'Hound Dog' New Leiber & Stroller autobiography

[franny]

'Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography' by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller with David Ritz has been announced for a June 9 release.
The publicity notes, "In 1950 a couple of rhythm and blues-loving teenagers named Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller met for the first time. In 1956 "Hound Dog" would become a #1 record for Elvis Presley, and Jerry and Mike became the King's favorite songwriters. They wrote such early Elvis hits as "Jailhouse Rock," "Treat Me Nice," and "You're So Square (Baby I Don't Care)." Their affection for Elvis was mutual, but Elvis's manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, didn't appreciate Jerry and Mike's independent ways and ended the relationship."
Hardcover: 336 pages, Publisher: Simon & Schuster (June 9, 2009). ISBN-13: 978-1416559382.
In a recent press interview they talked about their times writing in the fifties and working with Elvis.
Mike Stoller: I always thought of it as R&B, but when people told us it was rock'n'roll I took their word for it. But rock'n'roll -for a lot of people it was everything they loved and for other people it was everything they hated.
Jerry Leiber: We were really committed to black music, not rock'n'roll. We thought rock'n'roll was really silly, to be frank with you and concocted by Alan Freed and Jerry Wexler and a couple of other ne'er-do-wells in the music business that were trying to rustle up publicity and excitement about a form, and the form was essentially white."
Go here for the interview highlights.
(News, Source;EIN)

[Teddy]

I'm very excited about this one

[Jungleroom76]

Hmmm...this should be an interesting read!

I'm especially interested to hear what they have to say (if they say anything) about dealing with The Colonel. There has been much said about that in the past, how The Colonel informed these guys that all songs had to be submitted to Elvis THROUGH The Colonel and how Elvis wouldn't record songs if he couldn't get the royalty rights. I'm sure all of that stuff is true, but I would be interested to hear exactly what these guys have to say about that whole situation...

TCB!
Mike

[Diane]

I think this would be a good one to get. Thanks Franny.

Diane

[KPM]

Hmmm...this should be an interesting read!

I'm especially interested to hear what they have to say (if they say anything) about dealing with The Colonel. There has been much said about that in the past, how The Colonel informed these guys that all songs had to be submitted to Elvis THROUGH The Colonel and how Elvis wouldn't record songs if he couldn't get the royalty rights. I'm sure all of that stuff is true, but I would be interested to hear exactly what these guys have to say about that whole situation...

TCB!
Mike

Not to mention the Colonels alleged threat to them about trying to interfere in Elvis's career when the team gave Elvis some advice about music, movies etc......He supposedly warned (in a nutshell) to keep their noses and advice away from Elvis or he would not let him record their songs.

[Brian]

Not to mention the Colonels alleged threat to them about trying to interfere in Elvis's career when the team gave Elvis some advice about music, movies etc......He supposedly warned (in a nutshell) to keep their noses and advice away from Elvis or he would not let him record their songs.

I think his words exactly were that if they tried to interfere in Elvis career
they wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere in the world not in Hollywood, Newyork or London.

[KPM]

I think his words exactly were that if they tried to interfere in Elvis career
they wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere in the world not in Hollywood, Newyork or London.

Yes the threat was pretty broad-and uncalled for to some pretty talented people.

[Brian]

Yes the threat was pretty broad-and uncalled for to some pretty talented people.

I think Parker made that threat after they pitched the idea for an adaptation of Nelson Algren's novel Walk on the Wild Side to star Elvis with Elias Kazan directing Parker didn't like that so he warned them not to be suggesting idea's like that because they were songwriters and were hired to write songs not come up with business idea's or to be that involved in Elvis career.

[KPM]

I think Parker made that threat after they pitched the idea for an adaptation of Nelson Algren's novel Walk on the Wild Side to star Elvis with Elias Kazan directing Parker didn't like that so he warned them not to be suggesting idea's like that because they were songwriters and were hired to write songs not come up with business idea's or to be that involved in Elvis career.

Correct-but it was censorship of idea exchange-thats not the way to progress on any level of life-which is why I say it was uncalled for.

[Brian]

As it turned out I don't think Leiber and Stoller's decision to stop writing songs for Elvis hurt him all that much it seems to me L&S wrote the majority of there best songs in the fifties with a couple good tunes in the early 60's
So Elvis didn't miss out on much as far as songs go and he didn't need them as producers.

I've already heard them talk about the details of why they stop working with Elvis so I won't be buying this book but the book could be interesting if you like the Coasters and the Drifters.

[KPM]

As it turned out I don't think Leiber and Stoller's decision to stop writing songs for Elvis hurt him all that much it seems to me L&S wrote the majority of there best songs in the fifties with a couple good tunes in the early 60's
So Elvis didn't miss out on much as far as songs go and he didn't need them as producers.

I've already heard them talk about the details of why they stop working with Elvis so I won't be buying this book but the book could be interesting if you like the Coasters and the Drifters.

The idea of them not writing songs for him not hurting him is debateable-they were top notch song writers who wrote some of the greatest rock songs of all time-the list of the artists who recorded their songs is a whos who of rock and pop. What hit "might" they have written for Elvis-if they had decided to continue writing with "him" in mind.
Elvis asked them to write him a real pretty ballad-and in a weekend they wrote "Don't" which is a great song. If Elvis had asked them write me a great anything-they could have delivered. WHY? Because they were good-they had talent and that is the kind of interaction you want with creative people.
Limiting contact with people who do not "toe your line" is not productive for creation of music, books, art etc.....-how can it be?
Heres a great interview with them:
http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/leib..._presley.shtml

[Jungleroom76]

Not to mention the Colonels alleged threat to them about trying to interfere in Elvis's career when the team gave Elvis some advice about music, movies etc......He supposedly warned (in a nutshell) to keep their noses and advice away from Elvis or he would not let him record their songs.

Good point Ken...forgot all about that one!!!

TCB!
Mike