Little Willie John, "Need Your Love So Bad" c/w "Home At Last," King 45-4841 (rel. 11/1955)
William Edward John burst upon the rhythm and blues scene with his debut single on King, "All Around the World" (also known as "Grits Ain't Groceries"). This 1955 release got to #5 on the Black music charts--as did today's single, its follow-up. John would soon have a pop hit with Otis Blackwell and Eddie Cooley's popcorn standard "Fever," which got into the mainstream Top 30 in 1956--a bit before Peggy Lee wrote additional lyrics and scored a bigger pop hit with her version.
All of 17 at the time, John's petite frame housed a powerful voice and a troubled soul. His sad story has been told here in the past; THIS POST gives some details of his later legal and criminal woes. All that was in the future, which, at the time of this single, seemed bright and happy as the talented youth sang his own classic composition and a fine effort by songwriter Rudy Toombs, whose worth has been duly noted here in the past.
"Need Your Love So Bad" is an exquisite blues ballad with gospel touches. On the Ray Charles side, this wailer is an eloquent cry of despair and need couched in a radio- and jukebox-friendly tune. Twangy guitar, tinkly piano and silky sax convene on this stark, powerful performance that needs nothing more than what it has. John's performance is a master class in expression, lyrical interpretation and contrasts.
King Records' Cincinatti studios were among the best in the Midwest, and ideal for Black performers. Producer Henry Glover is an r&b hero; under his guidance one classic after another was recorded for posterity. King's pressings of 1955 excel at high fidelity. The surface of this single is quite clean, but it must have been stored without a sleeve, or mishandled; it has a few big thumps here and there. ClickRepair and some manual pruning removed them to let this beautiful recording come through with its full power and clarity. Fleetwood Mac had a European hit with their revival of this perfect r&b pleader.
To make up for yesterday's lack of review, Cash Box gives top honors to this classic double-side smash, although they missed the boat on the blues/rock standard "Need Your Love..." Both sides are great, but one's the clear winner.
"Home At Last" is a moody 12-bar blues in the classic tradition that houses a much happier narrative. This is every bit as good as the A-side as a performance. John's dramatic, conversational vocal is in a spot-on setting with the same musicians who made "Need Your Love" so great. The jazzier melody gives the excellent guitarist more to do; the band comes forward with elegant harmonized fills and stabs.
It's easy to take such recordings for granted; take a moment to savor the perfection of every element of both these sides. They set a high bar that few could approach, though many tried. And a moment of thanks for the lack of a vocal chorus on both sides. Such a presence would have intruded upon the intimacy of these performances and would add nothing but racket.
Tomorrow: our rhythm and blues playlist continues with the debut recording of Big Al Downing: Black rockabilly with a fantastic band and crystal-clear sound. A gem from 1958!
It's easy to take such recordings for granted; take a moment to savor the perfection of every element of both these sides. They set a high bar that few could approach, though many tried. And a moment of thanks for the lack of a vocal chorus on both sides. Such a presence would have intruded upon the intimacy of these performances and would add nothing but racket.
Tomorrow: our rhythm and blues playlist continues with the debut recording of Big Al Downing: Black rockabilly with a fantastic band and crystal-clear sound. A gem from 1958!
Love both of these! Well-written meaningful songs and sung smoothly and emotionally.
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