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Rip It Up

Rating:
4.4 / 5

Words & Music: Kokomo Arnold John Marascalco

'Cause it's Saturday nite and I just got paid
Fool about my money don't try to save
My heart says go, go
Have a time 'cause it's Saturday nite
And I'm feelin' fine

I'm gonna rip it up
I'm gonna rock it up
I'm gonna shake it up
I'm gonna ball it up
I'm gonna rip it up
And ball tonite

I got a date and I won't be late
Pick her up in my '88'
Shag it on down to the union hall
When the music starts jumpin'
I'll have a ball

Along about 10 I'll be flying high
Rocking on out into the sky
I don't care if I spend my gold
'Cause tonite I'm gonna be one happy soul

Recordingdate: 1956/09/03, first released on: Elvis (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Rip It Up:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Availability

Find available albums with Rip It Up.

Steve V wrote on April 07, 2009
Elvis starts off his 2nd LP with this great Little Richard tune. I love the atmosphere in this song. Its rocking yet not frantic like Richard's. The band is cooking here as well.
Natha wrote on June 15, 2009
This song reflects the explosion of freedom the youth experienced at that time for the first time in history and it was mostly innocent. Just fun. And Elvis and his band know to take us in the right mood for that. There are many versions but this one is by far the best I have ever heard. It is sheer Rock 'n' Roll, in a natural, well balanced way and not overdone. One of those rockers in which Elvis shows his supremacy in that period.
Pedro Nuno wrote on June 15, 2009
This is Rock'n'Roll at its best. This is Elvis at His best. This is music at its best. This rendition is such a classic that listening to it makes you forever want to “Ball tonite”. The King should have sung it live.
old shep wrote on June 15, 2009
Taken from one of the greatest Rock 'N' Roll albums ever, a track that is almost forgotten even by oldies radio stations. A great pity an outstanding recording.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on June 15, 2009
Not one of my favorite Elvis covers. But he performs it well. Just curious, am I the only who, likes, Elvis' first album, better, than his second album? Of note, Elvis, did a few lines of "Rip it up" in concert, on his last tour, and I wish he would have performed the complete song. He and the TCB band, could have, really rocked it, with an "updated sound".
bluesboy wrote on June 15, 2009
The best of the three Little Richard covers he recorded. More rockabilly or countryflavored than the original.
bajo wrote on June 15, 2009
ELVIS is still standing as one of my all time favourite Elvis albums. I don't compare it to ELVIS PRESLEY. It's simply adding more fuel to the flame already lit by the first one. The rocker's on this album are all outstanding. Rip It Up could have gone down well during his live acts in the 70's also, I think!
GEORGE (GK) wrote on June 15, 2009
Not really comparing the two. However I think the first album "Elvis Presley" flows better than the second album "Elvis". Its a stronger album. My guess, is that RCA will eventually release the 2 albums on one CD, at a nice price. And, it will sell nicely, at retail. "Tutti Frutti" "Rip it up" "Long Tall Sally" which Little Richard song, did Elvis and the boys, cover the best?
Jim Hoff wrote on March 22, 2010
It's a tough song to top as Little Richard does a tremendous job in his original version. But Elvis adds his own distinct style and makes the song his own ... and he does it well even if it's a bit more 'polished' than the Richards version.
dgirl wrote on March 22, 2010
The lead off track to my favorite Elvis LP. I heard his version before I ever heard Little Richards. I love them both. Rock and Roll at its best.
Deano1 wrote on March 22, 2010
This one was just never one of my favorites. I still consider it second tier rock and roll and neither Elvis' or Little Richard's version is any where close to the classics such as "Don't Be Cruel", "Great Balls Of Fire", "Jailhouse Rock", "At The Hop", etc. A good album track on a good, but unspectacular album. "Love Me" and "When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold" are top notch, but I don't care to listen to "Old Shep", "First In Line" and "How's The World Treating You". This one falls in the middle, 3 stars.
NONE000000 wrote on March 22, 2010
Man I really love watching the Ed Sullivan Show version Elvis did of this! Talk about pure unbridled joy! This is quintessential Rock and Roll performed by the King of the genre.
derekd wrote on March 22, 2010
This was Elvis in 1956. And this was Rock'n roll Elvis Presley style. And it was true, Elvis really was the King of Rock 'n roll. Rip it Up was Elvis letting everyone else see how R&R was ment to be done. Elvis didn't have anyone to show him the way, he was the leader and the others followed. Great times indeed.
Marty_TCE wrote on June 14, 2010
Raw and full of energy. Superb!
shoesuedeblues wrote on June 14, 2010
An Elvis classic cut from one of my top ten albums. Love the live versions too.
Colonel wrote on June 14, 2010
Nice one but one of his weaker Rock'n'Roll songs. Nothing compared to Little Richard's original. His other Penniman-covers were much better.
freedom101 wrote on December 20, 2011
Another instant classic from the number one "ELVIS" LP. I like this version but I heard another version by Elvis that was even better.
Lou A wrote on December 21, 2011
I like Little Richards version a lot, but I like Elvis's version as much if not more , because he does it differantly , giving the song a rockabilly treatment as opposed to the R&B feel of the original. Both great versions by pioneering rock and roll artists.
Gorse wrote on December 04, 2012
A great performance on a Little Richard number with which both do fantastically well in their different styles. This comes from his 2nd album released in a unique moment in time for Elvis - the back end of 1956 with TV appearances, a motion film release. and live concerts hitting the heights.
Cruiser621 wrote on April 07, 2013
The perfect lead-in track to Elvis' second long playing album and on the 45 RPM Extended Play "Elvis-Volume 1"; absolutely rock 'n roll and much, much superior to the Little Richard version, which isn't bad either!
sugartummy wrote on April 27, 2013
Well it's Saterday night and I just got laid. That's what Elvis sings on the Million DQ album. I think this is the song that was brought to Sam Phillips for Elvis, but he rejected it, because it was too country. So the authors changed it a bit and let Little Richard record it.
Colonel wrote on July 16, 2013
Little Richard's original and Bill Haley's versions are much, much better. Would have loved to hear a real good version by Elvis.
ElvisSacramento wrote on July 17, 2013
This is such a magnificent, electrifying, catchy, fun, dynamic and groovy song and Elvis' rendition of it was brilliant. It's easily one of my most favorite Rock 'N' Roll songs.
shawnrw wrote on April 09, 2016
Fun, rocking version of the Little Richard classic. I still think Richard's version rocks a little harder, but Elvis's version is somewhat more legible than Richard's usual somewhat eccentric delivery.
atomic powered poste wrote on June 25, 2018
little richards version is much better, elvis recording of this great rock'n'roll song is a nice listen, but not as electrifying as it could have been. I like it anyway, 4 stars.
JerryNodak wrote on June 14, 2020
Let's see. Never liked Little Richard, period. Never cared for the song "At The Hop." Always enjoy listening to Elvis' version of "Rip It Up." Great way to lead off the 2nd LP. However, have always had a preference for the 1st LP. Song in question: 4 stars.
Miknik7077 wrote on July 31, 2020
Good cover by Elvis that has a fun swinging style to it. 4 stars.
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