B-side "Send Me Some Lovin’" Format 7" Genre Rock and roll | Released February 1957 Recorded 1957 Length 2:21 | |
"Lucille" is a 1957 rock and roll song which originally recorded by Little Richard. Released on Specialty Records in February 1957, the single reached number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart, 21 on the US pop chart, and number 10 on the UK chart. It was composed by Albert Collins (not to be confused with the blues guitarist of the same name) and Little Richard. First pressings of Specialty 78rpm credit Collins as the sole writer. Little Richard bought half of the song's rights while Collins was in Louisiana State prison (Angola).
Contents
The song foreshadowed the rhythmic feel of 1960s rock music in several ways, including its heavy bassline, slower tempo and straight-quaver drum beat. The scene-setting sections also feature stop-time breaks and no change in harmony, and it has a darker sound because most of the instruments use a low register.
Cover versions
As a rock standard, it has been covered (both in studio recordings and live performances) by many artists, including AC/DC, Status Quo, Wings, The Beatles, The Doors, Sha Na Na, Mud, The Hollies, The Animals, Paul McCartney, Van Halen, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Winter, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Peter & Gordon, Queen, Deep Purple, the Ian Gillan Band, Sweet, The Everly Brothers, Little Bob Story, Bill Haley & His Comets, Otis Redding, The Sonics, John Entwistle of The Who, Kevin Coyne, The Didjits, and the Detroit band The Rockets. It was also covered by Status Quo as part of their Anniversary Waltz, Pt. 1. John Lennon and Paul McCartney sang the song together during a jam session in 1974, which can be heard on the bootleg A Toot and a Snore in '74, marking the only known occasion where the former songwriting team performed together after the bitter breakup of The Beatles.
The Beatles cover versions
Recorded live at the BBC on September 3, 1963 (aired: September 17th, 1963) for Pop Go The Beatles #14
Recorded live at the BBC on September 7, 1963 (aired: October 5, 1963) for Saturday Club's 5th Birthday Edition
Personnel
Reception
The song is ranked 670th on Dave Marsh's list of The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.