Described as "the architect of rock and roll", Little Richard was a pioneering singer-songwriter whose career also encompassed rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel.

When Richard abdicated from rock 'n' roll in late 1957, Specialty was forced to go back to earlier, less rock-oriented recordings they had rejected initially to make future releases.

In an effort to make these recordings sound "current", they added a female chorus (and in at least one instance, extra instrumentation) to the basic track.

Three record labels with access to the "dirgelike" tracks later overdubbed drums and other percussion to fill out the sound.

The Little Star sessions Little Richard recorded six rhythm and blues songs, three Fats Domino vocals and three instrumentals, backed by his 1950s band, the Upsetters, on November 24, 1962, in New York.

The return to Specialty In the wake of the "British Invasion" and following a successful tour of England, Richard collected his current guitarist (Glen Willings), the drummer from his New Orleans sessions (Earl Palmer), and old labelmates Don and Dewey and returned to Specialty to start his comeback.

The Vee Jay sessions Charles White wrote in 1984 that "even with access to the Vee Jay files, information is a bit uncertain in some areas... Of most importance to latter-day rock fans are the cuts that Jimi Hendrix played on, as a member of Richard's touring band.

According to Charles White, Jimi Hendrix was playing guitar at least on the first session including such tracks as "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", "Hound Dog", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "Money Honey", "Goodnight Irene" and others, released on the album Little Richard Is Back.

(Reprise files mention a 1969 session in Los Angeles, for Blackwell Productions; no song titles available).