A "prog" Tribute to Jerry Leiber
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Topic: A "prog" Tribute to Jerry Leiber
Posted By: earlyprog
Subject: A "prog" Tribute to Jerry Leiber
Date Posted: August 26 2011 at 11:42
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What! no mentioning of the passing of the great Jerry Leiber on this site!?
Courtesy of Wolfgang's Vault:
"Earlier this week, Jerry Leiber passed away at the age of 78. As the lyricist for the Leiber/Stoller songwriting team, he left an indelible mark on rock and roll, penning an impressive amount of hits that have since become standards like "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog," "Yakety-Yak" and "Stand By Me." We're honoring his work and his memory by featuring http://wolfgangsvault.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6d2e9142d95db8a27f20810a9&id=3825322307&e=8645498271" rel="nofollow - performed by the likes of Big Mama Thornton (who recorded "Hound Dog" before Elvis), Sha Na Na, Loudon Wainwright, Dion, John Prine, and more. RIP, Mr. Leiber, and thanks for all the hits."
http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/playlists/leiber-stoller-tunes/playlist-600154.html?utm_source=NL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110826" rel="nofollow - http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/playlists/leiber-stoller-tunes/playlist-600154.html?utm_source=NL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110826
In order to make this prog relevant, which prog artists did covers of Leiber/Stoller compositions?
Beatles (not really prog, nonetheless:) Searching', Three Cool Cats, Young Blood, Some Other Guy, Kansas City
(You continue the list, please)
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Replies:
Posted By: PStoller
Date Posted: September 15 2011 at 19:07
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There aren't a huge number of prog versions of L&S songs, even though one could argue that the blend of R&R/R&B song form, classical orchestration, and exotic percussion in the Drifters' "There Goes My Baby" in 1959 makes it a contender for "first prog record." Lots of "borderline prog" artists have cut L&S songs, including Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Jeff Buckley, Kaleidoscope, Procol Harum, Queen, The Residents, Jane Siberry, etc.; lots more, if you count bootlegs and "before they were famous" bands (e.g. The Syndicats feat. Steve Howe), or if you have a more expansive definition of "prog" (Bjørk? Donald Fagen? The Grateful Dead? Joni Mitchell?) Genesis quoted a piece of "On Broadway" in "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway." Robert Fripp backed up violinist Walter Steding for a deconstructed version of "Hound Dog," and Frank Zappa did a version as well. Hugh Hopper recorded "Kansas City" back in '62. But, prog bands never did many covers to begin with, let alone of '50s and early '60s rock and R&B. The proggiest stuff L&S ever did (in terms of more unusual/extended song structures; challenging melodies, harmonies, and rhythms; and more sophisticated lyrics) was with Peggy Lee in 1975, and almost nobody's covered those songs in any genre. I keep hoping Dagmar Krause will take a shine to them.
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Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: September 30 2011 at 03:05
^Thanks PStoller (any relation? ) for your obvious knowledge on the subject.
Very impressive list of prog-related artists who covered L&S songs! Sure evidence that L&S songs made an impact on these artists also.
I am going to seek out the Drifters' "There goes my Baby" as well as Peggy Lee. Thanks for the tip.
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Posted By: earlyprog
Date Posted: September 30 2011 at 10:45
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Incidentially I am at Wolfgang's Vault listening to the first concerts at Winterland precisely 45 years ago and Jefferson Airplane play "Kansas City" (and so do Paul Butterfield Blues Band).
Great stuff.
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