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Ahhhh, my dilemma... In the true tradition of the record geeks featured in the movie High Fidelity (I’m one of their real-life counterparts, ’cept I’m under the delusion that I have a life), I’m trying my best to not over-think my pick for “Record Of The Month.” But, alas, it’s the record geek’s curse to ponder such things as if he/she were ruminating on the Meaning of Life at 3AM. Hmmm (he says to himself, surrendering to said curse)... Do you really need me to sing the praises of such obvious greats as Elvis Costello, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Roy Orbison, Richard Pryor, the Ramones, or Otis Redding? Or should I use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hip you to a Rhino CD by an underrated artist who, if I were a betting man, I’d wager my next paycheck has never made so much as a proverbial blip on your musical radar screen?
Okay, (he says snapping out of his self-imposed record geek haze), if you’ve never heard of Little Willie John, don’t feel bad. On the other hand, ask James Brown or just about any other ’50s/’60s-era R&B artist of note, and you’ll get quite a different story. Even pop star Peggy Lee could tell ya--after all, her own signature tune, “Fever,” was first performed by Little Willie himself. ’Course, everyone from Elvis to Madonna covered that one, but you’ve never really heard it until you’ve had an earful of Mr. John’s irresistible wail on his (for my money) superior original version. During the late ’50s and early ’60s, he had a bevy of other R&B hits too, like “All Around The World,” “Talk To Me, Talk To Me,” “Sleep,” “Leave My Kitten Alone” (later covered by The Beatles), and “I’m Shakin’” (redone much later by The Blasters), all them classics. Unfortunately, he was largely forgotten by the public after his brief run on the charts, which was followed by an infamous run-in with the law. (During that long ago, pre-hip-hop era, going to prison--where he died of pneumonia at the age of 30--was not a selling point. Why did he serve time? Read the liner notes.) However, the influence of his singing style and band arrangements was, along with the groundbreaking work of Sam Cooke and Ray Charles, a major precursor to soul music. But, hey, this ain’t no history lesson. This stuff cooks, it rocks, and it rolls...not to mention that you’re getting a free copy, so you no longer have an excuse to plead ignorance.
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