Little Richard - The Rill Thing (2009)

Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, is an American
singer, songwriter, and musician. An influential figure in popular
music and culture for seven decades, Richard's most celebrated work
dates from the mid-1950s, when his dynamic music and charismatic
showmanship laid the foundation for rock and roll. Characterized by
his frenetic piano playing and raspy singing voice, Richard's music
also played a key role in the formation of other popular music genres,
including soul and funk. He influenced numerous singers and musicians
across musical genres from rock to hip hop; his music helped shape
rhythm and blues for generations to come, and his performances and
headline-making thrust his career right into the mix of American
popular music."Tutti Frutti", one of Richard's signature songs, became
an instant hit, reaching No. 2 on Billboard Rhythm and Blues Best-
Sellers chart and crossing over to the pop charts in both the United
States and overseas in the United Kingdom. It reached No. 21 on the US
Billboard Top 100 and No. 29 on the UK singles chart.

The Rill Thing was Little Richard's comeback album after a three-year
hiatus on new albums. Utilising yet another new sound, the largely
country 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 100; although the tune made number 56 on Cashbox
Black Singles. 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.