Little Richard - Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey

First performance: 17/11/2012


Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 6 times as part of Kansas City:
 
  • As part of "Kansas City"
2012-11-17 Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
Tour debut of "Kansas City," opens the show, last played in this city in 2002. The only full performance of Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey was played on this date.
 
 

2007-10-13 Weinberg Residence, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
2002-09-24 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
1987-04-12 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park
1984-11-19 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
1981-02-05 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
 
  • Snippets
during SHOUT
 
2016-03-19 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, LA
 
during RAMROD
 
2002-11-19 Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Arena, Birmingham, AL
2002-11-16 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
2002-11-14 Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
 
during LUCILLE
 
1987-10-31 McLoone's Rum Runner, Sea Bright
 
during SHERRY DARLING

1985-09-01 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford
1985-08-31 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford
1985-08-27 CNE Stadium, Toronto, ON
1985-08-26 CNE Stadium, Toronto, ON
1985-08-22 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford
1985-08-21 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford
1985-08-19 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford
1985-08-15 Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
1985-08-14 Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
1985-08-11 Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
1985-08-09 Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
 

Songinfo

In 1955, Little Richard recorded two different versions of "Kansas City" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller: one on September, 13 (supervised by Bumps Blackwell), and one on November, 29 (with five vocalists, supervised by Art Rupe). The first version, which adheres closely to the original 1952 recording by Little Willie Littlefield for the first two verses, was not released until November 1970, on the compilation album Well Alright! The second version, which had been substantially re-worked by Little Richard (in particular, it featured a new refrain starting with words, "Hey, hey, hey, hey; Hey baby, hey child, hey now") was released in March 1959 on The Fabulous Little Richard and in April 1959 as single after the success of the Wilbert Harrison hit. "Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey" was recorded six months after the second version of "Kansas City", incorporating the same refrain. However, as "Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey" was released in 1958—with the writing credited solely to Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)—the public perceived it as an earlier recording than "Kansas City". Kansas city became part of this medley, when Little Richard added on his song, Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey, when he recorded both as a B-side single to Good Golly Miss Molly in 1958. This is Kansas City's Official Song and when the K.C. Royals win a home baseball game, they play The Beatles version. When they lose, they play Wilbert Harrison's version. NOW, that's cool - "Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey!"
 
 
 

Other cover versions

  • The Beatles recorded the medley in a more up-tempo rockin' version in 1964 and opened their K.C. show on 9/17/64 with it.
  • Ten Years After : "Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey" was covered as "Going Back to Birmingham" 
  • Bob Seger

Bruce on the artist

2023-10-09 SiriusXM Studio, New York City, NY
Bruce played the song in the KANSAS CITY - HEY!-HEY!-HEY!-HEY! medley of the Beatles during The 'From My Home to Yours' series, returning for the first time since 2021, with Episode 30, featuring Bruce and high school friends and surviving members of the early Freehold rock and roll scene Craig Caprioni, Mike Domanski, Donnie Powell, and Mike Wilson discussing the music they listened to in those mid-'60s days. 
 
2020-05-20 SiriusXM Studio, New York City
During the SiriusXM radio Lockdown DJ show Volume 4, "From His Home to Yours" broadcast on Wednesday, May 20, Bruce played 3 songs of Little Richard who recently passed away. He played:
  
1. Born on the Bayou (only the intro)
2. Tutti Fruti
3. Get Down With It
 
Bruce's comment on Little Richard:
"That is the purest rock 'n' roll voice of all time, and it belongs to the Georgia Peach, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Little Richard, who we lost in early May. That was one of the founding fathers of rock and roll and its preeminent vocal genius. And there he profoundly explained in my opinion why and how he does what he does. He came out of Macon, Georgia to take the nation, the world and your body and soul by storm. His art was filled with absurdity, dead seriousnees, great humor and sex, sex, sex. He is one of a handful of men who changed the face of world culture. He crossed racial boundaries, he challenged gender norms and he had the time of his life. Here once again is the High Priest of Rock and Roll. A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, a-lop-bam-boom! Rest in peace, Richard. "
 
 
Bruce had 3 appearances together with Little Richard :
 
1995-11-19 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
Frank Sinatra 80th Birthday Concert

1989-01-18 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Together with Little Richard in an all starr performance
  
1988-01-20 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY 
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Together with Little Richard in an all starr performance
 
 

Lyrics

I'm goin' to Kansas City
Kansas City, here I come
I'm goin' to Kansas City
Kansas City, here I come
They've got crazy women there and
I'm goin' down to get me some
Well, I might take a train, I might take a plane
But if I have to walk, I'm goin' just the same
I'm goin' to Kansas City
Kansas City, here I come
They've got crazy women there and
I'm goin' down to get me some
Well bye, bye bye baby bye
Wooo so long, bye bye baby I'm gone
Well bye, bye bye baby bye
I'm a holl'rin' and screamin'
Baby please come home
Well, I'm a holl'rin' and screamin'
Don't you leave me all alone
Well, I'm a holl'rin' and I'm screamin'
Baby please come home
Well bye, bye bye baby bye
Wooo so long, bye bye baby I'm gone
Well bye, bye bye baby bye
Hey hey hey hey
I miss my baby, I don't mean maybe
I miss my baby, I don't mean maybe
I miss my baby, I don't mean maybe
I'll miss my baby until the day I die