Thursday, September 20, 2012

Record #0121: Yakety Yak / Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart – THE COASTERS

ATCO 6116 (original) USA, Apr. 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller; Side B – James Hanley
Musicians:  Carl Gardner (tenor, co-lead on side A), Billy Guy (baritone, co-lead on side A), Will “Dub” Jones (bass vocals, co-lead on side B), Cornel Gunter (tenor, co-lead on side B), Adolph Jacobs (guitar), King Curtis (tenor sax), Mike Stoller (piano), Allan Hanlon (guitar), Clifton “Skeeter” Best (guitar), Lloyd Trotman (bass), Joe Marshall (drums), Francisco “Chino” Pozo (bongos on side B)
Recording sessions:   Produced by Leiber & Stoller at Capitol Studios (?), New York, NY, Mar. 17, 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #1, UK #12

This was the Coasters’ only #1 in US pop charts (for one week) and one of their four #1’s in US R&B (for 7 weeks). Side B featured their two new members, Jones and Gunter, singing the lead. Together with Gardner, Guy and Jacobs they made what was perhaps the most famous line-up of the group. “Yakety Yak” was soon followed by hits like “Charlie Brown”, “Along Came Jones” and “Poison Ivy”.  At least two of those should come up later in this blog.

The group’s preceding single release was posted here earlier.

Here’s probably one of the most … “interesting” attempts to sing “Yakety Yak”. :)

List price:  Very Good+  $12.50, Near Mint  $25

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