Lifetime Friend
Omnivore, 2020
8/10
The Omnivore label continues their reissuing of Little Richard albums, and this time it’s 1986’s Lifetime Friend, which arrived after a 7 year hiatus from music while Richard worked on a career in the ministry. Penned after his mother died, Richard kept a promise to her that had him mixing his rock’n’roll roots with gospel on the album,
“Great Gosh A’mighty” starts the listen with Richard in fine form on the rowdy piano rocker where gospel backing vocals meet lively guitar solos, and “Operator” follows with plenty of smooth soul alongside many warm grooves.
Further along, “I Found My Way” recruits some rapping into the energetic display of dance friendly instrumentation, while “The World Can’t Do Me” sounds right at home in the ‘80s with its buzzing melodies and FM dial demeanor. “Big House Reunion” ends the original album with lively brass and crisp percussion as Richard’s voice soars high alongside strategic harmonica.
The bonus material included is both the single and extended version of “Operator”, which charted in the UK, and we also get new, in depth liner notes from Bill Dahl and some photos. Lifetime Friend would be the only album Richard would release in the ‘80s, and includes some of the best songs of his career. Thankfully, they’re preserved well in this excellent reissue.
Travels well with: Little Richard- The Second Coming; Mike Zito & Friends- Rock’n’Roll: A Tribute To Chuck Berry