Kansas City

by

Wilbert Harrison

Album: Kansas City: The Best of Wilbert Harrison      Released: 1959

US Chart: 1     

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This was written by the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who went on to write hits for Elvis, Ben E. King, and many others. While this is certainly one of the first songs penned by Leiber and Stoller to become widely recorded, it was not their first ever written song, nor even their first published song. The book Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography names "Nosey Joe," "Hard Times," "Real Ugly Woman," "Ten Days in Jail," and "That's What the Good Book Says" as previously written and released songs.

The original title was "K.C. Lovin'." The song was first recorded in 1952 by the R&B singer Little Willie Littlefield. It wasn't until 7 years later that Harrison turned the song into a hit, becoming by far his most famous track.

In the UK, this was a #26 hit for Little Richard also in 1959. He would play it in a medley with his song "Hey, Hey, Hey."

The Beatles recorded a version of this with Little Richard's "Hey, Hey, Hey" in 1964. In 1993, a recording of The Beatles playing "Kansas City" and "Some Other Guy" at the Cavern Club in 1962 was auctioned for about $32,000 at Christie's auction house in London. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

In an interview with Leiber and Stoller in Mojo magazine April 2009, Leiber explained how the pair settle arguments over what sounds best. He said: "Each of us would give in to the other who really had jurisdiction over the choice. If it was words, most of the time it was in my pocket to make the music." Stoller added that if it was music most of the time it was his decision. Leiber then illustrated his point by giving the writing of this song as an example: "I had a beef with the song, Mike was playing a tune (Leiber sings a different tune to the one we know), and I said, 'That's really corny, it sounds like Benny Goodman or something, let's do something that's really original.' And he said, 'Like what?' (Leiber sings a bluesy version). He said, 'I don't like that, that's like a hundred other blues.' He said, 'Who writes the music?' I said, 'you do'. And he wrote it the way he wanted and I came into it and we had a smash."

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Comments:

The song was probably recorded in C and sped up which was a very common thing back then. Many records were sped up to fit the shorter time restraints and to pick up the beat.
- John, New Orleans, LA

From what I've read about the song's history, the original lyric was "They've got a funky [crazy] way of lovin' there and I'm gonna get me some." Not "... crazy little women ... get me one." In Peggy Lee's version, she sings "They've got some swingin' little fellahs there ... " Wilbert Harrison had by far the biggest hit with the song but he did not have the original version. Genie, Seattle
- Genie, Seattle, WA

what ever key it was done in, I'm thinking 2 things... it was a "Head arrangement".. meaning it wasn't written down.. and also that if it was in as our friend says in c#,i'm sure the musicians were thinking of Db instead.(samepitch) Steveo
- steve dotstar, los angeles, CA

I just made my first YouTube of my piano playing...and I picked....."Kansas City" ! Please have a look and post a comment there. Thanks fellow "Kansas City" fans! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17WmSS_6YU Yours, Memphis "Piano" Joe
- Memphis "Piano" Joe, Los Angeles, CA

The first time I heard the Wilber Harrison version of this song in 1959, I along with the young dancing club crowd...were blown away. We were a dancing generation and did a dance we called the "PUSH". The dance and this song were a perfect fit. There's been dozens of other artist cover this song...none can match Harrisons. It was a hugh hit in 1959 and I still think of it as an important notch in R&B and R&R history.
- Shirley, Houston, TX

Working girls and song keys aside, "Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT song than the tune by Little Richard, and later the Beatles. The only thing they have in common is the title!
- Jerry, Seattle, WA

BTW, the original hit version, by Wilbert Harrison, is in the key of C #.
- Garrett, Nashville, TN

Since when does "crazy li'l women" signify prostitution?
- Garrett, Nashville, TN

The version by the Beatles is in G...
- Sam, Shanghai, China

I'm surprised how much commercial success a song about prostitutes had -great song
- Dave, omaha, NE

What key was Kansas City done in? Or was it done in more than one by Wilbert Harrison. Thank you
- james liedel, monreoe, MI

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