Rod Stewart has never been bashful about the music that influenced him.
The legend, who came of age listening to everything from soul and R&B to blues and early rock and roll, once disclosed a remarkable list of his all-time favourite songs – and amongst them is a track that helped spark his enduring passion for rock.
Initially released in 1956 and featured in the film of the same name starring Jayne Mansfield, ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ became one of Little Richard’s most celebrated hits.
The song’s pulsating rhythm, exuberant vocal performance, and dynamic piano arrangements helped establish the sound of 1950s rock and roll – and it left an indelible mark on a young Rod Stewart.
During a 2018 chat with BBC Radio 2’s Ken Bruce, Stewart reminisced about how the song entered his world courtesy of his elder brother. “When I was little, my brother Bob, who was a bit of a teddy boy, he brought this record [‘Little Richard’] home,” he said.
“I put it on time and time and time again – another one that was a big influence on me.”
For Stewart, it wasn’t merely the music. It was also the performer behind it.
“Then I met him,” he added with warmth. “What a sweetheart of a man. Bless him.”
Little Richard, born Richard Penniman, was one of the flamboyant pioneers of early rock music, renowned for his explosive performances and groundbreaking influence on artists ranging from The Beatles to Prince. ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ became a chart triumph in its own right, climbing to No 7 on the Billboard R&B Best Sellers chart.
Its impact lasted well beyond the 1950s, subsequently being covered by British rockers The Animals and even sampled decades later in Fergie’s 2006 smash ‘Clumsy’.
Stewart’s reverence for Little Richard has resonated throughout his career, both in the gritty elements of his vocal delivery and in the raw passion that has characterised his live shows.
‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ was one of 10 tracks Stewart selected as his ultimate favourites, in a compilation that revealed a fascinating glimpse of his diverse musical influences and foundations.
Amongst the others was Al Jolson’s ‘Sonny Boy’, a touching masterpiece from 1928 that Stewart grew up listening to on his parents’ gramophone. “We all loved Al Jolson. I was made to love Al Jolson,” he said.
“This man sang without a microphone, which to me is incredulous.”
He also chose Otis Redding’s emotionally powerful ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, which he once witnessed performed live in 1967 – a experience that moved him to tears. “I cried my eyes out when he sang this song,” Stewart said. “It was just beautiful.”
A more contemporary addition to the collection was ‘Uptown Funk’ by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, which Stewart described as “one of the best records ever made.”
Despite being recognised for his own rock classics, Stewart voiced profound respect for Mars’s vocal abilities and Ronson’s polished production, saying: “Bruno Mars… he is doing something totally brilliant.”