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:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
DISC 2 TRACK LIST CORRECTION!:
The track listing for disc 2 by amazon here is wrong! Disc 2 has 21 tracks and here they are! Disc 2 (Act 2)
1. Baby, That Is Rock & Roll
2. Yakety Yak
3. Charlie Brown
4. Stay a While
5. Pearl's a Singer
6. Teach Me How to Shimmy
7. You're the Boss
8. Loving You
9. Treat Me Nice
10. Hound Dog
11. Little Egypt
12. I'm a Woman
13. There Goes My Baby
14. Love Potion #9
15. Some Cats Know
16. Jailhouse Rock... more info
Smokey Joe's:
Love hearing these songs, most in a different style from the hits. The artists are very good. Two criticisms: First, a few have very abrupt cuts at the end, as if part of the song is dropped. Second, the title song is not on the album even through the insert says that it is on disc 2.
Smokey Joe's is Smoking Hot!!!:
Saw this on Broadway in 1996, had the last row way in the back of the theater, the songs are memorable to everyone. You will surprised at the songs performed. The vocals are just outstanding. I have purchased this twice (the first one just wore out). Great for long car rides.
Smokey Joe's Cafe:
What a FABULOUS CD !!! This is my second purchase of it as a friend
liked it so much when we were listening to it in the car that I pulled
it out and gave it to her to listen to when she drove home, knowing I could get another !!
