The Coasters.....ALL of em!

[sandmountainslim]

One of my favorite fifties groups is The Coasters and Yakety Yak is a song that for me defines do-wop music.   Like many of the groups of the era instead of breaking up the Coasters "split" into many different groups all claiming the legacy of the original outfit.     
Today we have (and there are probably even more than this)

The Original Coasters which features NO Original Coasters but is managed by Carl Gardner's widow.
The Coasters featuring Carl Gardner Jr.     Features the son of Carl Gardner and longtime (1962-2011) Coasters guitarist Curley Palmer
Leon Hughes' Coasters.   Features original Coaster Leon Hughes.
Al Jacobs Coasters.   Features original Coasters guitarist Al Jacobs.
Original Cornell Gunter's Coasters.   Features no original members but descended from the late Cornell Gunter's splinter group.   

There are two original Coasters still alive and no less than FIVE groups currently working     This makes the Beach Boys situation seem very tame by comparison. 
Imagine if this had happened with ALL rock groups.....we may have gotten to see The Beatles featuring Laurence Juber and Clare Torry's Original Pink Floyd       Fun to think about.

[Moon Dawg]

  Very similar with both The Drifters and The Platters.

[Ron]

And the Temptations, don't forget.


When I was a kid, my dad was really into 'oldies' so of course I was too as a kid.  We used to watch these PBS Telathons where these 50's acts would trot out (in the 80's and early 90's) and do their old songs.  The Coasters (whichever group it was by that point) were great on all those shows, they'd bring the house down with "Poison Ivy".  I always liked "Along Came Jones" too. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrGaoSB0Eus

[donald]

Bad Blood.

[Ron]

Super cool intro, check out when the guy's voice comes in.

"Little Egypt"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IkWWdPb56Q

Here's the version of the touring act from about 12 years ago on "Doo Wop 50", introduction by Jerry Butler.

"Posion Ivy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kh555NjxnU

[Rocker]

Love The Coasters. Their teaming with Leiber&Stoller is unbeatable.