Little of Alot

The song "Little of Alot" by Black Sheep, featured on their 1975 self-titled album Black Sheep, is a gritty, soul-infused rock track that showcases the band’s raw energy and Lou Gramm’s powerful vocals. In a 1979 radio interview, Gramm recounted how the song was born during a late-night jam session in Rochester, where the band was experimenting with bluesy riffs. He described it as a “happy accident” that captured their live sound perfectly. The lyrics, reflecting themes of resilience and scraping by, resonated with their working-class audience. Don Mancuso, the band’s guitarist, shared in a 2023 Psychedelic Baby Magazine interview that “Little of Alot” was one of their proudest studio moments, as it mirrored the intensity of their live shows, especially during their 1975 tour opening for Kiss.

Another piece of trivia comes from fan discussions on the Black Sheep Fan Club Facebook group, where members recall a 1974 high school concert where Black Sheep played “Little of Alot” as an encore, with Gramm improvising lyrics about the school’s mascot, much to the crowd’s delight. This improvisational flair was a hallmark of their live performances. Mancuso also noted in the same 2023 interview that the song’s bassline, crafted by Bruce Turgon, was inspired by their love for British rock bands like Free, whose influence permeates the album. The track’s raw production, as fans on the Reddit Classic Rock community have pointed out, gives it a timeless quality, often compared to early Foreigner due to Gramm’s later fame with that band.

Black Sheep formed in Rochester, New York, in the early 1970s, emerging from the ashes of Gramm’s previous band, Poor Heart. The group, consisting of Lou Gramm (vocals), Don Mancuso (guitar), Bruce Turgon (bass), Ron Rocco (drums), and Larry Crozier (keyboards), came together through local gigs and a shared passion for British rock and blues. As detailed on Wikipedia, Gramm and Mancuso met through the Rochester music scene, bonding over their admiration for bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Their big break came with the 1974 single “Stick Around,” which gained local airplay and led to their self-titled debut album in 1975. The band’s gritty sound and dynamic live performances earned them a slot opening for Kiss, though a truck accident destroying their equipment halted their momentum, as noted in a Amazon customer review. Despite this setback, Black Sheep’s music laid the groundwork for Gramm’s later success with Foreigner.

While Black Sheep does not have an official website or active social media accounts, fans can connect through the Black Sheep Fan Club on Facebook, where enthusiasts share memorabilia and stories. Don Mancuso maintains a presence through his personal Facebook page, occasionally posting about Black Sheep’s legacy and his current projects. Lou Gramm’s official website and Facebook page focus primarily on his Foreigner career but occasionally reference his Black Sheep days. There are no official Instagram or X accounts for Black Sheep, but fan-driven content can be found on platforms like Reddit and Discogs, where collectors trade rare vinyls and discuss the band’s discography.