The Styrous® Viewfinder: Poison Ivy

February 16, 2024

July 16, 2021

45 RPMs 63: 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 ~