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!!