Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller (1995 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING]

Jerry Leiber (Composer), Jerry / Spector, Phil Lieber (Composer), Louis St. Louis (Conductor), Adrian Bailey (Performer), B.J. Crosby (Performer), Brenda Braxton (Performer), David Keyes (Performer), DeLee Lively (Performer), Frederick B. Owens (Performer), Ken Ard (Performer), Michael Park (Performer), Pattie Darcy Jones (Performer), Victor Trent Cook (Performer), Mike Stoller (Artist)

Product Details

• Performer: Adrian Bailey, B.J. Crosby, Brenda Braxton, David Keyes, DeLee Lively, et al.
• Conductor: Louis St. Louis
• Composer: Jerry Leiber, Jerry / Spector, Phil Lieber
• Audio CD (May 30, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000002J4V
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,314 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Music > Pop > By Decade > 1950s
  #1 in	Music > Miscellaneous > Compilations > Decades > 1950-1959
  #6 in	Music > Miscellaneous > Compilations > Decades > 1960-1969

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As good as Pomus and Gordy were, they can't compare with the premier rock & roll songwriters of the pre-Beatles era: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Chuck Berry, and Percy Mayfield. The team of Leiber (the lyricist) and Stoller (the composer) created such enduring standards as "Kansas City," "Hound Dog," "Stand By Me," "Spanish Harlem," "Jailhouse Rock," and many more. Those songs and 33 more were assembled into a bookless Broadway musical called Smokey Joe's Cafe, which was nominated for eight Tony Awards. If this soundtrack album is any indication, the show was an abomination, an act of self-betrayal by Leiber and Stoller, who not only participated in putting the show together but also co-produced the album with Arif Mardin. Instead of remaining true to the songs' rock & roll roots, the soundtrack producers have allowed the obscure stage performers to commit Broadway's worst sins: excessive earnestness, undernourished rhythms, and bombastic over-singing. Everyone in the cast has a good singing voice, but no one has a distinctive musical personality. Michael Park's Presley parody on "Jailhouse Rock," B.J. Crosby's confusion of vocal power for vocal attitude on "Hound Dog," and Victor Trent Cook's syrupy version of "I (Who Have Nothing)" prove Broadway chorus dancers are no substitute for real rock & roll singers. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My original copy is wearing out, so I'm buying a second!, October 9, 2000

By	Annette Marcucilli "annettemarc" (Castaic, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Was AMAZED at the Hines "official" review. I disagree vehemently. (His initial statement seems to indicate that he did NOT see the show ... Major Bummer for Mr. Hines, I'd say.)

Saw the show in NYC in December, 1996 -- bought the CD in the theatre lobby on my way out, as I KNEW I had to own it. It's worn from use (by myself and by my 22 year old daughter).

Yes, I own the original versions of many of the songs ... have a big collection which includes many CD's, tapes, and LP's (Yes, I'm THAT old...) of the Drifters, Coasters, and Ben E. King. I have loved all these songs since dancing to them at my high school sock-hops 30+ years back. Classics. What's not to like?

I see no reason to make a comparison between the original artists' renditions, and the versions found on this album. I frankly find it absurd to judge artistic works (or various interpretations of the same works) as if they were in competition with one another.

I receive just as much enjoyment from listening to the songs on "Smokey Joe's Cafe" as I do listening to the original artists' renditions. And this CD offers a compilation and variety that is hard to resist.

I recommend this HEARTILY, whether or not you ever see the show.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible taste of the best songs ever written, January 9, 2003

By A Customer

The combination of Leiber and Stoller is amazing. Together they created some of the best known hits of the 50s and 60s. Who could forget "Jailhouse Rock"? Along with "Jailhouse Rock" many other songs grace the stage in Smokey Joe's Cafe. Get this CD. It is one of the best Broadway musicals I have seen. The talent displayed by this cast is unparalled... even better than the original recording in some cases! I highly recommend this to ANYONE. Heck, I've been listening to it for 5 years... and I'm only 20!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, November 24, 2004

By	Chad Conner (Jesup, GA United States) - See all my reviews

I'm in High School, and we've performed Smokey Joe's Cafe 3 times already as a One-Act Play. I have to say that this is just an amazing show! Not only are kids our age into it but the older people are grooving with us too!

People just go estatic when you perform memorable songs, like "Jailhouse Rock" and "Hound Dog". And it's always great to hear people humming or singing to themselves "Poison Ivy" and "Kansas City".

These are classic and timeless songs that will never pass out of existence.