Record #0042: Young Blood / Searchin’ – THE COASTERS

ATCO 6087 (original,1^st pressing) USA, March 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus; Side B – Leiber, Stoller
Musicians: Carl Gardner (tenor, lead on side A), Billy Guy (baritone, lead on side B), Bobby Nunn (bass vocals), Obie “Young” Jessie (baritone), Adolph Jacobs (guitar), Al Caiola (guitar), Gil Bernal or Plas Johnson (sax), Mike Stoller (piano), Ralph Hamilton (bass), Jessie Sailes (drums), Abe Stoller (drums)
Recording sessions:  Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 12. & 15,1957
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #8, US R&B #1; Side B – US #3, US R&B #1, UK #30

This was a huge hit record for the Coasters. Both sides hit #1 in US R&B charts and didn’t do too bad in the pop charts either.

In the book “Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography” Jerry Leiber tells the story of how “Young Blood” got its lyrics. He was on his way from dinner with the family of Atlantic Records exec Jerry Wexler, who gave him a challenge by throwing the title "Young Blood" on Leiber while they were driving to Wexler's home, and asking him if he could write lyrics to go with it. Leiber asked "How far are we from your house?" and when Wexler told him it was 15 minutes, Leiber responded "I'll have the lyrics finished before we get there." He did.

The Beatles covered “Searchin’” (and did 14 other songs as well) when they auditioned for Decca Records on January 1, 1962. Decca’s A&R man Dick Rowe rejected them – he must have kicked himself really hard afterwards. :) (He did sign the Rolling Stones and many others for Decca, though.)

List price:  Maroon label “Very Good+” is $35 and “Near Mint” is $70. 2^nd pressing with yellow and white label is $12.50 and $25 correspondingly.