1362 - Little Richard Rip It Up 1956

"Rip It Up" was first released by Little Richard in 1956. A white songwriter named Johnny Marascalco wrote this song, which was released as Little Richard's third single. Little Richard's producer Bumps Blackwell (who has a co-writing credit on this one as well) bought both "Rip It Up" and another Marascalco song, "Ready Teddy," which was released as the B-side of the single. The two songs were recorded at J&M Studios in New Orleans on May 9, 1956, with Blackwell producing. Musicians on the track included Lee Allen on tenor saxophone, Alvin Tyler on baritone sax, Ernest McLean on guitar, Frank Fields on bass and Earl Palmer on drums. The song was a #1 hit on the R&B charts. When Richard sings, "picked her up in my 88," he's talking about an Oldsmobile Rocket 88, which was one of the fastest cars on the road and the vehicle of choice for many Rock pioneers; Ike Turner's song "Rocket 88," which is often considered the first Rock song, is about the car.