“Along Cames Jones” Performed By The Coasters (1959) & Ray Stevens (1969)

Gary Cooper and Loretta Young starred in a western movie called “Along Came Jones” in 1945.

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#9 Pop, #14 R&B

Years later this movie served as inspiration for the famed songwriting team of Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller to compose the camp classic novelty tune “Along Came Jones” for The Coasters.

The Coasters (from the west coast USA) grew from the ashes of the Los Angeles based doo-wop group the Robins. When the group eventual moved to a New York base,  it was this second lineup that had The Coasters fifth  hit with “Along Came Jones” on the Atco label.

Many have covered this  classic,  but I would say that Ray Stevens (of Gitarzan fame) has the most notorious version other than The Coasters original. It charted #27 on the Pop charts in 1969 — a decade after The Coasters original was released.  Have a listen.

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Now you know what comes next.  Please vote for you favorite version and leave comments as to why you prefer one over the other.  I’d love to hear your take on both renditions.

Musically Yours,

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Filed under:Along Came Jones,Atco,Covers That Hit!,Doo-Wop Dynamite,Fifties,Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller,Magnificent Male Vocalists,Novelty Songs,Novelty/Comedy,Ray Stevens,Sixties,The Coasters