The Coasters
Encyclopedia
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues
/rock and roll
vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'
" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller
. Although the Coasters originated outside of mainstream doo wop, their records were so frequently imitated that they became an important part of the doo wop legacy through the 1960s.
, Billy Guy
, Bobby Nunn
, Leon Hughes
(who was replaced by Young Jessie
on a couple of their early Los Angeles recordings), and guitarist Adolph Jacobs
. Jacobs left the group in 1959. The Coasters' were formed out of the group The Robins, a Los Angeles
based rhythm and blues
group, which included Carl Gardner and Bobby Nunn.
The songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
had started Spark Records
, and in 1955 produced "Smokey Joe's Cafe" for the Robins (their 5th single with Leiber-Stoller). The record was popular enough that Atlantic Records
offered Leiber and Stoller an independent production contract to produce the Robins for the Atlantic label. Only two of the Robins—Gardner and Nunn—were willing to make the move to Atlantic, recording their first songs in the same studio as the Robins had done (Master Recorders). In late 1957 the group moved to New York and replaced Nunn and Hughes with Cornell Gunter
and Will "Dub" Jones. The new quartet was from then on stationed in New York (although all had Los Angeles roots).
The Coasters' association with Leiber and Stoller was an immediate success. Together they created a string of good-humored "storytelling" hits that are some of the most entertaining from the original era of rock and roll. Their first single, "Down in Mexico," was an R&B hit in 1956 and appears (in a re-recording from 1970—still with Gardner singing the lead) on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino
's Death Proof
. The following year, The Coasters crossed over to the national charts in a big way with the double-sided "Young Blood
"/"Searchin'
." "Searchin'" was the group's first U.S. Top 10 hit, and topped the R&B charts for 13 weeks, becoming the biggest R&B single of 1957 (all these were recorded in Los Angeles).
"Yakety Yak
" (recorded in New York), featuring King Curtis
on tenor saxophone
, included the famous lineup of Gardner, Guy, Jones, and Gunter, became the act's only national #1 single, and also topped the R&B chart. The next single, "Charlie Brown
," reached #2 on both charts. This was followed by "Along Came Jones
," "Poison Ivy" (#1 for a month on the R&B chart), and "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)."
Changing popular tastes and a couple of line-up changes contributed to a lack of hits in the 1960s. During this time, Billy Guy
was also working on solo projects, so New York singer Vernon Harrell
was brought in to replace Guy for stage performances. Later members included Earl "Speedo" Carroll
(lead of The Cadillacs
), Ronnie Bright
(the bass voice on Johnny Cymbal
's "Mr. Bass Man"), Jimmy Norman
, and guitarist Thomas "Curly" Palmer. The Coasters signed with Columbia Records
's Date label in 1966, reuniting with Leiber and Stoller (who had parted ways with Atlantic Records in 1963), but were never able to regain their former fame. In 1971, The Coasters had a minor chart entry with "Love Potion No. 9
," a song that Leiber and Stoller had written for the Coasters but instead gave to The Clovers
in 1959. In Britain, a 1994 Volkswagen
TV advertisement used the group's "Sorry But I'm Gonna Have To Pass" track, which led to a minor chart placement in that country.
In 1987, the Coasters became the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
, crediting the members of the 1958-era configuration. The Coasters also joined the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
in 1999.
Several groups used the name in the 1970s, touring throughout the country, though Carl Gardner
, one of the original Coasters, held the legal rights to it. Gardner continued to tour with the Coasters and made many attempts to stop bogus groups with no connection to the original group using the name. In late 2005, Carl's son Carl Gardner, Jr. took over as lead with the group when his father retired. The Coasters' current lineup consists of Carl Gardner, Jr., J.W. Lance, Primo Candelara and Eddie Whitfield.
As of 2011, Leon Hughes
and Adolph Jacobs
are the only surviving members of the original Coasters. Some of the former members suffered tragic ends. Saxophonist and "fifth Coaster" King Curtis
was stabbed to death by two junkie
s outside his apartment building in 1971. Cornelius Gunter was shot to death while sitting in a Las Vegas parking garage in 1990. Nate Wilson, a member of one of Gunter's offshoot Coasters groups, was shot and his body dismembered in 1980.
Former manager Patrick Cavanaugh was convicted of the murder after Wilson threatened to notify authorities of Cavanaugh's intent to buy furniture with stolen checks. While Cavanaugh was convicted of the murder and given the death sentence in 1984, his sentence was commuted to life in prison. He died in 2006, in Nevada
's Ely State Prison
. Cavanaugh was 60.
The Coasters continue to appear regularly on "oldies" shows and PBS specials as old favorites and are available for bookings.
The Hits list below is from Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Singles and from the Pop positions published in Bill Millar's book "The Coasters" (1975).
In late June, 2007 Carl Gardner's autobiography "Carl Gardner: Yakety Yak I Fought Back - My Life with The Coasters" was published at AuthorHouse. On August 28, 2007 the Coasters' Leiber-Stoller produced recordings for Date/King 1966-1972 was released on a Varèse Vintage (Varèse Sarabande) CD, titled "Down Home" (302 066 844 2) - and on December 12, 2007 the complete Atco recordings 1954-1966 were released on a Rhino Handmade 4CD-set, titled "There's A Riot Goin' On: The Coasters on Atco" (Rhino RHM2 7740).
performed "Young Blood
" at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, imitating the group's arrangement of the song with four different solo voices, and Bad Company
's version of the song reached #20 on 22–29 May 1976 on the Hot 100; Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
recorded The Robins' "Riot in Cell Block No. 9," while The Beach Boys
recorded a 1971 version with revised lyrics by that group's vocalist Mike Love
, titled "Student Demonstration Time." The novelty singer Ray Stevens
reached No. 27 on the U.S. pop singles chart with a 1969 remake of "Along Came Jones." Elvis Presley included "Little Egypt" in the soundtrack for his 1964 film Roustabout
. The first two British hits of The Hollies
were "(Ain't That) Just Like Me" and "Searchin'." The Monkees
reached No. 10 on the Cashbox singles chart with "D.W. Washburn." (The Coasters recorded it first, but when Date declined to release it, Leiber and Stoller sent it as a demo to the Monkees. After the Monkees' record charted, the Coasters' original was issued.) Several Coasters songs were part of The Beatles
' repertoire before the British rock group began its recording career; George Harrison
is among the singers on the above-mentioned Leon Russell live recording. The Grateful Dead similarly performed several Coasters songs in their early days. This was influenced by a weekend in 1965 in which the group (while still called The Warlocks) served as pickup band for the Coasters at a lounge in Belmont, CA. When the Beach Boys and the Grateful Dead united on stage to perform a brief set at New York City's Filmore East, they performed "Searchin'" and "Riot in Cell Block No. 9." Numerous groups have recorded "Poison Ivy".
The Coasters' hits also comprised a major portion of the song score for the 1994 musical revue Smokey Joe's Cafe
, a retrospective of Leiber & Stoller songs that received one Grammy Award and seven Tony Award nominations following its 1995 Broadway debut. Their song "Baby, That Is Rock and Roll" has served as the main title for a biography/songbook of Leiber & Stoller songs and a Bravo television documentary on the songwriters.
In addition, Coasters songs and the Coasters themselves have been referred to by later popular musicians. Frank Zappa
referenced the group in the lyrics of the song "Status Back Baby" on his second album, Absolutely Free
. Sly Stone
titled a No. 1 hit 1971 album by his group Sly & the Family Stone
after the tag line from "Riot in Cell Block No. 9": There's a Riot Goin' On
. The folksinger David Bromberg
quoted from "Little Egypt" in his 1972 song "Sharon". Paolo Nutini regularly covers "Down in Mexico" during live performances.
Former members
(Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductees' listed in bold.)
Notes: c/w denotes next track same record. U.S. Billboard chart positions. "Shoppin' For Clothes" reached Cash Box Pop #57, and "T'ain't Nothin' To Me" R&B position is from Cash Box (since Billboard did not publish an R&B chart in 1964).
Label and catalogue number followed by month/year of issue, and by track titles (with lead and recording dates).
The Robins (only singles featuring Carl Gardner are listed)
(Carl Gardner, Bobby Nunn, "Ty" Terrell Leonard, Billy Richard, Roy Richard, Grady Chapman
)
leads: CG-Gardner; BN-Nunn; GC-Chapman; RB-Richard Berry (guest lead) (Los Angeles)
(all of the above later issued on EP, LP and CD compilations as The Coasters).
The Coasters (all "true"/legal Coasters singles are listed)
(Carl Gardner, Bobby Nunn, Billy Guy, Leon Hughes)
leads: CG-Gardner; BN-Nunn; BG-Guy (Los Angeles, Chicago*, New York**)
(Gardner, Guy, Will Jones, Cornell Gunter)
leads: CG-Gardner; BG-Guy; WJ-Jones, CoG-Gunter (New York)
stereo version of Charlie Brown has CG, CoG as lead
A-side also issued as Clothes Line (Wrap It Up)
(Gardner, Guy, Jones, Earl Carroll)
leads: CG-Gardner; BG-Guy; WJ-Jones; EC-Carroll (New York, Los Angeles*)
(Gardner, Guy, Carroll, Ronnie Bright)
Carl Gardner & The Coasters
(Gardner, Carroll, Bright, Jimmy Norman)
Note: There are several "Coasters"-singles and -LPs/CDs featuring former members (which are not the true Coasters).
(Note: there also are several alternates and edited masters of the singles, not listed below).
Recorded in New York unless otherwise indicated.
Lead singers: Carl Gardner (CG), Billy Guy (BG), Will "Dub" Jones (WJ), Ronnie Bright (RB), Jimmy Norman (JN).
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
/rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'
Searchin'
"Searchin" is a song written by Leiber and Stoller specifically for The Coasters. It was released as a single on Atco Records in March 1957, and topped the Rhythm and Blues Chart for twelve weeks...
" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
. Although the Coasters originated outside of mainstream doo wop, their records were so frequently imitated that they became an important part of the doo wop legacy through the 1960s.
History
The Coasters are a doo-wop group that started in October 1955. The original members of the Coasters were Carl GardnerCarl Gardner
Carl Edward Gardner was an American singer, best known as the foremost member and founder of The Coasters. Known for the 1958 song "Yakety Yak", which spent a week as number one on the Hot 100 pop list, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.- Life and career :Gardner was born...
, Billy Guy
Billy Guy
-Biography:Billy Guy is best known as a member of The Coasters, singing lead on such hits as "Searchin'," "Little Egypt," "Run Red Run," "Wait A Minute," among others. Before Guy joined The Coasters in 1955, he was part of a comedy singing duo called "Bip and Bop." One single called "Ding Ding...
, Bobby Nunn
Bobby Nunn
Ulysses B. "Bobby" Nunn was an American singer with the musical groups The Robins and The Coasters. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S., and died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California, U.S.-Biography:...
, Leon Hughes
Leon Hughes
Leon Hughes is an American singer. He is best known as an original member of The Coasters.-Biography:...
(who was replaced by Young Jessie
Young Jessie
Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie , is an African American R&B and jazz singer and songwriter. He recorded as Young Jessie in the 1950s and 1960s, and was known for his solo career, work with The Flairs and a brief stint in The Coasters...
on a couple of their early Los Angeles recordings), and guitarist Adolph Jacobs
Adolph Jacobs
Adolph Jacobs is an American guitar player, best known as an original member of The Coasters.-Biography:Born Adolf Jacobs in Pineland, Sabine County, Texas, he played guitar with Vernon Green and The Medallions in 1955. He also wrote one of their songs, "I Know," in 1955. He became a member of...
. Jacobs left the group in 1959. The Coasters' were formed out of the group The Robins, a Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
based rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
group, which included Carl Gardner and Bobby Nunn.
The songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
had started Spark Records
Spark Records
Spark Records was a record label started by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller c. 1954. Artists released on Spark Records included Willy & Ruth, The Sly Fox and The Robins....
, and in 1955 produced "Smokey Joe's Cafe" for the Robins (their 5th single with Leiber-Stoller). The record was popular enough that Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
offered Leiber and Stoller an independent production contract to produce the Robins for the Atlantic label. Only two of the Robins—Gardner and Nunn—were willing to make the move to Atlantic, recording their first songs in the same studio as the Robins had done (Master Recorders). In late 1957 the group moved to New York and replaced Nunn and Hughes with Cornell Gunter
Cornell Gunter
Cornell Gunter was an American rhythm and blues singer, most active in the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Coffeyville, Kansas, and died in Las Vegas, Nevada, after being shot in his automobile.-Biography:...
and Will "Dub" Jones. The new quartet was from then on stationed in New York (although all had Los Angeles roots).
The Coasters' association with Leiber and Stoller was an immediate success. Together they created a string of good-humored "storytelling" hits that are some of the most entertaining from the original era of rock and roll. Their first single, "Down in Mexico," was an R&B hit in 1956 and appears (in a re-recording from 1970—still with Gardner singing the lead) on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
's Death Proof
Death Proof
Death Proof is a 2007 American action thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film centers on a psychopathic stunt man who stalks young women before murdering them in staged car accidents using his "death-proof" stunt car...
. The following year, The Coasters crossed over to the national charts in a big way with the double-sided "Young Blood
Young Blood
"Young Blood" is a song written by the songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, together with Doc Pomus, in 1957.The song was included in the musical revue Smokey Joe's Cafe.-Structure:...
"/"Searchin'
Searchin'
"Searchin" is a song written by Leiber and Stoller specifically for The Coasters. It was released as a single on Atco Records in March 1957, and topped the Rhythm and Blues Chart for twelve weeks...
." "Searchin'" was the group's first U.S. Top 10 hit, and topped the R&B charts for 13 weeks, becoming the biggest R&B single of 1957 (all these were recorded in Los Angeles).
"Yakety Yak
Yakety Yak
"Yakety Yak" is a song written, produced, and arranged by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for The Coasters and released on Atlantic Records in 1958, spending seven weeks as number one on the R&B charts and a week as number one on the Hot 100 pop list...
" (recorded in New York), featuring King Curtis
King Curtis
Curtis Ousley , who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer...
on tenor saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, included the famous lineup of Gardner, Guy, Jones, and Gunter, became the act's only national #1 single, and also topped the R&B chart. The next single, "Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown (song)
"Charlie Brown" is a popular Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song that was a top-ten hit for The Coasters in the spring of 1959 . It went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts, and was the first of three top-ten hits for the Coasters that year...
," reached #2 on both charts. This was followed by "Along Came Jones
Along Came Jones (song)
"Along Came Jones" is a comedic song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by The Coasters, but covered by many other groups and individuals.-The song:...
," "Poison Ivy" (#1 for a month on the R&B chart), and "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)."
Changing popular tastes and a couple of line-up changes contributed to a lack of hits in the 1960s. During this time, Billy Guy
Billy Guy
-Biography:Billy Guy is best known as a member of The Coasters, singing lead on such hits as "Searchin'," "Little Egypt," "Run Red Run," "Wait A Minute," among others. Before Guy joined The Coasters in 1955, he was part of a comedy singing duo called "Bip and Bop." One single called "Ding Ding...
was also working on solo projects, so New York singer Vernon Harrell
Vernon Harrell
-Biography:Harrell was from New York and released several singles in the 1960s and 1970s. He also goes by the name Keidar Syenon Harrell. He co-wrote songs with J. R. Bailey...
was brought in to replace Guy for stage performances. Later members included Earl "Speedo" Carroll
Earl Carroll (vocalist)
Earl Carroll is the lead vocalist for the doo wop group The Cadillacs. The group's biggest hit was "Speedo", Carroll's subsequent nickname. It was released in 1955. He later joined The Coasters...
(lead of The Cadillacs
The Cadillacs
The Cadillacs were an American rock and roll and doo-wop group from Harlem, New York; active from 1953 to 1962. The group was noted for their 1955 hit "Speedoo", which was instrumental in attracting White audiences to Black rock and roll performers.-History:...
), Ronnie Bright
Ronnie Bright
Ronnie Bright is an American R&B and doo wop singer of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
(the bass voice on Johnny Cymbal
Johnny Cymbal
Johnny Cymbal was a Scottish born American songwriter, singer, and record producer who had numerous hit records, including his signature song, "Mr...
's "Mr. Bass Man"), Jimmy Norman
Jimmy Norman
Jimmy Norman was an American rhythm and blues and jazz musician and a songwriter. In his early career, Norman had a charting single of his own, "I Don't Love You No More ", as well as performing session work with Jimi Hendrix, but he is better known as a lyricist and songwriter...
, and guitarist Thomas "Curly" Palmer. The Coasters signed with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
's Date label in 1966, reuniting with Leiber and Stoller (who had parted ways with Atlantic Records in 1963), but were never able to regain their former fame. In 1971, The Coasters had a minor chart entry with "Love Potion No. 9
Love Potion No. 9 (song)
"Love Potion No. 9" is a song written in 1959 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally performed by The Clovers.-Story:The song describes a man seeking help finding love, so he talks to a Gypsy, who determines through palm reading that he needs "love potion number 9"...
," a song that Leiber and Stoller had written for the Coasters but instead gave to The Clovers
The Clovers
-History:The group formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C., with members Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and Thomas Woods. John "Buddy" Bailey was added soon after, and they began calling themselves the "Four Clovers", with Bailey on lead...
in 1959. In Britain, a 1994 Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
TV advertisement used the group's "Sorry But I'm Gonna Have To Pass" track, which led to a minor chart placement in that country.
In 1987, the Coasters became the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
, crediting the members of the 1958-era configuration. The Coasters also joined the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
in 1999.
Several groups used the name in the 1970s, touring throughout the country, though Carl Gardner
Carl Gardner
Carl Edward Gardner was an American singer, best known as the foremost member and founder of The Coasters. Known for the 1958 song "Yakety Yak", which spent a week as number one on the Hot 100 pop list, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.- Life and career :Gardner was born...
, one of the original Coasters, held the legal rights to it. Gardner continued to tour with the Coasters and made many attempts to stop bogus groups with no connection to the original group using the name. In late 2005, Carl's son Carl Gardner, Jr. took over as lead with the group when his father retired. The Coasters' current lineup consists of Carl Gardner, Jr., J.W. Lance, Primo Candelara and Eddie Whitfield.
As of 2011, Leon Hughes
Leon Hughes
Leon Hughes is an American singer. He is best known as an original member of The Coasters.-Biography:...
and Adolph Jacobs
Adolph Jacobs
Adolph Jacobs is an American guitar player, best known as an original member of The Coasters.-Biography:Born Adolf Jacobs in Pineland, Sabine County, Texas, he played guitar with Vernon Green and The Medallions in 1955. He also wrote one of their songs, "I Know," in 1955. He became a member of...
are the only surviving members of the original Coasters. Some of the former members suffered tragic ends. Saxophonist and "fifth Coaster" King Curtis
King Curtis
Curtis Ousley , who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer...
was stabbed to death by two junkie
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
s outside his apartment building in 1971. Cornelius Gunter was shot to death while sitting in a Las Vegas parking garage in 1990. Nate Wilson, a member of one of Gunter's offshoot Coasters groups, was shot and his body dismembered in 1980.
Former manager Patrick Cavanaugh was convicted of the murder after Wilson threatened to notify authorities of Cavanaugh's intent to buy furniture with stolen checks. While Cavanaugh was convicted of the murder and given the death sentence in 1984, his sentence was commuted to life in prison. He died in 2006, in Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
's Ely State Prison
Ely State Prison
Ely State Prison is a maximum security penitentiary located in unincorporated White Pine County, Nevada, north of Ely. The facility, operated by the Nevada Department of Corrections, opened in July 1989. Phase I was completed and opened in August of that year. Phase II was completed in the month of...
. Cavanaugh was 60.
The Coasters continue to appear regularly on "oldies" shows and PBS specials as old favorites and are available for bookings.
The Hits list below is from Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Singles and from the Pop positions published in Bill Millar's book "The Coasters" (1975).
In late June, 2007 Carl Gardner's autobiography "Carl Gardner: Yakety Yak I Fought Back - My Life with The Coasters" was published at AuthorHouse. On August 28, 2007 the Coasters' Leiber-Stoller produced recordings for Date/King 1966-1972 was released on a Varèse Vintage (Varèse Sarabande) CD, titled "Down Home" (302 066 844 2) - and on December 12, 2007 the complete Atco recordings 1954-1966 were released on a Rhino Handmade 4CD-set, titled "There's A Riot Goin' On: The Coasters on Atco" (Rhino RHM2 7740).
Legacy
The Coasters' repertoire had a significant impact on '60s and '70s rock artists. For example, Leon RussellLeon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
performed "Young Blood
Young Blood
"Young Blood" is a song written by the songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, together with Doc Pomus, in 1957.The song was included in the musical revue Smokey Joe's Cafe.-Structure:...
" at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, imitating the group's arrangement of the song with four different solo voices, and Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
's version of the song reached #20 on 22–29 May 1976 on the Hot 100; Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen is an American country rock band founded in 1967. Core members included founder George Frayne, John Tichy, Billy C. Farlow, Bill Kirchen, Andy Stein, Paul "Buffalo" Bruce Barlow, Lance Dickerson, and Bobby Black....
recorded The Robins' "Riot in Cell Block No. 9," while The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
recorded a 1971 version with revised lyrics by that group's vocalist Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
, titled "Student Demonstration Time." The novelty singer Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens is an American country music, pop singer-songwriter who has become known for his novelty songs.-Early career:...
reached No. 27 on the U.S. pop singles chart with a 1969 remake of "Along Came Jones." Elvis Presley included "Little Egypt" in the soundtrack for his 1964 film Roustabout
Roustabout
A roustabout is a labourer typically performing temporary, unskilled work. The term has traditionally been used to refer to traveling-circus workers, natural gas, or oil rig workers....
. The first two British hits of The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
were "(Ain't That) Just Like Me" and "Searchin'." The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
reached No. 10 on the Cashbox singles chart with "D.W. Washburn." (The Coasters recorded it first, but when Date declined to release it, Leiber and Stoller sent it as a demo to the Monkees. After the Monkees' record charted, the Coasters' original was issued.) Several Coasters songs were part of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' repertoire before the British rock group began its recording career; George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
is among the singers on the above-mentioned Leon Russell live recording. The Grateful Dead similarly performed several Coasters songs in their early days. This was influenced by a weekend in 1965 in which the group (while still called The Warlocks) served as pickup band for the Coasters at a lounge in Belmont, CA. When the Beach Boys and the Grateful Dead united on stage to perform a brief set at New York City's Filmore East, they performed "Searchin'" and "Riot in Cell Block No. 9." Numerous groups have recorded "Poison Ivy".
The Coasters' hits also comprised a major portion of the song score for the 1994 musical revue Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe is a musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller...
, a retrospective of Leiber & Stoller songs that received one Grammy Award and seven Tony Award nominations following its 1995 Broadway debut. Their song "Baby, That Is Rock and Roll" has served as the main title for a biography/songbook of Leiber & Stoller songs and a Bravo television documentary on the songwriters.
In addition, Coasters songs and the Coasters themselves have been referred to by later popular musicians. Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
referenced the group in the lyrics of the song "Status Back Baby" on his second album, Absolutely Free
Absolutely Free
Absolutely Free is the second album by The Mothers of Invention, led by Frank Zappa. Absolutely Free is, again, a display of complex musical composition with political and social satire. The band had been augmented since Freak Out! by the addition of saxophone player Bunk Gardner, keyboardist Don...
. Sly Stone
Sly Stone
Sly Stone is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous for his role as frontman for Sly & the Family Stone, a band which played a critical role in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of...
titled a No. 1 hit 1971 album by his group Sly & the Family Stone
Sly & the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
after the tag line from "Riot in Cell Block No. 9": There's a Riot Goin' On
There's a Riot Goin' On
There's a Riot Goin' On is the fifth studio album by American funk and soul band Sly & the Family Stone, released November 20, 1971 on Epic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily throughout 1970 to 1971 at Record Plant Studios in Sausalito, California...
. The folksinger David Bromberg
David Bromberg
David Bromberg is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Bromberg has an eclectic style, playing bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock and roll equally well. He is known for his quirky, humorous lyrics, and the ability to play rhythm and lead guitar at the...
quoted from "Little Egypt" in his 1972 song "Sharon". Paolo Nutini regularly covers "Down in Mexico" during live performances.
Band members
Current members- J. W. Lance – lead vocals, previously tenor vocals (2001-present)
- Primotivo Candelara – baritone vocals (2008–present)
- Eddie Whitfield – bass vocals (2009–present)
- Dennis Anderson – tenor vocals (2011–present)
Former members
(Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductees' listed in bold.)
- Carl Gardner – lead vocals (1955–2005)
- Billy Guy – baritone vocals (1955–1973)
- Bobby Nunn – bass vocals (1955–1957)
- Leon Hughes – tenor vocals (1955–1957)
- Adolph Jacobs – guitar (1956–1959)
- Young Jessie – tenor vocals (1957; substitute)
- Will "Dub" Jones – bass vocals (1958–1967)
- Cornell Gunter – tenor vocals (1958–1961)
- Albert "Sonny" Forriest – guitar (1959–1961)
- Earl "Speedo" Carroll – tenor vocals (1961–1979)
- Thomas "Curley" Palmer – guitar (1962–2011)
- Vernon Harrell – baritone vocals (1965–1967; substitute)
- Ronnie Bright – bass vocals (1968–2009)
- Jimmy Norman – baritone vocals (substitute 1969-1972; member 1973-1978, 1980-1997)
- Alvin Morse – baritone vocals (1997–2008)
- Carl Gardner, Jr. – tenor vocals (1997–2001 and 2004), lead vocals (2005–2011)
Studio albums
- 1957 - The Coasters - Atco LP 33-101
- 1959 - The Coasters' Greatest Hits - Atco LP 33-111 (SD33-111 rechanneled stereo 1960)
- 1960 - The Coasters One By One - Atco LP 33-123 (SD33-123 stereo)
- 1962 - Coast Along with The Coasters - Atco LP 33-135 (SD33-135 alternate stereo edition)
- 1965 - That Is Rock & Roll - Clarion LP 605 (SD-605 stereo)
- 1971 - Their Greatest Recordings: The Early Years - Atco LP SD33-371 (stereo compilation with alternates)
- 1972 - The Coasters On Broadway - King LP KS1146 (stereo)
- 1975 - 16 Greatest Hits - Trip TOP LP 16-7 (revival re-recordings)
- 1982 - Young Blood - Atlantic DeLuxe LP AD 2-4003 (mono)
Hit singles chart
| Entry Date | Title | Peak chart positions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop Charts Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
US R&B Charts Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
|||||||||
| 3/56 | "Down In Mexico" b/w "Turtle Dovin'" | - | - | 8 | |||||||
| 9/56 | "One Kiss Led to Another" | 73 | - | 11 | |||||||
| 5/57 | "Young Blood Young Blood "Young Blood" is a song written by the songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, together with Doc Pomus, in 1957.The song was included in the musical revue Smokey Joe's Cafe.-Structure:... " c/w |
8 | 1 | ||||||||
| 5/57 | "Searchin' Searchin' "Searchin" is a song written by Leiber and Stoller specifically for The Coasters. It was released as a single on Atco Records in March 1957, and topped the Rhythm and Blues Chart for twelve weeks... " |
3 | 30 | 1 | |||||||
| 10/57 | "Idol with the Golden Head" | 64 | - | - | |||||||
| 5/58 | "Yakety Yak Yakety Yak "Yakety Yak" is a song written, produced, and arranged by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for The Coasters and released on Atlantic Records in 1958, spending seven weeks as number one on the R&B charts and a week as number one on the Hot 100 pop list... " |
1 | 12 | 1 | |||||||
| 2/59 | "Charlie Brown Charlie Brown (song) "Charlie Brown" is a popular Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song that was a top-ten hit for The Coasters in the spring of 1959 . It went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts, and was the first of three top-ten hits for the Coasters that year... " |
2 | 6 | 2 | |||||||
| 5/59 | "Along Came Jones Along Came Jones (song) "Along Came Jones" is a comedic song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by The Coasters, but covered by many other groups and individuals.-The song:... " |
9 | - | 14 | |||||||
| 8/59 | "Poison Ivy Poison Ivy (song) "Poison Ivy" is a popular song by American songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally recorded by The Coasters in 1959. It went to #1 on the R&B chart and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart... " c/w |
7 | 15 | 1 | |||||||
| 8/59 | "I'm a Hog For You" | 38 | - | - | |||||||
| 12/59 | "Run Red Run" | 36 | - | 29 | |||||||
| 12/59 | "What About Us" | 47 | - | 17 | |||||||
| 5/60 | "Besame Mucho Bésame Mucho "Bésame Mucho" is a Spanish language song written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez.-Inspiration:According to Velázquez herself, she wrote this song even though she had never been kissed yet at the time, and kissing as she heard was considered a sin.She was inspired by the piano... " |
70 | - | - | |||||||
| 6/60 | "Wake Me, Shake Me" | 51 | - | 14 | |||||||
| 10/60 | "Shoppin' for Clothes" | 83 | - | - | |||||||
| 2/61 | "Wait a Minute Wait a Minute "Wait a Minute" is a R&B song from the Pussycat Dolls' debut album, PCD. This single was intentionally set to be released the same time as "I Don't Need a Man", which was released throughout Europe and Oceania. However, due to scheduling and the positive radio airplay of "Buttons", the single was... " |
37 | - | - | |||||||
| 4/61 | "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)" | 23 | - | 16 | |||||||
| 8/61 | "Girls Girls Girls (Part II)" | 96 | - | - | |||||||
| 3/64 | "T'ain't Nothin' To Me" | 64 | - | 20 | |||||||
| 12/71 | "Love Potion Number Nine Love Potion No. 9 (song) "Love Potion No. 9" is a song written in 1959 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was originally performed by The Clovers.-Story:The song describes a man seeking help finding love, so he talks to a Gypsy, who determines through palm reading that he needs "love potion number 9"... " |
76 | - | - | |||||||
| 8/94 | "Sorry But I'm Gonna Have To Pass" | - | 41 | - | |||||||
Notes: c/w denotes next track same record. U.S. Billboard chart positions. "Shoppin' For Clothes" reached Cash Box Pop #57, and "T'ain't Nothin' To Me" R&B position is from Cash Box (since Billboard did not publish an R&B chart in 1964).
US singles discography
The line-ups are presented for general overview and do not always fit with issue dates.Label and catalogue number followed by month/year of issue, and by track titles (with lead and recording dates).
The Robins (only singles featuring Carl Gardner are listed)
(Carl Gardner, Bobby Nunn, "Ty" Terrell Leonard, Billy Richard, Roy Richard, Grady Chapman
Grady Chapman
Grady Chapman was best known as the American lead singer of doo wop group The Robins.-Biography:Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Chapman joined The Robins in 1952, singing alongside Bobby Nunn, Billy Richards, Roy Richards, Ty Terrell, and later Carl Gardner...
)
leads: CG-Gardner; BN-Nunn; GC-Chapman; RB-Richard Berry (guest lead) (Los Angeles)
- Spark 103 6/54 - Riot In Cell Block # 9 (RB ca 3/54) / Wrap It Up (BN,CG ca 3/54)
- Spark 107 10/54 - Loop De Loop Mambo (CG 8/54) / Framed (BN 8/54)
- Spark 110 2/55 - If Teardrops Were Kisses (CG, 2/54) / Whadaya Want? (GC 2/54)
- Spark 113 4/55 - One Kiss (CG 8/54) / I Love Paris (GC 2/54)
- Spark 116 6/55 - I Must Be Dreamin (CG 8/54) / The Hatchet Man (BN 2/54)
- Spark 122 9/55 - Smokey Joe's Cafe (CG prob 7/7/55) / Just Like A Fool (CG prob 7/7/55)
- Atco 6059 10/55 - Smokey Joe's Cafe (CG) / Just Like A Fool (CG) - reissue
(all of the above later issued on EP, LP and CD compilations as The Coasters).
The Coasters (all "true"/legal Coasters singles are listed)
(Carl Gardner, Bobby Nunn, Billy Guy, Leon Hughes)
leads: CG-Gardner; BN-Nunn; BG-Guy (Los Angeles, Chicago*, New York**)
- Atco 6064 2/56 - Down In Mexico (CG 1/11/56) / Turtle Dovin´ (CG 1/11/56)
- Atco 6073 7/56 - One Kiss Led To Another (CG 1/11/56) / Brazil (CG,BN,BG 1/11/56)
- Atco 6087 3/57 - Young Blood (CG 2/15/57) / Searchin´ (BG 2/15/57)
- Atco 6098 8/57 - Idol With The Golden Head (CG 7/24/57*) / (When She Wants Good Lovin´) My Baby Comes To Me (BG 7/24/57*)
- Atco 6104 11/57 - Sweet Georgia Brown (CG,BG,BN 2/12/57) / What Is The Secret Of Your Success? (BG 7/24/57*)
- Atco 6111 1/58 - Gee, Golly (BG 12/4/57**) / Dance! (CG 12/4/57**)
(Gardner, Guy, Will Jones, Cornell Gunter)
leads: CG-Gardner; BG-Guy; WJ-Jones, CoG-Gunter (New York)
- Atco 6116 4/58 - Yakety Yak (CG,BG 3/17/58) / Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart (WJ,CoG 3/17/58)
- Atco 6126 8/58 - The Shadow Knows (BG 8/8/58) / Sorry But I'm Gonna Have To Pass (WJ 8/8/58)
- Atco 6132 1/59 - Charlie Brown (unison 12/11/58) / Three Cool Cats (CG 3/17/58)
stereo version of Charlie Brown has CG, CoG as lead
- Atco 6141 5/59 - Along Came Jones (joint leads 3/26/59) / That Is Rock & Roll (CG 3/26/59)
- Atco 6146 8/59 - Poison Ivy (CG,BG 7/16/59) / I'm A Hog For You (unison 8/8/58, edited 7/17/59)
- Atco 6153 11/59 - What About Us (unison 7/16/59) / Run Red Run (BG 7/23/59)
- Atco 6163 3/60 - Besame Mucho (Part I) (WJ 2/26/60) / Besame Mucho (Part II) (unison backing vcls 2/26/60)
- Atco 6168 6/60 - Wake Me, Shake Me (BG 2/26/60) / Stewball (BG 3/17/58)
- Atco 6178 9/60 - Shoppin´ For Clothes (BG,WJ 7/29/60) / The Snake And The Book Worm (CG,CoG 2/26/60)
A-side also issued as Clothes Line (Wrap It Up)
- Atco 6186 1/61 - Wait A Minute (BG 12/4/57) / Thumbin´ A Ride (CG 7/29/60)
- Atco 6192 4/61 - Little Egypt (Ying-Yang) (BG 2/9/61) / Keep On Rolling (CG,CoG 2/26/60)
- Atco 6204 8/61 - Girls Girls Girls (Part I) (BG 2/9/61) / Girls Girls Girls (Part II) (BG 2/9/61)
(Gardner, Guy, Jones, Earl Carroll)
leads: CG-Gardner; BG-Guy; WJ-Jones; EC-Carroll (New York, Los Angeles*)
- Atco 6210 11/61 - (Ain't That) Just Like Me (BG 9/25/61) / Bad Blood CG (9/25/61)
- Atco 6219 2/62 - Ridin´ Hood (unison 12/7/60*) / Teach Me How To Shimmy (BG 4/10/61*)
- Atco 6234 9/62 - The Climb (vocal) (WJ 7/31/62) / The Climb (instrumental) (7/31/62)
- Atco 6251 1/63 - The P.T.A. (BG 1/11/63) / Bull Tick Waltz (BG 7/31/62)
- Atco 6287 2/64 - T´Ain´t Nothin´ To Me (BG,WJ 11/16/63) / Speedo's Back In Town (EC 11/16/63)
- Atco 6300 5/64 - Bad Detective (BG 12/17/63) / Lovey Dovey (CG 12/17/63)
- Atco 6321 10/64 - Wild One (BG 8/28/64) / I Must Be Dreaming (BG,CG 8/28/64)
- Atco 6341 2/65 - Lady Like (unison 2/26/60) / Hongry (BG 4/10/61*)
- Atco 6356 5/65 - Let's Go Get Stoned (BG 4/21/65) / Money Honey (unison 4/21/65)
- Atco 6379 9/65 - Crazy Baby (BG 4/21/65, edited 9/8/65) / Bell Bottom Slacks And A Chinese Kimono (She's My Little Spodee-O) (CG 4/21/65, edited 9/8/65)
- Atco 6407 3/66 - She's A Yum Yum (unison 1/26/66) / Saturday Night Fish Fry (BG 1/26/66)
- Date 1552 3/67 - Soul Pad (BG,EC 11/18/66) / Down Home Girl (BG 11/18/66)
- Date 1607 5/68 - She Can (BG,CG,EC 10/30/67) / Everybody's Woman (EC 10/30/67)
- Date 1617 7/68 - D.W. Washburn (BG,CG 10/31/67 / Everybody's Woman (EC 10/30/67)
(Gardner, Guy, Carroll, Ronnie Bright)
- Turntable 504 1969 - Act Right (BG 69) / The World Is Changing (EC 69)
- King 6385 11/71 - Love Potion Number Nine (CG 2/13/68, ed. late 71) / D.W. Washburn (BG,CG 10/31/67)
- King 6389 4/72 - Cool Jerk (CG late 71) / Talkin´ ´Bout A Woman (BG,CG,EC; act. She Can 10/30/67)
- King 6404 1973 - Soul Pad (BG,EC 11/18/66) / D.W. Washburn (BG,CG 10/31/67)
Carl Gardner & The Coasters
(Gardner, Carroll, Bright, Jimmy Norman)
- Wicked 8103 1976 - Hush Don't Talk About It (CG ca 76) / The World Keeps On Turning (EC ca 76)
Note: There are several "Coasters"-singles and -LPs/CDs featuring former members (which are not the true Coasters).
Compilations
- 1986 - The Ultimate Coasters - Warner Special Products 27604 (stereo)
- 1987 - The Coasters - 20 Greatest Hits - Highland Music DCD-7786 (rerecorded in stereo)
- 1989 - The Coasters' Greatest Hits - Atco 33111-2 (reissue of LP, with a couple of tracks in stereo) - reissued on Hallmark
- 1991 - Poison Ivy - The Best of the Coasters - Atlantic CD 82313-2 (20 tracks - withdrawn)
- 1992 - 50 Coastin' Classics (2CD-set) - Rhino R2 71090 (mono)
- 1994 - The Very Best of The Coasters - Rhino R2 71597 (mono) - reissued 2008
- 1996 - Golden Hits - Masters 1127 (the Trip revivals, stereo - uncountable reissues on several labels)
- 2004 - The Coasters / One By One - Collectables COL-CD-7656 (2LPs on 1CD - "One By One" in stereo) - (a 2011 European issue on Hoodoo 263387 contains the same tracks plus 3 bonus tracks and a 16-page booklet)
- 2005 - Coast Along with The Coasters - Collectables COL-CD-6523 (reissue of stereo LP)
- 2005 - 16 Greatest Hits - Audio Passport CD-1018 (reissue of Trip LP)
- 2007 - Down Home - Varèse Sarabande/Vintage CD 302066844-2 (the "On Broadway"-tracks, stereo)
- 2007 - There's A Riot Goin' On: The Coasters On Atco (4CD-set) - Rhino Handmade RHM2 7740 (the complete Atco recordings, 113 tracks; several stereo masters)
- 2008 - The Definitive Soul Collection (2CD-set) - Rhino 132092 (withdrawn; 30 mono pop hits)
British public-domain compilations
- 2008 - The Coasters - Rock 'n' roll legends - Charly / Weton Wesgram CRR025 (Robins & Coasters 1954-1957) 23 tracks
- 2009 - The Coasters - Singles A's and B's - Jasmine JASCD 521 (Robins & Coasters 1954-1958) 30 tracks
- 2010 - Rollin' with The Coasters - Remember / Intermusic-MCPS RMB 75151 (1956–1959) 26 tracks
- 2011 - Baby That Is Rock 'n' Roll - Snapper SROLLCD 630 (24 classic Atco mono tracks)
True Coasters recordings (not on single)
No live recordings included(Note: there also are several alternates and edited masters of the singles, not listed below).
Recorded in New York unless otherwise indicated.
Lead singers: Carl Gardner (CG), Billy Guy (BG), Will "Dub" Jones (WJ), Ronnie Bright (RB), Jimmy Norman (JN).
- 1957 Lola (CG 2/12/57 L.A.) - Atco LP 33-101 The Coasters
- 1958 Three Cool Cats (alternate arrangement CG 3/17/58) - Rhino Handmade RHM2 7740 The Coasters On Atco
- 1958 Crocodile (unison 8/8/58) - Rhino Handmade RHM2 7740
- 1958 I'm A Hog For You (several different versions-unison 8/8/58) - Rhino Handmade RHM2 7740
- 1958 Hey Sexy (unison 12/11/58) - Rhino CD R2 71090 50 Coastin´ Classics
- 1958 Sexy (Hey Sexy) (CG 12/11/58) - Rhino Handmade RHM2 7740
- 1959 That Is Rock & Roll (edited version, WJ 3/26/59) - Atco LP SD 33-371 Their Greatest Recordings - The Early Years
- 1960 The Snake And The Bookworm (unison version 2/26/60) - Atco LP SD 33-135 Coast Along With The Coasters (only the stereo album)
- 1960 The Coasters One By One - Atco LP 33-123 (stereo SD33-123) (6/13&15/60) - 12 jazz/pop standards
- 1961 My Babe (BG 9/25/61) - Atco LP SD 33-135
- 1962 The Slime (WJ 7/31/62) - Clarion LP SD-605 That Is Rock & Roll (alternate of The Climb, act. titled so on the album)
- 1967 Mohair Sam (unison 10/30/67) - King LP 1146 The Coasters On Broadway
- 1968 Down At Papa Joe's (unison 2/12/68) King LP 1146
- 1968 Shake ´Em Up And Let ´Em Roll (lead: Jerry Leiber 2/13/68) - Rhino CD R2 71090
- 1971 Mustang Sally (BG late 71) - King LP 1146
- 1971 On Broadway (CG late 71) - King LP 1146
- 1971 The In Crowd (CG late 71) - King LP 1146
- 1973 The Coasters - 16 Greatest Hits (featuring 10 re-recordings with CG and JN, leads ca 73) - Trip LP TOP 16-7
- 1977 Check Mr. Popeye (RB 77) - Epic LP PE-34668 (various artists with Southside Johnny)