Lieber & Stoller Sign Copies of Their Autobiography at Book Soup: Five Essential Songs

Tonight at Book Soup legendary LA born songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller will sign copies of their new book, Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography. In this week's print edition, writer David Cotner runs down the deal:

Responsible for some of the truly great pop songs of the 20th century -- "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog," "On Broadway," "Is That All There Is?" and the majority of the Coasters' back catalog -- here they describe their careers, including how they met Edith Piaf and Elvis, and how Phil Spector was pretty handy with a guitar, too.

Living legends (and longtime L.A. natives), their grasp of what it takes to write a colossal hit is unparalleled. They also come off as incredibly nice guys. Their songs are like sex: two-and-a-half-minutes of ecstasy followed by the unavoidable hunger for more.

Here are a few of their classic songs:

"Is That All There Is?" performed by Peggy Lee


"Hound Dog," as performed by Big Mama Thornton and Buddy Guy

"Charlie Brown," as performed by the Coasters

"Along Came Jones," also performed by the Coasters

The Searchers, "Love Potion No. 9"