Search - Coasters :: Poison Ivy

The Coasters doing their own thing

Philly Gal | Philadelphia, PA USA | 11/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, Amazon - where is the track list? I HAVE ENTERED THE 17-TRACK LIST FOR YOU BELOW THIS REVIEW (you're welcome, Amazon!) - So, who were the Coasters? From 1955-1959 the original group were Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, Bobby Nunn, Leon Hughes, guitarist Adolph Jacobs, and King Curtis on tenor saxophone. This assembly produced their most famous and clever works, including the #1 hit YAKETY-YAK. Curtis's acrobatic sax playing is legendary and unequalled, and his great riff in Yakety-Yak was pirated later on by Boots Randolph, the so-called composer of "Yakety Sax" (what a roaring case of plagiarism! guy couldn't even reproduce the sound & rhythm of Curtis's original)...Well, enough ranting - This CD will give you a look into their own, original style because it has original recordings that weren't re-worked and stylized by the recording execs before release to the big radio stations (you know, the ones that were "sanitized" for public consumption). All their great stuff is here, along with several tracks that never got any noticeable airtime on the big AM be-bop stations of the 50's and early 60's. The ridiculously funny DEODORANT SONG and IT AIN'T SANITARY ARE included. Get this CD just to hear the Coasters play in their own original style, and to hear the lesser-known bits, because you won't get these tracks on the more standardized "Coasters greatest hits" compilations. The sound is nice and clear on this import, and the price can't be beat. HERE'S THE TRACK LIST:

(1) Yakety Yak

(2) Red Red Run

(3) As Quiet As It's Kept

(4) Young Blood

(5) Poison Ivy

(6) It Don't Take Much

(7) Along Came Jones

(8) Down In Mexico

(9) It Ain't Sanitary

(10) Little Egypt

(11) Searchin'

(12) The Deodorant Song

(13) Charlie Brown

(14) Love Potion No.9

(15) TV Fanatic

(16) Whip It On Me Baby

(17) One Foot Draggin'

"

Don't Buy This Album

Simon Says | Fremont, CA USA | 10/01/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Despite what the other reviewer of this CD says, the songs on Poison Ivy don't appear to be the original recordings. I just finished listening to the CD, and I'm quite disappointed (I ordered another greatest hits compilation from the Coasters earlier today, and I really hope that the third time is the charm). Sellers really shouldn't sell inferior products like this, and it should be made clear to consumers exactly what they're buying.

The recordings here are solid, and all the major hits from the group are featured. Still, some songs appear to be originals (ex: "It Ain't Sanitary"; "The Deodorant Song"; "TV Fanatic"), while others are clearly re-recordings ("Yakety Yak"; "Charlie Brown"; "Poison Ivy"; "Searchin'"; "Love Potion No. 9"; "Young Blood"; "Along Came Jones"). The following Coasters compilations seem to be better: Yakety Yak: The Platinum Collection; The Ultimate Coasters; The Very Best of the Coasters. Sadly, I haven't found a perfect Coasters compilation yet, but I'm sure that the ones listed above are all better than Poison Ivy. In short, be cautious when buying a Coasters compilation."