Little Richard: "Try Some Of Mine: The Brunswick Recordings" (2025) Vinyl Review

Elvis Presley is referred to as the King of Rock And Roll, but there are at least two other people more deserving of the throne, those being Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Sure, Elvis rocked early on, but he was quickly tamed, in part by his film work. Little Richard did movies too, but even that couldn't make him go soft. The man was rock and roll, through and through, from beginning to end. He even released an album in 1971 titled King Of Rock And Roll, because he knew. Record Store Day brought us the release of Try Some Of Mine: The Brunswick Recordings, an EP collecting both sides of three singles released in 1968 (ignore the sticker on the plastic wrap that says '86), remastered and including an alternate mix of "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes." There are no liner notes, but the album is presented on a beautiful clear pink vinyl.

Side A

The first side opens with its title track, "Try Some Of Mine." The song begins with some very cool work on electric guitar, and then kicks in, featuring a funky groove, and including horns and some nice backing vocal work. It is Little Richard's voice at the center and heart of the track. At first, there is a surprisingly intimate quality to his delivery, and then he belts out the lyrics, just as we'd expected and hoped. "If the love you've got can't do the job/Try some of mine and your problem is solved." There is no doubt in his voice. On the single, "Try Some Of Mine" was paired with "She's Together," but what follows "Try Some Of Mine" here is "Can I Count On You," the flip side to "Soul Train." "Baby, can I count on you to see me through/Give me every bit of your loving/I'm gonna love you all through the night." Music and love will see us through. Those are the two things I'm counting on these days. This track contains a totally delicious bass line. "I just do the best I can," he tells us. Oh yes, we can hear it. This song was written by Anthony Matthews. The first side then concludes with "Soul Train." At the beginning, Little Richard calls us all aboard, and we are eager to follow his direction. This one too features some really strong bass work. It has a delicious funky rhythm, and features horns. "Baby's got the loving I need/She fills the very air I breathe." "Soul Train" was written by Floyd Smith and Carl Wolfolk.
 
Side B

The second side opens with "Stingy Jenny," and right away we are treated to some great stuff on keys, setting the tone. This is a fun one, in which Little Richard sings, "She said, I got what it takes/But it breaks my heart to give it away/She said, I got it what it takes/People begging for it every day/You know, I've been saving up for such a long, long time/To give it away, babe, would be a crime." And I'm surprised to hear him clarify that he's really talking about money. Hmm, I'm still not sold on that. On the single, that song was paired with "Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes," an old blues number that here is credited to Little Richard and J.W. Alexander. This record contains an alternate mix of the song. It contains some cool work on both guitar and keys, that stuff making it clear this is a late 1960s recording. It's a sound and style that I love. And of course it features an energetic vocal performance by Little Richard. "We can fuss and we can fight, baby, all night long/Now baby don't you tear my clothes." This version is slightly longer than that on the original single release. The EP concludes with "She's Together," the song paired with "Try Some Of Mine" on the single. This one was written by Don Covay and Little Richard. It's another fun, high-energy number, and as the backing vocalists echo Little Richard's "Yeah," we can't help but join them. "She's a little piece of leather/But she's well put together." By the way, Donnie Elbert recorded a song called "Little Piece Of Leather," in which he sings, "She's a little piece of leather/And she's well put together." He put that out on two singles, one in 1965, one in 1972. Little Richard's song came out in between those two. Anyway, there is a delicious section with some prominent percussion on this recording. "She may be little, but she's got what it takes/To shake a man like a mighty earthquake."

Record Track List

Side A

1. Try Some Of Mine
2. Can I Count On You
3. Soul Train

Side B

1. Stingy Jenny
2. Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes (Alternate Mix)
3. She's Together

Try Some Of Mine: The Brunswick Recordings was released on April 12, 2025 through Org Music, as part of Record Store Day.