Rip It Up (Little Richard song)
"Rip It Up" is a song written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco. It was first released by Little Richard in June 1956. Bill Haley and his Comets also released a recording of the song that year. The Little Richard version hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers chart for two weeks and peaked at number 17 on the pop chart.[1] The Bill Haley and the Comets recording reached number 25 on the Billboard pop singles chart and number four in the UK. Bill Haley and the Comets also performed their version of the song in the 1956 film Don't Knock the Rock, in which Little Richard also appeared.
| "Rip It Up" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Little Richard | ||||
| from the album Here's Little Richard | ||||
| B-side | "Ready Teddy" | |||
| Released | June 1956 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Label | Specialty | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco | |||
| Producer(s) | Robert Blackwell | |||
| Little Richard singles chronology | ||||
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| "Rip It Up" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Bill Haley and his Comets | ||||
| B-side | "Teenager's Mother (Are You Right?)" | |||
| Released | 1956 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Label | Decca 30028 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Blackwell/John Marascalco | |||
| Bill Haley and his Comets singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Personnel
- Little Richard – vocals, piano
- Lee Allen – tenor sax
- Alvin "Red" Tyler – baritone sax
- Frank Fields – double bass
- Earl Palmer – drums
- Edgar Blanchard – guitar
Other versions
The song was also recorded by Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Gene Vincent.
The Everly Brothers recorded their version of this song in 1957 (#57 in Australia, it did not chart in US or UK).
English instrumental group The Tornados included the song on their 1964 album Away from It All.
Wanda Jackson included it on her 1964 album Two Sides of Wanda and again on her 2011 album The Party Ain't Over.
During the Get Back sessions in 1969, The Beatles recorded the song as part of a medley with "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "Blue Suede Shoes." This recording was released in 1996 on the album Anthology 3. It was recorded in 1975 by John Lennon on his album Rock 'n' Roll, in a medley together with the song "Ready Teddy".
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen included the song on their Hot Licks, Cold Steel & Truckers Favorites album in 1972.
In 1978, Billy "Crash" Craddock released his version on his album Turning Up and Turning On.
In 1987, Los Lobos included the song on their movie soundtrack La Bamba.
James Booker recorded the song as part of a medley with "Long Tall Sally". In 2015, the recording was released on the album Live From Belle Vue.
Little Richard also sang this song on the PBS special Doo Wop 51.
Alvin and the Chipmunks recorded the song for "Film Flam", a 1985 episode of their TV series.
In 2004, the band Hanson released their version during their Underneath Acoustic Live.
Cliff Richard featured a version on his 100th album in 2013, titled The Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll Songbook.
In 1997, Japanese singer-songwriter Eiichi Ohtaki recorded a song called "陽気に行こうぜ～恋にしびれて"—the Japanese title of "Rip It Up" and Elvis Presley’s "All Shook Up", respectively—which ‘merges’ the two songs into one. It is included in his posthumous album Debut Again in 2016.
In 1995, Australian music legend Lonnie Lee recorded a version for his Really Rockin' album. In 1959, John Marascalco had given his song "Starlight Starbright" to Lee, who took it to the top of the Australian and New Zealand hit parades in 1960.
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 356.
