Jerry Leiber, RIP

Jerry Leiber, who's died aged 78, was the words side of Leiber and Stoller. There will be many erudite tributes, but here's a couple of odds and ends.

Leiber provide the English words for Carlo Donida's Italian hit, Uno Dei Tanti, originally recorded by Joe Sentieri in 1961. It became "I (Who Have Nothing)".

Leiber wrote Spanish Harlem (first a 1960 hit for Ben E King) with Phil Spector; Spector was "apprenticed" to Leiber and Stoller in the Brill Building (s). They share the writing credits - but Mike Stoller added the piano/vibe figure that was the real hook.

"Stand by Me" was a collaboration with Ben E King - but Leiber and Stoller used the pseudonym Elmo Glick on the credits.

Leiber and Stoller acted as "song doctors" on the Cynthia Weil/Barry Mann number "On Broadway".  Before Jerry and Mike got to it, it sounded like this with The Crystals.  It turned into this, with The Drifters.  Phil Spector guitar licks can be heard from 1.59.

All songs evolve, but it's probably true to say that the song Kansas City has moved a long way from Jerry's orginal, short, lyrics, first recorded by Little Willie Littlefield in 1952, and put out under the title "KC Lovin".

I'm goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come (2x)
They got a crazy way of lovin' there, and I'm gonna get me some
I'm gonna be standing on the corner, of Twelfth Street and Vine (2x)
With my Kansas City baby, and a bottle of Kansas City wine...