Little Richard’s Big Night Out

Sure, you could read today’s New York Times review of Little Richard’s recent show at B.B. King’s. Or you could just skim through to pick out the highlights of LR’s on-stage banter, which prove that the 74-year-old singer still has a way with off-the-cuff cuckoness:

· “White ladies say ‘Aaaaa!’ Black ladies say ‘Uuuuh!'” ·”I’m so sorry about my friend James [Brown]. He loved me so much. He said, ‘Oh, you got some pretty skin.'” ·”It’s so nice just sitting here, being beautiful. I feel so unnecessary.” ·[After spotting digital cameras]: “Nobody do no video. I ain’t hired you. Ain’t nothing going on unnoticed on this planet. The angels keep a record. You can take my money, but your child may get killed.” ·”Could I get two black ladies to dance? I’d like to have two fat white ladies, too. Juicy ones. And two Mexicans.” ·”Was you glad to see me? If any of you can help [accompanying musician Earl Swindell] get a recording deal, give me your number and I’ll give it to him. And remember, the Lord is coming soon. Never put a question mark where God has put a period.”

Amazingly, the Times reports that only the child-killing bit “drew a sharp breath” from the crowd. Maybe the audience members were too busy wondering whether or not they qualified as “juicy.”

He’s Frail, but Still Rocking and Preening [NY Times]