They were the greatest. It's fitting that they were the first group inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I always thought "What About Us?" was a comment on Elvis ("he's got a car made of suede/with a black leather top, got it made").
Thanks for bringing them back to your readers' attention.
I too tend to overlook compilations sometimes, but .. sometimes they're great and meaningful, specially when singles are involved (such is my beloved Zombies compilation I recently bought). This review is a fascinating analysis of The Coasters (and Leiber & Stoller?) golden era. Enjoying it while making a playlist in Spotify as this particular compilation it's not there. I added Three Cool Cats, just because.
Ha! And makes me wonder if it was a rerelease in ‘65 or just a misdating on the interwebs. At any rate, I’d be interested in your take on that song but would gladly wait if it will appear in an upcoming review.
Your commentary on “What About Us” - not one that I’ve previously noticed by them - caused me to give it a listen. That and your note about their transition to the 60s made me think of one of my favorites by them, “Hongry,” a 1965 (?) b-side I think. Also a social commentary, at least as I hear it, delivered in their trademark joking way.
Well, I guess by 1965 they must have been pretty "hongry", what with no hit singles for half a decade. But it's impressive that Leiber and Stoller stuck with them so loyally for so long, as "Hongry" is also one of their songs, I believe.
They were the greatest. It's fitting that they were the first group inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I always thought "What About Us?" was a comment on Elvis ("he's got a car made of suede/with a black leather top, got it made").
Thanks for bringing them back to your readers' attention.
I too tend to overlook compilations sometimes, but .. sometimes they're great and meaningful, specially when singles are involved (such is my beloved Zombies compilation I recently bought). This review is a fascinating analysis of The Coasters (and Leiber & Stoller?) golden era. Enjoying it while making a playlist in Spotify as this particular compilation it's not there. I added Three Cool Cats, just because.
Ha! And makes me wonder if it was a rerelease in ‘65 or just a misdating on the interwebs. At any rate, I’d be interested in your take on that song but would gladly wait if it will appear in an upcoming review.
Your commentary on “What About Us” - not one that I’ve previously noticed by them - caused me to give it a listen. That and your note about their transition to the 60s made me think of one of my favorites by them, “Hongry,” a 1965 (?) b-side I think. Also a social commentary, at least as I hear it, delivered in their trademark joking way.
Well, I guess by 1965 they must have been pretty "hongry", what with no hit singles for half a decade. But it's impressive that Leiber and Stoller stuck with them so loyally for so long, as "Hongry" is also one of their songs, I believe.