Little Willie John - Leave My Kitten Alone (King 5219)

[Kevin19700]

Excellent !

[eoj2495]

Great song.... has anyone seen it on 78??

[Beezerjuice]

You know soul ain't nothin but a feelin. You know U-tube should have a disclaimer on their page,that says think before opening mouth. All of this crap about who's version is better or who's is worse is nonsense. All it is ,is someone giving their interpretation of the way they think the song should sound and be sung. If you like it, you like it and if you don't. you don't. Ain't nobody holdin your feet to the fire and makin you listen to anything.

[01musicfan]

Thanks for posting,this one I love this version as well as the one by Johnny Preston. It just isn't the same without the "Meows".

[videoeer]

If you can handle criticism, I would have to suggest that opinions are not absolutes.

In my opinion, Lennon's vocal on this number put the original to shame. And in my opinion, the Stones' "Love in Vain" far surpasses Robert Johnson's original version.

I have nothing against blues purism--unless it gets in the way of your ears. Of course, that's just my opinion as well. But thank you for this posting. I had been under the obviously erroneous assumption that the Beatles had written this!

[thePharoah90086]

"I ain't ever heard-of No Country/People called "White" ... do They speak-English in "White" ??? "

[nicodagger]

It's not racial politics, it's not hate, it's giving the people who created, and performed this music the best their due. White people have been stealing black music, and making more money and becoming more famous, than black artists, for decades, and it's disgusting. It's about credit where credit is due. And I'm white. Read your history and learn from it, and try to drag yourselves out of your ignorance.

[rocktenniscat]

@nicodagger - talk about stealing.....i don't know how members of Led Zeppelin slept at night! They stole from EVERYONE! Celtic folkies, black bluesmen and women...you name it. It will always taint my view of them.

[TubeGunner]

@nicodagger You're the one who needs to learn more history. Asswipe. Would you like a list of some of the endless amount of blacks who've recorded WHITE songs and had songs written for them by WHITES for big hits over the past 80 years? Fucking ignorant racist scum, I'm sick of your ilk's filth. If you're "white", then you're a stupid guilty white lib fucktard who knows dick about music other than what you read in black music mags. Moron.

[TheQuipetro]

@nicodagger : Excuse me but a lot of Black People have been stealing White music. Just one example (among thousands). Chuck Berry invented Rock'Roll with "Maybellene".? But it's false. In reality, "Maybellene" is a song adapted from the traditional fiddle tune "Ida Red" : "Ida Red" is an American traditional song. The earliest recording is a one by Fiddlin' Powers & Family which includes vocals. (Wikipedia) (you can see Fiddlin' Powers & Family play and sing this song on youtube.)

[Kajun0258]

LWJ could sing it all! Uptempo, Ballad and anything in between!

[noneofyourbeeswax]

Good stuff.

Leave racial musical politics alone.

[waylo4526]

lol man i love this it's too cool

[MrBillyjim69]

i think beatles version is better....so ha!

[TubeGunner]

@MrBillyjim69 I agree, the Beatles version is FAR better, with far more energy and a much better vocalist.

[MrBillyjim69]

nicodagger i dont think you get it. These original artists are always great. But ask yourself how many people have covered the beatles, the stones, the animals van morrison etc. Theres no place in music for racism so go away.

[williami99]

but seriously, you no it don't matter weather your black or white get real, look all I'm saying is we all come from different cultures but we are all human beings man. I'm from the UK by the way so music is a big part of my life, and yes blues, R&B, was invented by black people. But so what, ever if it was invented by whites so what. Its a way of cummunication not hate

[chefx42]

@williami99 Excellent comment my across the pond :-)

[chefx42]

@williami99  excellent comment my friend across the pond.

[williami99]

phonograph was invented by white people. Lool

[nicodagger]

Nicodagger stands by his statements, retracting nothing. What he said, he meant. Of course it was the young people of the UK who brought back Delta and Chicago blues and R N B into the rock mainstream when it had been forgotten by Americans (well White Americans), and they continue to be much more musically aware than their American counterparts. So thank you UK.

[Holdenon3]

I like both versions.

LWJ played it nice and peppy. The "meow"ing is cute, just as the original was envisioned -- as a fun R&B number.

The Beatles took that bouncy ride and turned it into a howling freight train.

When Little Willie John says "leave my kitten alone", you know he's shaking his finger at you. When John Lennon says "leave my kitten alone" you know you just might be missing some teeth if you don't.

Interesting contrasts between the two performances of this song.

[acotw67]

@Holdenon3

That's a very interesting analysis. (Although I think Little Willie John would have removed more than teeth if anyone looked at his kitten sideways.)Covers,remakes,etc of pop songs are ok if the artists are good;classical,jazz& blues musicians perform variations. Bessie Smith was the first cover artist,for example.Many of the 60's UK artists appreciated the full range of American music-Hendrix was recognized as a guitar genius there 1rst,then returned in triumph.Peace

[Beezerjuice]

JohnLennon was not trying to sound like Little Willie.

The Beatles did a cover of his song, I would much rather hear the original of a song than a cover.With the exception of Ike and Tina Turners Proud Mary. Why can't we just listen to good music and forget all this racial Rhetoric.

[videoeer]

@Beezerjuice Racial rhetoric aside, do you think Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower really compares to the

original by Bob Dylan?

[Toodlem]

@videoeer Still another view... I don't care for either one. No offense intended, I just wanted to throw in still another opinion. And if you're irked, I know how you feel. I heard Roxy Music do John Lennon's "Jealous Guy." I thought it was terrible but there are quite a few who like their version better. It seemed incomprehensible to me. The whole point in all this being To Each His Own. It's been said "opinions are like a**holes; everyone has one" to which I add, "and they all stink." LOL.

[gawagney]

@Beezerjuice With you on that!

[nicodagger]

Boogaludo, thanks for that! And i love Ike Turner's comment, he's exactly right, but the sad part is that people WANT and have wanted to hear white guys doing a crappy imitation of the blues, r n b, etc., because white people are the majority and seem to feel more comfortable hearing the music from one of "their own", even if it sucks. Same reason Pat Boone, the lamest of white guys, outsold Little Richard with his shit version of "Tutti Frutti". It's a disgrace!

[Holdenon3]

nicodagger,

Pat Boone never claimed to sing true rock n roll. He was a big bang/ballad singer who also loved R&B.

When r&r was being slandered as "devil music", Boone covered those songs IN HIS STYLE to show that the songs weren't "dangerous".

Boone went a long way toward making "nig-ro music" acceptable and its a shame that most white and black r&r fans, alike, don't give that credit.

I'd bet if you ask Little Richard who did the most for his career, he'd say Pat Boone.

[beekermanc]

@nicodagger

So what you trying to say? That white people don't appreciate black music?!

That's funny because the R&B scene in the UK is probably at its most popular at the moment...I run a night that gets a predominantly white crowd who are perfectly versed in the artists and history of this music so please...less of the stereotype rantings

[nicodagger]

The Beatles, and John Lennon in particular, couldn't come close to the power and truth of Little Willie's voice..this version is much better. The Beatles were just some white English guys, like so many others, who played African-American music and wound up sounding inferior. This applies to The Stones, The Animals, The Yardbirds, Them, Van Morrison (well they're Irish)...and on and on...Black fok INVENTED R n B, rock, jazz, blues, and on and on, and they always do it the best. Period.

[boogaludo]

I agree 100%....but I experienced telling the naked truth about those white blues/r&b and jazz bands will not leading to more acceptance to most of the people.

Ike Turner once said: "Who want to hear white guys imitating what the blues used to be"?

My opinion about this is there are much to many who wants to hear that.

Thx for your comment

[damongardner]

@boogaludo

[flimbambo]

If by rock music you mean rock'n'roll, black people didn't invent it. That music isn't just r'n'b speeded up, as people like to assert. They're missing another key ingredient- white country music. Chuck Berry says a lot of his influences are white.

[Kajun0258]

LWJ could sing it all! Uptempo, Ballad and anything in between!

[damongardner]

@nicodagger

Stupid. Period.

Quit fighting and just enjoy for pete's sake.

[BL80488]

@nicodagger Haha, The Beatles version was better and I loved how you talked shit about those bands when there hasn't been a more talented black band than them.

[phillydog17]

@nicodagger That's your opinion. I can think of many covers that surpased the original. Twist and Shout" Beatles for example. "Anna' The Beatles version was much better than Arthur Alexander's original. " Baby It's You" again the Beatles cover better than The Shirelles.

Chuck Berry's " Roll Over Beethoven" not as rocking as The Beatles version.

[bassbasstwotwo]

@phillydog17

and for me "money" had much more power than the original.

[phillydog17]

@bassbasstwotwo I totally agree with you.

[bassbasstwotwo]

@nicodagger

the beatles and especially john lennon loved blues and soul music.

i see it more a tribute by them and not taking something which is not "theirs".

i hear some kind of anger in your statement. and i can understand that in general but not with the beatles.

and of yourse little willie didn't make music that was a important as the beatles.

period.

[phillydog17]

@nicodagger Why can't you understand that it's better for you and not for everyone?

[TheQuipetro]

@nicodagger : These are the white who have learned to play guitar to the blacks.

And it's for these reason blacks people played very slowly and only 3 chords.

(they were debutant)

It was just European Folk. But because it was played by black people, the white bourgeoisie said: it's Blues. About The Beatles, today they are considered like the first band of World Music. Indeed, in their oeuvre, you can hear Ireland, England, Continental Europe, India, South America.

[gawagney]

@nicodagger I agree with you. Every word....and I speak as not only a Beatles' fanatic but also as a 'British' (I am British by the way) R&B/Blues freak, from the '60's.

[TheBeez500]

Actually, I think the cheesy meow backing, over the top of the bouncy way the lyrics are sung, which offer a good kicking to whoever is trying to steal his girl, give the song a weird, sinister quality that works. The Beatles, as good as they were, got played to death in the UK when I was a kid. Lennon's raw talent got rather sanitised when the band were told to clean up their greaser image of the early days in my opinion.

[kennyrocksable]

Little Willie ain't afraid of no bulldog! No wonder this ranks as one of his many classics! I rate this high up there with 'fever' and 'all around the world'.

[DrMandarino]

i like the "meow" backing!

[boogaludo]

this is excactly what makes the song so special to me

[youvexme]

@boogaludo I'm probably way off, but could that be the Blossoms singing backup?

[kellazon]

@DrMandarino Meow!!!

[spirtw72]

Respect for the original artist.

But John Lennon sprayed his spunk all over this and made it his own. Lordy!

[vandywilliam]

Little Willie John was never accorded the fame that he should have received, but this song certainly put his fine singing talents on display.

This became a minor nationwide hit in late summer of 1959. Great to hear it again.

[sexyfatbastid]

The sax bit sounds kinda like the sax from The Benny Hill Show.

[tamioftroy]

Good song - but the Beatles did it much better...if only for the fact that they got rid of that awful 'meow' backing!

[Blackwwoolff]

Yeah, got that right.

My ideal version would have their instrumentation and his voice.

[karkarola]

Beatles's version is powerful, energetic. Faster, more rock'n'roll there. But, I always respect original.

[sigu655]

Wow! The Beatles really did this song justice. No disprect to the original but the Beatles really knew how to "arrange" originals. Well, at least Martin did but you get what I'm saying.

[martinmary555]

This is rock and roll. martinmary555 catch my video I recorded for King records

[bluemeanie81]

Wow, never heard the original before, it's great!! I do love the Beatles cover too :)

[melkiemelkie]

I wish Elvis recorded it....

[flimbambo]

Elvis would have done a good version of this.

[TheBeez500]

The original, and still the best. Beatles? Who hell they???

[patibrum]

Totally love this song!!

[railwalker1]

Do you have "You're a Sweetheart"

or " Cottage For Sale" They're two of his best records--"Heartbreak " too

[I0o0I0o0I]

Do you have song "My love is". It's from album The King Sessions. Great song, but impossible to find.

[boogaludo]

I'm sorry I do not know the song. When you have a file of it please send it to me.

[Babyhowdy233]

@I0o0I0o0I

"JJIB4FORLIFE" has it on his Youtube Channel. :)

[jthardy]

One of my favorites! Thanks for sharing it.