music il 1 apr 2014
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Sleep - The Best of Little Willie John
Jazz - Pubblicato da AP Digital il 1 gen 2013
Disponibile in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Talk to Me, Talk to Me (Mono Version)
Rock - Pubblicato da BNF Collection il 1 gen 1958
Disponibile in24-Bit/96 kHz Stereo