Night Music: Little Richard and the James Gang, “But I Try”

I’m pulling this from the liner notes for Joe Walsh’s box set Analog Man, explaining where this cool artyfact came from. Joe Walsh says:

“I found this is an old box of tapes I had. It is a recording of The James Gang jamming with Little Richard in Cleveland, Ohio about 1970. Me on guitar, Jimmy Fox on drums, Dale Peters on bass and featuring Little Richard at his best. I remember we played a couple of shows in the Midwest with LR and, I think, Chuck Berry on the same bill and on a day off in Cleveland we decided to go into Cleveland Recording and mess around. We did a few songs, but this is the only one that survived. I called LR for permission to include it on Analog Man and he said “It makes me wanna go out in the yard and yell LAWDY LAWDY!” Little Richard is one of the true founding fathers of rock & roll and a huge influence and inspiration to every musician I know including me. It’s an honor to know him and to be able to share this magical moment in time with all of you. God bless you LR! Thank you.”

The tune is credited to (Walsh, Jim Fox, Richard Penniman, Dale Peters).

7 thoughts on “Night Music: Little Richard and the James Gang, “But I Try”

  1. Too bad Richard is mixed down but it’s good vamping. Underrated drummer Jimmy Fox. It’s too long, in the style of 1970, but I’m sure it was great live if they ever did it. I was never huge into the James Gang but I had Yer Album and liked it. My favorite song of theirs was always Take A Look Around, so I popped it up on youtube to hear for the first time in several decades. I was struck by how one song invented both Argent and Pink Floyd guitar, and does both better. My only complaint is that it’s too tame. We should cover it and punk it up.

  2. Interesting to hear Little Richard in a more standard rock format, as compared to his usual boogie woogie rock ‘n’ roll.

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