Kat On The Keys Little Willie Littlefield

£12.56

Genre:
Rhythm & Blues
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 736

This product is also available in these versions:
Kat On The Keys (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)

Little Willie Littlefield was Modern Records' new discovery in 1949 when his first side for the company, It's Midnight, whizzed to #3 on the R&B chart. The teenage piano-playing star and vocalist had been talent scouted by the Bihari brothers, Modern's owners, after seeing him at the Eldorado Ballroom in Houston. They took him into a local studio where they produced It's Midnight using his old schoolmate, Don Wilkerson, on tenor sax. After the session the brothers encouraged Littlefield to move to Los Angeles by sending him a train ticket. When he arrived on the West Coast he was on the charts and became an overnight sensation at the clubs in Los Angeles' Central Avenue.

Littlefield went on to cut many fine sides, including Happy Pay Day for Modern, but never attained the chart success of his first recording. However, Littlefield's unique triplet piano playing influenced the young Fats Domino in New Orleans. In late 1952, he was snatched up by Ralph Bass, A&R man for Federal. For that company he became famous for his recording of KC Lovin', later reprised by Wilbert Harrison as Kansas City For Fury, topping the charts in 1959.

Littlefield moved to the Bay Area in 1957 where he signed with Rhythm Records and had regional success with Ruby, Ruby. He married and made his home in the Netherlands in the 80s. He is a popular artist in Europe and has become a regular visitor to the UK, where he has toured with the Big Town Playboys. He recorded an album for Ace entitled Happy Pay Day in the early 80s, and has since cut many albums for various European labels.

This is the first CD in a series of Littlefield's fabulous Modern Recordings that have all been remastered from the original acetate lacquers, so the sound quality is the best you will have ever heard. Credit must be given to the wonderful accompaniments provided by the top studio musicians Maxwell Davis, Johnny Moore, Chuck Norris and Buddy Floyd who set the standards for the whole R&B recording industry in Los Angeles.

By Ray Topping

Share

Track listing

Show

Side 1

Delivery & Returns

Show

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

Show

A fine compilation.

Record Collector

Customer reviews

Show

Related products

Customers who bought this item also bought