"Good Golly, Miss Molly" is a rock 'n' roll song first recorded in 1956 by American musician Little Richard and released in January 1958 as Specialty single 624, and later on Little Richard in July 1958.[1] The song, a jump blues, was written by John Marascalco and producer Robert "Bumps" Blackwell. Although it was first recorded by Little Richard, Blackwell produced another version by the Valiants, who imitated the fast first version recorded by Little Richard, not released at that time. Although the Valiants' version was released first (in 1957), Little Richard had the hit, reaching No. 4.[2] Like all his early hits, it quickly became a rock 'n' roll standard and has subsequently been recorded by hundreds of artists. The song is ranked No. 92 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[3]
| "Good Golly, Miss Molly" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Little Richard | ||||
| from the album Little Richard | ||||
| B-side | "Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey" | |||
| Released | January 1958 | |||
| Recorded | October 15, 1956 | |||
| Studio | J&M (New Orleans, Louisiana) | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Length | 2:04 | |||
| Label | Specialty (Cat. no. 624) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | John Marascalco, Robert "Bumps" Blackwell | |||
| Producer(s) | Robert "Bumps" Blackwell | |||
| Little Richard singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Song origin
editLittle Richard first heard the phrase "Good golly, Miss Molly" from a Southern DJ named Jimmy Pennick.[4] He modified the lyrics into the more suggestive "Good golly, Miss Molly/You sure like to ball." Little Richard himself later claimed that he took Ike Turner's piano intro from his influential 1951 rock and roll song "Rocket 88", and used it for "Good Golly, Miss Molly".[5] "I always liked that record," Richard recalled, "and I used to use the riff in my act, so when we were looking for a lead-in to 'Good Golly, Miss Molly', I did that and it fit."[6]
Little Richard Specialty recording sessions
editJuly 30, 1956: J&M Studio, New Orleans
editSupervised by Bumps Blackwell. Personnel:
- Little Richard – vocal, piano with:
- Lee Allen – tenor saxophone
- Alvin "Red" Tyler – baritone saxophone
- Roy Eustis Montrell – guitar
- Frank Fields – leader, bass
- Earl Palmer – drums
One take and one false start from this session were released in 1989 on Little Richard Specialty Sessions (Ace Records sets) as fast versions.
October 15, 1956: J&M Studio, New Orleans
editSupervised by Art Rupe. Personnel:
- Little Richard – vocal, piano with:
- Lee Allen – tenor saxophone
- Alvin Tyler – baritone saxophone
- Roy Eustis Montrell – guitar
- Frank Fields – bass
- Earl Palmer – leader, drums
At least ten takes were recorded. Take 9 was selected as master for single and album of 1958. Three other takes were released in 1989 on Little Richard Specialty Sessions (Ace Records sets).[7]
Little Richard later studio recording sessions
editAfter leaving Specialty Records Little Richard returned to "Good Golly, Miss Molly" many times. In particular, he recorded this song:
- Circa December 1964 for Vee-Jay Records, released on Little Richard's Greatest Hits
- In December 1965 for Modern Records, released on The Wild and Frantic Little Richard
- On January 25, 1967 for Okeh Records, released on Little Richard's Greatest Hits: Recorded Live!
- In May 1970, private recording made at the Boston Tea Party, was officially released by Shout! Records, in the 2000s.
- Circa late 1972 for the film Let the Good Times Roll, released by Bell Records circa May 1973 as single Bell-1780 without flip and on double LP Let the Good Times Roll (Original Soundtrack)
- In August 1976 for K-tel International, released on Little Richard Live
These are studio recordings.[8]
Other versions
editIn November 1962 Jerry Lee Lewis released the single "Good Golly Miss Molly" (Sun 382), reissued on compilation album Breathless (1967) and on Rockin' Rhythm & Blues (1969).
In 1964 The Swinging Blue Jeans covered the song. It was a hit as part of the British Invasion and one of the band's best known songs. It reached No. 11 in the UK,[9] No. 6 in the Netherlands,[10] and No. 43 on Billboard Hot 100.
A cover of the song appeared as the closing track of the Sonics' 1965 debut album Here Are the Sonics.[11]
In 1966, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels incorporated "Good Golly Miss Molly" into their version of "Devil with a Blue Dress On". Their version scored a major hit, not only in Ryder's native Detroit, but nationwide, placing at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 100.
Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded the song in 1969 on their Bayou Country album with slightly changed lyrics.[12]
In Spanish there are many versions of this song one of them called "La Plaga" performed by Los Teen Tops in 1959.[citation needed] Mexican rock singer Alejandra Guzmán released her own version of "La Plaga" in 1988.
Bruce Springsteen's version of the song was part of the No Nukes concert album in 1980, and he has performed it regularly in concert from the 1970s to the present as part of his Detroit Medley .
The song was also featured in the 1991 film King Ralph, in which Ralph (John Goodman) sings this after playing a piano
References
edit- ^ White, Charles (1994). The Life and Times of Little Richard: The Quasar of Rock. Da Capo Press. p. 259. ISBN 0-306-80552-9.
- ^ "Good Golly, Miss Molly (song by Little Richard) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
- ^ White, Charles (2013-03-15). The Life And Times Of Little Richard: The Authorised Biography. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9781783230143. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
- ^ Thomas-Mason, Lee (2021-11-13). "Listen to the first rock and roll song ever recorded". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
- ^ "Little Richard, 'Good Golly, Miss Molly'". Rolling Stone Australia. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
- ^ Little Richard – The Specialty Sessions – 8 Album Set (booklet). London: Ace Records Ltd. 1989. p. 29. ABOXLP 1 (set), ABOXBK1 (booklet).
- ^ White, Charles (1994). The Life and Times of Little Richard: The Quasar of Rock. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80552-9.
- ^ "The Swinging Blue Jeans". The Official Charts Company.
- ^ "The Swinging Blue Jeans - Good Golly Miss Molly". Dutchcharts.
- ^ "Here Are the Sonics!!! by The Sonics". Classic Rock Review. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 54 - Hail, Hail, Rock 'n' Roll: Getting back to rock's funky, essential essence. [Part 3]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.