You may or may not have heard of Jerry Leiber, but he’s just died and that’s bad because he’s one of the most brilliant people to have ever existed in that hellish world known as the music industry.
Alongside Mike Stoller, Jerry wrote some of the best records ever cut to wax.
And so, instead of writing a cloying tribute to the great man (okay, we’ll be a little over the top because we’re fans), we’ll his music do the talking. And what tunes! We’re talking ‘Hound Dog’, ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘Jailhouse Rock’ for starters.
Leiber died, aged 78, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles of cardiopulmonary failure. Mercifully, family members of the legendary songwriter were with him when he passed away.
Elvis Presley, The Drifters, Ben E. King and Peggy Lee were among the many many singers who recorded songs penned by Leiber and Stoller. Leiber also set-up Red Bird records, which released all of the Shangri-Las records (and they just happen to be the coolest group who ever lived).
And so, let us look at the music he wrote, produced, issued or had a hand in.
Jerry Leiber is survived by one of the greatest musical legacies in history.
Big Mama Thornton ‘Hound Dog’
Yes, you all know Elvis’ version but Hound Dog was originally a tune for the mighty Big Mama Thornton. And boy howdy! Elvis did a great version, but he couldn’t match the raw power of Big Mama!
The Coasters ‘Yakety Yak’
One of the most iconic doo-wop records ever recorded. Often imitated, rarely bettered.
Ben E King ‘Stand By Me’
One of the greatest soul records ever cut to wax and co-written with King himself.
Stealers Wheel ‘Stuck In The Middle’
Produced by Leiber and Stoller, this track was largely forgotten ’til Tarantino got his hands on it and stuck it in one of the most infamous scenes in cinema. Reservoir Dogs gave this track the audience it truly deserved… albeit shrieking in horror thanks to an ear being cut off.
The Exciters ‘Tell Me’
Great girl group record and, as you’ll see, the best promo video ever made.
Steve Lawrence ‘The Lady Wants To Twist’
Lost Leiber and Stoller gem. Huge brassy dancer that tried to get in on the whole twist craze.
The Coasters ‘Love Potion #9’
Famous for a variety of reasons, but the main one being that its infectious groove made a million dancefloors happy.
Shangri Las ‘Give Him A Great Big Kiss’
Leiber, along with Stoller, founded Red Bird Records, which of course, was the home to the Shangs. Here’s one of their best cuts.
Drifters ‘There Goes My Baby’
Leiber’s strings and sax flourishes in this Drifters track provided a blueprint for a thousand soul records. Listen and you’ll hear the echoes of many iconic records that followed.
Jay and the Americans ‘She Cried’
You may know the Shangri Las’ ‘He Cried’, but this Jay and the Americans track is well worth your entrance fee.
Eilert Pilarm ‘Jailhouse Rock’
Could we have a Leiber tribute without Elvis? Not entirely. However, you know The King’s version of ‘Jailhouse Rock’, so why not try this oddity from Swedish nutjob, Eilert Pilarm? It’s what he would’ve wanted.
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A. Crews says
You have the Exciters’ song “Tell Him” listed as “Tell Me.” Also, the Clovers had the hit version of “Love Potion #9”, not the Coasters.