That's What the Good Book Says

Album: The Robins (1951)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Listed on page 39 of Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography, "That's What the Good Book Says" is the first song Leiber and Stoller ever got produced. Each having been born in 1933 and this record cut in 1951, they were just at the age of 18. Of their first attempts to sell songs, Mike Stoller reminisces, "In those days we knew nothing about demos and, even if we did, we couldn't afford to make them. If we wanted to get our song recorded, we had to play it - live - in front of the people who would make it happen. So Jerry and I went to meet the people. We jumped into my beat-up '37 Plymouth and headed for Beverly Hills."

    Leiber and Stoller initially tried to sell their first song to Modern Records by making an appointment, but were discouraged after being kept to wait too long in the lobby. They left the Modern building and walked across the street to Aladdin Records. There, they simply told the receptionist that though they didn't have an appointment, they "had hit songs." Producer Maxwell Davis just happened to be walking by and told them, "OK, boys, let's hear what you got." Modern producer Lester Sill got word of the two teenage geniuses who almost slipped through his fingers, and brought them back to the Modern Records building, personally making sure that this time they'd get heard.
  • The Robins would figure prominently in the later careers of Leiber and Stoller. The Robins broke up and re-formed with some new members as The Coasters, singing some of their most memorable hits including "Searchin'," "Yakety Yak," and "Charlie Brown."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.