"Little Willy" is a song written by songwritersNicky Chinn and Mike Chapman and performed by the British glam rock band The Sweet, released in 1972 as a non-album single in the UK, peaking at #4 in the best seller charts. It was released in the United States in May 1973, from the album The Sweet and became Sweet's biggest hit in the United States, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
This is the last single on which Steve Priest, Andy Scott, and Mick Tucker did not perform, as on "Little Willy" and all previous singles, producer Phil Wainman played drums, and session musicians John Roberts and Pip Williams were on bass and guitars respectively.
"Little Willy" was used extensively in the pilot of the television series Life on Mars.
Little Willy Foster or Little Willie Foster (April 20, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was an AmericanChicago blues harmonicist, singer, and songwriter.
Biography
Foster was born in Dublin, Mississippi, United States. Born to Major Foster and Rosie Brown, Willy was raised on a plantation, around ten miles south of Clarksdale. His mother died when Willy was aged five and he was raised by his father, who was a local musician. Willy worked the fields from a young age and had little by way of a formal education. His father taught him to play the family's piano, although Willy later taught himself to master both the guitar and harmonica. By 1942, Foster worked briefly in Clarksdale itself. Around 1943, Foster relocated to Chicago. He played the blues round the city, originally teaming up with Floyd Jones, Lazy Bill Lucas, and Foster's cousin, Leroy Foster. Having befriended Big Walter Horton, Little Willy Foster learned to play the harmonica in Horton's Chicago blues style. From the mid 1940s, this led to periodic work for Foster on Maxwell Street, and around the city's clubs, for over a decade. Foster also worked during this time in a band comprising himself, Homesick James, Moody Jones and Floyd Jones.
North side, east side Little Willy, Willy wears the crown, he's the king around town Dancing, glancing Willy drives them silly with his star shoe shimmy shuffle down Way past one, and feeling alright 'Cause with little Willy round they can last all night Hey down, stay down, stay down down 'Cause little Willy, Willy won't go home But you can't push Willy round Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no Little Willy, Willy won't go home Up town, down town Little Willy, Willy drives them wild with his run-around style Inside, outside Willy sends them silly with his star-shine shimmy shuffle smile Mama done chase Willy down through the hall But laugh, Willy laugh, he don't care at all Hey down, stay down, stay down, down 'Cause little Willy, Willy won't go home But you can't push Willy round Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no Little Willy, Willy won't go home Little Willy, Willy won't Willy won't, Willy won't Little Willy, Willy won't Willy won't, Willy won't Little Willy, Willy won't Willy won't, Willy won't Little Willy, Willy won't Willy won't, Willy won't Little Willy, Willy won't go home But you can't push Willy round Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no Little Willy, Willy won't go home Little Willy, Willy won't go home But you can't push Willy round Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no Little Willy, Willy won't go home
DianeWillis, the band’s director for a little over a year, has been with the group for about seven years since moving to the Owensboro area 13 years ago ... Willis said group membership hovers around 25.
“Both LittleSprouts and Reading is Elementary have five steps,” Willis said ... As an incentive Willis noted all who complete Little Sprouts receive a stuffed, mini ‘Suma the Puma’ and children who ...
DeMarr’s little brother Willie has shown great signs as a freshman, but the team will lean on the experience of CarsonParker and Billy Bourk who started every game last year as sophomores.
Oosterhuis shared a few biographical tidbits about how Wonder was an influence, and how his music fostered her awareness of trailblazers like Little Willie John, an anecdote that led to the evening's wonderful closing number, "CryingOver You."
The Herald Palladium
08 Feb 2024
The Herald Palladium
08 Feb 2024