With the songwriting and production team of
Jerry Leiber and
Mike Stoller behind them,
the Coasters were easily one of the most interesting vocal groups of the late '50s and early '60s, and their singles always featured inventive arrangements and great sound, managing to deliver gritty R&B while simultaneously wooing a mainstream audience and climbing the pop charts. This rather hit-or-miss set has the classic singles "Along Came Jones," "Searchin'," "Love Potion No. 9," and the title track as well as the truly bizarre "Run Red Run," which tells the story of a beer-drinking, card-playing monkey who tries to shoot his keeper for cheating at poker. Now that's fun.