You've probably heard that Jerry Leiber, half of the Leiber-Stoller songwriting team, checked out yesterday. The duo is responsible for a shitload of R & B, doo wop, and early rock n' roll songs that you probably know like the back of your hand. (Really, check out the list of songs, and the artists that performed them here.) They were incredibly prolific. To wit, they wrote "Hound Dog" in twelve minutes. (That's less time than it takes me to make lunch.) Along with the songwriting teams of Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich, and Carole King & Gerry Goffin, Leiber & Stoller helped shape the music of the fifties and sixties. A major difference is that Leiber and Stoller also produced, and their production credits are almost more impressive than the writing credits. How's about Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, the Coasters, Ruth Brown, the Drifters, LaVern Baker, the Exciters, the Dixie Cups, and T-Bone Walker? Dude is royalty.
~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:
Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog mp3 at The Beiderbecke Affair
Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City mp3 at The Soul Girl
Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Alligator Wine mp3 at Api.ning.com
Wanda Jackson - Riot In Cell Block Number 9 mp3 at Tillooman
The Coasters - Down In Mexico mp3 at Hell's Belles
The Clovers - Love Potion Number 9 mp3 at Hell's Belles
Peggy Lee - Is That All There Is? mp3 at Little Manatee Springs
The Cheers - Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots mp3 at Miami High 1955
Further listening:
Jerry Leiber at Funky 16 Corners Three obscure cuts and a nice tribute
Jerry Leiber at Probe is Turning-On the People (Scroll to Session 352) Seven song mix, including Leiber on vocals!
Visit:
Leiber & Stoller's Official site
Leiber & Stoller's songwriting discography
Leiber & Stollers production credits
Jerry Leiber at the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Jerry Leiber's obituary at the NY Times
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