‘Bulo’s Music for the Masses-Brill Building Edition

Editor’s Note: El Somnambulo had already prepared this piece last week before he accepted Nemski’s challenge to post his 10 ‘Desert Island’ songs. He did this in memory of  Ellie Greenwich, one of the great Brill Building songwriters. As ‘bulo’s return draws near, he wants to share this with you:

While the Brill Building itself was located at 1619 Broadway, the ‘Brill Building Sound’, consisting of a gifted group of songwriters, most writing as teams, also flourished at 1650 Broadway, right across the street, where music impresario Don Kirschner helped bring the ‘factory’ approach to songwriting. In honor of the great Ellie Greenwich, who co-wrote most of the Phil Spector classics, the Beast Who Slumbers presents some of the great songs by these great songwriting teams:

ELLIE GREENWICH/JEFF BARRY:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqgtsai2aKY[/youtube]

The Crystals-Da Do Ron Ron

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa4WzE_CrdY&feature=related[/youtube]

The Shangri-Las-The Leader of the Pack

JERRY LEIBER/MIKE STOLLER:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRu3tw9fYxE[/youtube]

Elvis Presley-Jailhouse Rock

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe9kKf7SHco[/youtube]

Peggy Lee-Is That All There Is?

BURT BACHARACH/HAL DAVID:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6inwzOooXRU[/youtube]

The Carpenters-Close to You

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht25gK5TcUI&feature=related[/youtube]

Dionne Warwick/Burt Bacharach-A House Is Not A Home/What the World Needs Now/Alfie

DOC POMUS/MORT SHUMAN:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4jINDaWKzA&feature=related[/youtube]

The Drifters-Save the Last Dance For Me

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5XJX8sjYDE&feature=related[/youtube]

Robert Plant/Rockpile-Little Sister

GERRY GOFFIN/CAROLE KING:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olqvPg3GL1M[/youtube]

The Byrds-Goin’ Back

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi6dqhi8Ptw&feature=related[/youtube]

Aretha Franklin-(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MopbhuZ2Bh0[/youtube]

Carole King-Up On the Roof

EDITOR’S NOTE: As to the Beast Who Slumbers’ return, he will be back, well, let’s let Burt Bacharach, Hal David, and Chuck Jackson tell us when:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLeGsRpRAr0&feature=related[/youtube]