Lifetime Friend

Untitled

Lifetime Friend is an album from Little Richard, his first album in seven years since the release of the 1979 gospel album, God's Beautiful City. Following that album's release and some 1981 recordings, Richard had made no recordings while he continued his career in the ministry. Following the release of his autobiography, The Quasar of Rock and Roll, in 1984, Richard had reemerged in the public eye and was starting to be recognized for his contributions to popular music as one of the founders of rock and roll music.

Before Richard recorded Lifetime Friend, his mother, Leva Mae, had died; Richard had promised her that he would remain a Christian. For this album, he decided to mix his trademark rock and roll sound with gospel lyrics, in a style that he called "message music" or "messages in rhythm". One track, "I Found My Way", included a blend of rap vocals and rock and roll. The album was recorded mainly in England, and was issued on WEA in Europe and Warner Bros. Records in the United States.

The song, "Great Gosh A Mighty", co-written by Richard and Billy Preston, was a modest US hit after it was featured in the soundtrack of Down and Out in Beverly Hills.

Track listing

1. "Great Gosh A'Mighty" (Billy Preston, Richard Penniman) (4:48)
2. "Operator" (Jesse Boyce) (4:52)
3. "Somebody's Comin'" (John David) (3:40)
4. "Lifetime Friend" (Jesse Boyce, Travis Wammack) (3:38)
5. "Destruction" (Jesse Boyce, Travis Wammack) (3:45)
6. "I Found My Way" (V.L. Brooks) (3:40)
7. "The World Can't Do Me" (Jesse Boyce, Richard Penniman) (3:48)
8. "One Ray of Sunshine" (Darrell Smith, Travis Wammack) (4:42)
9. "Someone Cares" (Richard Penniman) (4:30)
10. "Big House Reunion" (Travis Wammack) (4:05)

Sources

White, Charles (2003). The Life and Times of Little Richard. The Authorised Biography. London: Omnibus Press. pp. 60–62. ISBN 0-711997616.