The Gad About Town

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Ire

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Mark Aldrich

I was fighting with temptation
But I didn’t want to win
A man like me don’t like to see
Temptation caving in—Leonard Cohen, “On the Level”

* * * *
Not included on the long list of substances, people, and activities that have not even briefly scratched my addiction itch is, mysteriously, cigarette smoking.

I wrote, “mysteriously,” because I gave smoking its shot at me. For a period of time measured somewhere between one day and half a decade, I considered myself someone who smoked cigarettes.
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Today in History: Oct. 27

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Mark Aldrich

Ben E. King recorded “Spanish Harlem” in a session held in New York City on this date in 1960, and when he and his producers noticed that they still had time booked in the studio for the day, they asked him if he had anything else.

Indeed. He had part of a song, so he and the producers Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller finished writing it, and then he recorded it: “Stand By Me.”

In 2012, Mike Stoller recounted the moment for JazzWax online:

Ben E. had the beginnings of a song—both words and music. He worked on the lyrics together with Jerry, and I added elements to the music, particularly the bass line. To some degree, it’s based on a gospel song called Lord Stand By Me. I have a feeling that Jerry and Ben E. were inspired by it. Ben, of course, had a strong background in church music. He’s a 50% writer on the song, and Jerry and I are 25% each.

The song, as released in 1961 (after the jump):
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