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The Spectacle Blog
Songwriter Jerry Leiber passed away today after a lengthy illness. He was 78.
Leiber along with Mike Stoller comprised one half of the one of the greatest songwriting teams of the 20th century. Leiber wrote the lyrics and Stoller wrote the music that launched the careers of Elvis Presley (“Hound Dog”, “Jailhouse Rock”), The Coasters (“Yakety Yak”, “Searchin’”) and The Drifters (“Spanish Harlem” with Phil Spector, “On Broadway” with Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil). Leiber and Stoller also collaborated with Drifters’ lead singer Ben E. King on “Stand By Me”. But my favorite Leiber-Stoller composition is “Kansas City” which was a number one hit for Wilbert Harrison in 1959. When Leiber-Stoller weren’t writing hits, they were producing them. The last hit they produced was “Stuck in the Middle with You” by Stealers Wheel back in 1972.
At the risk of sounding cliche, they don’t make songwriters, much less songwriting teams, like they once did.
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More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/08/22/jerry-leiber-rip
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albert constantine jr| 8.22.11 @ 10:18PM
I was wondering when the R.I.P would appear after I heard of Mr. Leiber's passing. I had the opportunity to converse with one of the Shirelles once several decades ago when they were touring with the Roy Radin Rock & Roll Revue. Even then, it was lamented that the likes of Leiber & Stoller, Pomus & Shuman (or Doc & Mort, as she referred to them), and Goffin & King were no longer present in the contemporary pop music scene. The music in the afterlife will likely soon have more of an old time rock and roll rhythm.
Occam's Tool| 8.22.11 @ 10:53PM
When I listen to Roy Orbison, for example, I love the enunciation and the fact that the lyrics make sense.
Yeah, this fellow will be missed.
albert constantine jr.| 8.22.11 @ 11:25PM
On most of his hits, particularly when he was with Monument Records, Roy wrote with Joe Melson and later Bill Dees. As a team they were able to compose songs that gave Roy a chance to display his great (but rare) range and vocal qualities. As a result, he is rarely covered successfully (Van Halen's "Pretty Woman" was more about the guitar riffs, and Don McLean's "Crying" is still a far "cry" from the original). It was a sad day in December of 1988 when he passed.
astorian| 8.23.11 @ 10:45AM
I agree with you about the Van Halen and Don McLean covers (Van Halen's "Pretty Woman" was marred by David Lee Roth's legendary laziness and refusal to learn the lyrics bfore he entered the studio).
There is one exception: Linda Ronstadt's cover of "Blue Bayou" was a good deal better than Roy's original.
Moancler Cheap | 8.23.11 @ 1:09PM
good post, i will come back .