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Song of the Week #138 – “Santa Claus Is Back In Town”

Written by admin on December 24, 2012 – 7:14 pm -

Elvis Presley’s “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons.

“Santa Claus Is Back In Town” was released in October 1957 on “Elvis’ Christmas Album,” the 1970 reissue of which would go on to become the best selling Christmas album of all time in the US. It didn’t appear on single in the US until 1965, when it was backed with “Blue Christmas”.

Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas and Santa Claus Is Back In Town single

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Song of the Week #79 – “On Broadway”

Written by admin on November 7, 2011 – 10:40 am -

The Drifters’ “On Broadway” is “Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons.

“On Broadway” was released on single in early 1963, backed with “Let The Music Play,” and became one of The Drifters’ signature songs.

The Drifters 1963

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Jerry Leiber – A tribute

Written by admin on August 27, 2011 – 1:13 pm -

Harley Payette pays tribute to the legendary songwriter Jerry Leiber, who passed away on August 22.

A few years back there was a tribute to Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the great rock ‘n’ roll songwriting team, on American Idol. Reviewing the show, my local arts critic wondered in print just who Leiber and Stoller were. According to the writer, such figures were too obscure for a full blown “Idol” tribute. Some would say that this was a sign that Jerry Leiber, who died August 22 of cardiac arrest, had outlived his fame. Maybe Leiber, the lyricist, in the songwriting duo, and his partner Stoller were never famous enough. They made their greatest impact in an age where the roles of songwriters and singers were often rigidly segregated and unlike the golden age of Tin Pan Alley, the media focused almost exclusively on the performers. The sheer number of classic titles though that they contributed to the rock ‘n’ soul pantheon- “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Kansas City,” “Ruby Baby,” “Drip Drop,” “Stand By Me,” “On Broadway,” “Yakety Yak” and on and on – made a lot of people find out who they were. Whether or not they were ever household names or whether some hack writer knew who they were in 2007, is not what’s important. The people who really care about pop music know Leiber and Stoller because they were unbelievably good at what they did and because what they did was so profound and helped create much of what was best about the pop world of the last half century. Leiber’s death does not change that.

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Jerry Leiber dies aged 78

Written by admin on August 22, 2011 – 9:52 pm -

Legendary songwriter, Jerry Leiber, died today of cardiopulmonary failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 78.

During Leiber’s 60-year songwriting partnership with Mike Stoller, the pair penned some of the most timeless and popular songs in rock ‘n’ roll history, including “Hound Dog,” “Yakety Yak,” “Love Potion No. 9,” “On Broadway” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

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Song of the Week #67 – “Stand By Me”

Written by admin on August 15, 2011 – 9:41 am -

Ben E. King’s signature hit “Stand By Me” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons.

“Stand By Me” was released on single in May 1961, backed with “On The Horizon,” and also appeared on King’s 1962 album “Don’t Play That Song!”

Ben E. King - Stand By Me single

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