Friday Flashback: Tribute To Jerry Leiber

This Friday Flashback is a tribute to hit maker Jerry Leiber who passed away on Monday at the age of 78. Leiber together with Mike Stoller wrote some of the biggest hits of the 50s and 60s including "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock" both made famous of course by Elvis Presley along with "Stand By Me", "There Goes My Baby" and "Yakety Yak".

Most of Leiber's songs have been covered many times over by the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Queen, David Bowie and so many more. Here is a collection of some interesting version of songs he was involved in starting with "Hound Dog"...

"Hound Dog" was first performed by Big Mama Thorton,  here is a version from Jimi Hendrix:

"Stand By Me" has been covered numerous times most notably by John Lennon and there is even a version by The Muppets.   It was originally performed by Ben E. King of The Drifters who Leiber and Stoller wrote a number for songs for and we quite like his version...

"Love Potion Number 9" performed here by The Searchers in 1966, was originally performed by The Clovers.

"Spanish Harlem" was another hit from Ben E. King covered here by the Mamas and The Papas:

"Is That All There Is?" won't be immediately recognizable but keep listening, it's a great song. Performed here by Peggy Lee, it has been covered by PJ Harvey and Giant Sand.

"I Keep Forgetting"  was covered in the early 80s by Michael MacDonald. The intro to his version was later sampled and used in "Regulate" from Warren G and Nate Dog. Not much of a fan of MacDonald's version, we found this video which mixes a bit of MacDonald into "Regulate"....

And last but not least, "Past, Present and Future" performed by the Shangri-Las. Not their biggest hit but an interesting track none the less, featuring Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata"....