45 RPMs 77: Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem

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Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem 

45 RPM

    

    

On the 16th of February in 1971, Aretha Franklin recorded a cover of the beautiful song, Spanish Harlem and it was released on July 9th of that same year. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The song was originally recorded by Ben E. King in 1960.     

 

Where King's version is languid and dreamy, Franklin's is faster, upbeat, bouncy and happy. The piano, played by Franklin herself, is absolutely beautiful, the reason I love her cover of the song. The backing vocals by The Sweethearts of Soul and Carolyn Franklin are gorgeous. An occasional keyboard riff by Donny Hathaway is a nice touch. The production by Arif Mardin is faultless.    

        

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Spanish Harlem, written by Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector - 3:30

Side 2:

B - Lean On Me, written by J. Cobb*, Van McCoy - 4:20

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Recorded At – Criteria Recording Studios
    Lacquer Cut At – Atlantic Studios
    Pressed By – Plastic Products
    Published By – Progressive (3)
    Published By – Trio (8)
    Published By – Van McCoy

 Credits:

 

      Arranged By [Strings Arr. By] – Arif Mardin
    Lacquer Cut By – DK*
    Producer [Prod. By] – Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd

    Piano, Vocals: Aretha Franklin
    Arranger, Producer: Arif Mardin
    Drums: Bernard Purdie
    Backing  Vocals: Carolyn Franklin
    Bass  Guitar: Chuck Rainey
    Guitar: Cornell Dupree
    Electric  Piano: Donny Hathaway
    Backing  Vocals: Erma Franklin
    Producer: Jerry Wexler
    Backing  Vocals: The Sweethearts of Soul
    Producer: Tom Dowd
    Writer: Jerry Leiber
    Writer: Phil Spector

 

Notes:

"PL" plant code printed in label matrices denotes Plastic Products pressing.

Recorded at Atlantic South-Criteria Studios, Miami, Fla.

[A]: Pub., Progressive-Trio, BMI
[B]: Pub., Van McCoy, B M I

Mfg. By Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 Broadway, New York, N.Y.

Runouts are etched, "X" in runouts indicates a lacquer blank from Transco was used.

Barcode and Other Identifiers        

         

   Rights Society: BMI
    Pressing Plant ID (On labels): PL
    Matrix / Runout (A-side label): A-21311-PL
    Matrix / Runout (B-side label): A-21423-PL
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 1): A - 21311 - 9 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 1): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 2): A - 21311 -10 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 2): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 3): A-21311-3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 3): A-21423-3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 4): A - 21311 - 10 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 4): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X

Aretha Franklin – Spanish Harlem
Label:    Atlantic – 45-2817
Format:    Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, PL - Plastic Products Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Soul

        

        

        

        

Viewfinder links:       

         

Aretha Franklin        

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller         

Arif Mardin       

Phil Spector                    

The Sweethearts of Soul        
     
YouTube links:      

        
Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem        

Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem                 

      
        
         

        

        

Styrous® ~ Friday, February 16, 2024       

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Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller articles/mentions

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Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller     

date & photographer unknown       
      

     

     

     

mentions:      

The Coasters ~               

        Poison Ivy           

        Yakety Yak     

Ben E. King ~                    

         Spanish Harlem

         Stand by Me             

Peggy Lee ~ Is That All There Is?             

Big Joe Turner ~ Shake, Rattle And Roll          
           

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

 

 

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Music People

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Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller articles/mentions

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Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem     

Peggy Lee ~ Is That All There Is?       

Doc Pomus ~ Doo-Wop Wonder         

Elvis Presley ~ Hound Dog    

      

      

      

     

      

 

     

     

     

      

Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

date & photographer unknown

     

      

     

      

     

      

     

      

     

 

 

 

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45 RPMs 63: The Coasters ~ Poison Ivy

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The Coasters ~ Poison Ivy

 

I've always connected my total experience with The Coasters to my high school days but I just came to realize not so. On July 16, 1959, The Coasters recorded Poison Ivy, long after those days, but my love for them does go back to then.        

 

The Coasters ~ Poison Ivy
  45 rpm record

photo by Styrous®

 

 

Obviously, contrary to my "I remember where I was . . ", I don't! But I do remember loving the song from the first time I heard it, no matter where I was.            

The tune was written by the brilliant song writing team, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It went to #1 on the R&B chart, #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #15 in the UK. This was their third top-ten hit of that year following Charlie Brown and Along Came Jones; I thought those were from my high school days as well. Seems after a few decades of life you get things confused! Oh, well!      

 

The song discusses a girl known as "Poison Ivy". She is compared to measles, mumps, chickenpox, the common cold, and whooping cough, but is deemed worse, because "Poison Ivy, Lord, will make you itch". According to lyricist Jerry Leiber, "Pure and simple, 'Poison Ivy' is a metaphor for a sexually transmitted disease".         

 

Almost every musician in existence has covered the song (link below) but the best version I've ever heard was in a scene from the 1997 film Batman & Robin. The song was re-scored by Elliot Goldenthal and the character, Poison Ivy aka Dr. Pamela Isley, is portrayed by Uma Thurman of the 1994 film, Pulp Fiction, and she is sensational! She speaks in a mix of Eartha Kitt and Mae West with double entendres galore.            

 

 

Batman & Robin poster

I'm a Hog for You was also written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It is a moderate speed, syncopated song with a terrific dance beat and a great set of lyrics (link below).       

      

The Coasters ~ I'm a Hog for You
  45 rpm record

photo by Styrous®

 

 

        

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Poison Ivy - 2:43

Side 2:

B - I’m A Hog For You - 1:59

Companies, etc.

    Published By – Tiger (7)

 Credits:

 

      Written By Leiber - Stoller*

 

Notes:

Label variation: Very slight variance in the text layout compared to: Poison Ivy / I'm A Hog For You

Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
A-side recorded July 16, 1959 at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York City
B-side recorded August 8, 1958 at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York City

Barcode and Other Identifiers        

        

Label variation: Very slight variance in the text layout compared to: Poison Ivy / I'm A Hog For You

Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
A-side recorded July 16, 1959 at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York City
B-side recorded August 8, 1958 at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York City

 

The Coasters – Poison Ivy / I'm A Hog For You
Label: ATCO Records – 45-6146
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: Aug 1959
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul
Style: Vocal, Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll

        

        

        

        

Viewfinder links:       

        
The Coasters         

Elliot Goldenthal        

Eartha Kitt         

Poison Ivy lyrics        

Uma Thurman         

Mae West      
     
Net links:       

         

Cover versions        

Songfacts ~ Poison Ivy        

     
YouTube links:      
         

Batman ~ Poison Ivy         

The Coasters ~  

        I'm a Hog for You      

        Poison Ivy         

        Poison Ivy (live)        

        

        
        
         

        

        

Styrous® ~ Friday, July 16, 2021   

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The Coasters ~ Poison Ivy lyrics

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She comes on like a rose,
But everybody knows,
She'll get you in Dutch,
You can look but you better not touch!

Poison Ivy,
Poison Ivy,
Late at night while you're sleepin',
Poison Ivy comes a-creepin' around.

She's pretty as a daisy,
But look out man, she's crazy!
She'll really do you in,
If you let her get under your skin!

Poison Ivy,
Poison Ivy,
Late at night while you're sleepin',
Poison Ivy comes a-creepin' around.

Measles make you bumpy and mumps'll make you lumpy,
And chicken pox'll make you jump and twitch.
The common cold'll fool you,
And whoopin' cough will cool ya,
But Poison Ivy, Lawd, will make you itch!

You're gonna need an ocean,
Of calamine lotion.
You'll be scratchin' like a hound,
The minute you start to mess around!

Poison Ivy,
Poison Ivy,
Late at night while your sleepin',
Poison Ivy comes creepin' around.

Measles' make you bumpy and mumps'll make you lumpy,
And chicken pox'll make you jump and twitch.
A common cold'll fool ya,
And whoopin' cough can cool ya,
But Poison Ivy, Lawd, will make you itch!

You're gonna need an ocean,
Of calamine lotion.
You'll be scratchin' like a hound,
The minute you start to mess around!

Poison Ivy,
Poison Ivy,
Late at night while you're sleepin',
Poison Ivy comes a-creepin' around.

Ladadadadada
Ladadadadada
Ladadadadada

Poison Ivy written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller   

I'm A Hog For You Baby

Said, I'm a hog for you baby
I can't get enough of your love
I'm a hog for you baby
I can't get enough of your love
When I go to sleep at night
You're the only thing I'm dreaming of

One little piggy went to London
One piggy went to Hong Kong
This little piggy's coming over your house
He's gonna rock you all night long

Cos I'm a hog for you baby
I can't get enough of your love
When I go to sleep at night
You're the only thing I'm dreaming of

One little piggy ate a pizza
One piggy ate potato chips
This little piggy's coming over you house
ITo get love off your sweet lips

Cos I'm a hog for you baby
I can't get enough of your love
When I go to sleep at night
You're the only thing I'm dreaming of

One little piggy went to London
One piggy went to Hong Kong
This little piggy's coming over your house
ITo get love off your sweet lips

Cos I'm a hog for you baby
I can't get enough of your love
When I go to sleep at night
You're the only thing I'm dreaming of
When I go to sleep at night
You're the only thing I'm dreaming of
When I go to sleep at night
You're the only thing I'm dreaming of

I'm A Hog For You Baby written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller   

Viewfinder link:     

     

     

    

    

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Song lyrics
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45 RPMs 59: The Coasters ~ Yakety Yak

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The Coasters ~ Yakety Yak 

vinyl LP album cover 

cover photographer unknown

     

I had been a fan of The Coasters for a couple of years because of their songs Down in Mexico, Searchin' and Young Blood when Yakety Yak hit the scene! I remember the first time i heard it and the opening lyrics for the song, "Take out the papers and the trash!", reverberated around my brain and I heard the voice of my mother saying those very same words to me! While the resounding deep bass voice of Will “Dub” Jones saying, "Don't talk back!" was my father sternly talking to me.   

 

I was the oldest kid so in addition to baby sitting, changing diapers, doing dishes and other chores a mid-teen had to do, taking out the trash was one of them so the song was VERY pertinent to me.     

 

Yakety Yak was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the Coasters and it was recorded on March 17, 1958, on Atco/Atlantic Records, 63 years ago. WOW!     

The Coasters 

date & photographer unknown

From Wikipedia:

"The song is a "playlet," a word Stoller used for the glimpses into teenage life that characterized the songs Leiber and Stoller wrote and produced. The lyrics describe the listing of household chores to a kid, presumably a teenager, the teenager's response ("yakety yak") and the parents' retort ("don't talk back") — an experience very familiar to a middle-class teenager of the day. Leiber has said the Coasters portrayed "a white kid’s view of a black person’s conception of white society. The serio-comic street-smart “playlets” etched out by the songwriters were sung by the Coasters with a sly clowning humor. The group was openly "theatrical" in style—they were not pretending to be expressing their own experience."            

In The History of Rock, by Bill Millar, he writes:

"There are lots of social implications that can be read into this song, which was written by two Jewish men and sung by a black vocal group. "The Coasters were clearly irreverent and opposed institutions that white adults held in high esteem. Authority, parents, fidelity, hard work, piety and the suppression of risky pleasures were questioned with a blood and subversive wit. Jews (Leiber and Stoller) and Southern blacks (the Coasters) were expected to show gratitude towards the system. Instead they stood up and criticized it, a theme that can be recognized in almost all their songs."        

Bill Millar ~ The History of Rock

 

 

Arnold Shaw wrote in his book The Rockin´ ´50s:

"If rock ´n´ roll had produced nothing but the Coasters and Leiber and Stoller, it would still have commanded attention as the sound embodiment of a time and generation". The Coasters are widely regarded as the pre-eminent vocal group of the original rock ´n´ roll era. 

 

Arnold Shaw ~ The Rockin´ ´50s
 

 

Neil Slaven stated in late 1997, "There never was - nor will there ever be - another group quite like the Coasters".        

Yakety Yak lyrics

Take out the papers and the trash
Or you don't get no spendin' cash
If you don't scrub that kitchen floor
You ain't gonna rock and roll no more
Yakety yak (don't talk back)

Just finish cleanin' up your room
Let's see that dust fly with that broom
Get all that garbage out of sight
Or you don't go out Friday night
Yakety yak (don't talk back)

You just put on your coat and hat
And walk yourself to the laundromat
And when you finish doin' that
Bring in the dog and put out the cat
Yakety yak (don't talk back)

Don't you give me no dirty looks
Your father's hip; he knows what cooks
Just tell your hoodlum friend outside
You ain't got time to take a ride

Yakety yak (don't talk back)
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak
[Fade]
Yakety yak, yakety yak

 

Yakety Yak features Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, Cornell Gunter, and Will “Dub” Jones with his fantastic bass. Of course the WAY over the top saxophone played by King Curtis drove me right up the wall and then some; I was and still am a sucker for good sax.    

The Coasters ~ Yakety Yak 

45 rpm record w/sleeve 

photo by Styrous®

Yakety Yak spent seven weeks as #1 on the R&B charts and a week as number one on the Top 100 pop list; it was their only #1 single. This song was one of a string of singles released by the Coasters between 1957 and 1959 that dominated the charts, one of the biggest performing acts of the rock and roll era.       

The song was covered by the English ska band Bad Manners, Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs, Ray Stevens, in 1959 a French version by the Canadian group, Les Jérolas and a pseudo-C/W version by Wanda Jackson in 1963. Boots Randolph used Yakety Yak as the basis for his instrumental Yakety Sax.     

             

 

The Coasters ~ Yakety Yak 

45 rpm record label

photo by Styrous®

        

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Yakety Yak - 1:50

Side 2:

B - Along Came Jones - 2:49

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.

Notes:

A: Pub., Tiger, BMI
From ATCO 6116

B: Pub., Tiger, BMI
From ATCO 6141

Mfg. by Atlantic Recording Corp.

Barcode and Other Identifiers        

        

    Matrix / Runout (Center label, side A): 58C-365-MO
    Matrix / Runout (Center label, side B): 59C-3418-MO
    Matrix / Runout (Runout, side A): 58-C 365-10-RepL. 5̶8̶-̶C̶-̶4̶1̶2̶3̶-̶1̶0̶ SRC △90022 AT
    Matrix / Runout (Runout, side B): 59-C-3418-11 -RepL. SRC AT △90031     

      

      

      

  

Viewfinder links:       

        

The Coasters       

King Curtis       

Bernard E. Simonson, Jr        

Christine K. Simonson         

Ray Stevens       
     
Net links:       

         

LA Times ~ Will ‘Dub’ Jones; Sang Bass in the Coasters         

SongFacts ~ Yakety Yak        

Vintage Music FM ~ The Coasters       
     
YouTube links:      
        
The Coasters -    
      Yakety Yak       

      Yakety Yak (live)       

Les Jérolas ~ Yakety Yak (rouspèt' pas)     

      

      

      

       

Although I did in later years, somehow, way back then, I never had the nerve to say "Yakety Yak!" to my mother,  It just wasn't the right time.     

      

      

      

      

Styrous® ~ Wednesday, March 17, 2021 

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45 RPMs 51: Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

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 Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

45 RPM record in sleeve

photo by Styrous®

Sixty years ago today, on October 27, 1960, Spanish Harlem by American singer and pianist, Ben E. King was recorded at the Bell Sound Studios in New York City. The song was King's first hit away from The Drifters. It was originally released as the B-side to First Taste of Love.      

Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

45 RPM record label

photo by Styrous® 

 

I remember hearing it for the first time. It is such a beautiful little song with its slow and gentle, syncopated and sensual beat with the marimba accompaniment; how could you NOT remember hearing it? The arrangement is by Stan Applebaum; in addition to the marimba there was Spanish guitar, drum-beats, soprano saxophone, strings, and a male chorus. It peaked at number 15 for rhythm and blues and number 10 in pop music. It was ranked number 358 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. King's version was not a hit in the United Kingdom. The song was re-released in 1987, after Stand By Me made number one.     

 

 

 Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

45 RPM record

photo by Styrous®
 

Spanish Harlem was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.        

Cliff Richard released a version in 1962. He also recorded a German version, titled Das ist die Frage aller Fragen, with lyrics by Carl Ulrich Blecher, that was a #1 hit in Germany and Austria in 1963, and a #1 hit in Switzerland in 1965.                 

 

 

Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

45 RPM record label

photo by Styrous® 

The song was covered by The Drifters and Aretha Franklin in 1971. The Drifter's version is a little faster while the Franklin version is way faster and a bit jazzier (links to all below).    

 

Spanish Harlem lyrics

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon

I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden

I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden

La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jerry Leiber / Phil Spector

 Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love

45 RPM record in sleeve

photo by Styrous®

 

The "B" side on this record, Taste of Love, actually started out as the "A" side with Spanish Harlem on the "B" side. By the time this record was issued, the switch had been made.     

 

 

Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love

45 RPM record label

photo by Styrous®    

     

First Taste of Love was written by Doc Pomus, who wrote songs for many blues and rock singers, and Phil Spector, record producer, musician, and songwriter who developed the Wall of Sound, a music production formula he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock and roll.       

Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love

45 RPM record label

photo by Styrous®   

     

      

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A     Ain't Got No Home, written by Clarence Henry*

Side 2:

B     First Taste Of Love, written by Pomus*, Spector* - 2:17

Companies, etc.

    Record Company – Argo Record Corp.
    Published By – Arc Music (2)

Credits:

    Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra] – Stan Applebaum
    Engineer [Uncredited] – Phil Ramone
    Producer – Leiber & Stoller

        

Notes:

Both sides recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York City on October 27, 1960 

Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (Side A): 60C5161
    Matrix / Runout (Side B): 60C5162 II

    Rights Society: BMI       

Ben E. King ‎– Spanish Harlem / First Taste Of Love
Label: ATCO Records ‎– 45-6185
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: Dec 1960
Genre: Pop
Style: Vocal

       

       

      

  

Viewfinder links:       

         

The Drifters          

Ben E. King         
Doc Pomus         

Phil Spector      
     
Net links:       

         

50srockin ~ Bell Sound Studios N.Y.C                 

     
YouTube links:      
        

The Drifters ~ Spanish Harlem         

Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem         

Ben E. King ~      

        First Tast of Love        

        Spanish Harlem        

       Spanish Harlem (Original 1960 version in MONO recorded by Phil Spector)    

Cliff Richard ~ Das Ist Frage Aller Fragen        
        
              

      

Styrous® ~ Monday, September 7, 2020        

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