R. I. P. Jerry Leiber: Part 1

Filed in National by on August 23, 2011

One-half of one of the best and most influential songwriting teams of the rock ‘n roll era has passed away. The late Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller combined to create some of the most remarkable music of our lives. And the lyrics are tres tres cool and sometimes downright weird. Since I spent the last three days listening to Little Steven’s Underground Garage, I’m gonna  give you some of the ‘off-the-beaten-track’ stuff that strikes my warped sensibilities at this moment in the space/time continuum:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-LPI55bpZ0[/youtube]

‘Alligator Wine’: Jeff Buckley (!), channeling his inner Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b85-iwrJG1c[/youtube]

‘Bossa Nova Baby’: Tippie & the Clovers

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Q3GIXoX7E[/youtube]

‘Brother Bill (The Last Clean Shirt)’:Eric Burdon & the Animals

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCWqR9dmYwg[/youtube]

‘The Chicken and The Hawk’: Big Joe Turner

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omnkh2OTtAk[/youtube]

‘Down Home Girl’: Alvin Robinson (Leiber w/Artie Butler)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGc0EgrLOtc&feature=related[/youtube]

‘Down In Mexico’: The Coasters and, um…Selma Hayek (NSFW). It cuts off kinda quick, but it’s plenty long enough for me.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_nNNIYTy9g[/youtube]

‘Hound Dog’: Big Mama Thornton… O-wooooooo!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WazRyurJS1E&feature=related[/youtube]

‘I Keep Forgettin’: The Hi-Fi’s (Also done by Chuck Jackson)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KuuILVSsn0&feature=related[/youtube]

‘I Want to Be Free (‘Quiero Ser Libre)’: Enrique Guzman

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1J54W95NEk[/youtube]

‘I’m A Hog For You Baby’: The Lords…must be seen to be believed, trust me.

Yes, my OCD has kicked in big time. This is too much bleepin’ fun! As you can see, I’m doing this alphabetically, and I’m up to the I’s. More later. Man, this guy should die every day!!


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  1. jason330 says:
    August 23, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    The Lords are great. How come I’m just learning about them now?

  2. El Somnambulo says:
    August 23, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    I’d never heard of them before today.

    And, based on that video, for good reason.

  3. puck says:
    August 23, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    The Lords are great. How come I’m just learning about them now?

    Agree. Rub a little dirt on their face and they’d be the Animals.

    Update: Wikipedia gives a different story than my first impression, if I have the right Lords. However the lead singer did die ON STAGE from a breakdown during their 40-year reunion tour. Top that, 27 Club.

  4. El Somnambulo says:
    August 23, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    That Wikipedia article suggests that they were a playful band that was winking at its audience, which makes sense.

    Had no idea they were a German band.

  5. Eddie Joost says:
    August 23, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    “Down Home Girl” by Alvin Robinson –excellent choice, complete with a reference to Sunday Mass, a nod to New Orleans’s considerable black Catholic population. Written by a Jew, sung by a black man — ya gotta love it.

  6. El Somnambulo says:
    August 24, 2011 at 9:01 am

    Yeah, that one jumped out at me. Really vivid lyrics. Helluva vocal, too.

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