Wilbert Harrison – Kansas City - Golden Classics

 

Wilbert Huntington Harrison (January 5, 1929 – October 26, 1994) was an American rhythm and blues singer, pianist, guitarist and harmonica player. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Harrison had a Billboard #1 record in 1959 with the song "Kansas City". The song was written in 1952 and was one of the first credited collaborations by the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Harrison recorded "Kansas City" for the Harlem-based entrepreneur Bobby Robinson, who released it on his Fury record label.

He again cracked the Billboard Top 40 when he released the self-penned "Let's Work Together (Part 1)" that went to #32 in early 1970 on the Billboard Hot 100. The 1970 hit version was released as a single on Sue Records (Sue 11) and was backed with "Let's Work Together (Part 2)". The song also was released in a 5 minute 19 second version on the Sue Records album SSLP-8801 Let's Work Together. The song was originally released by Harrison in 1962 with different lyrics as "Let's Stick Together" on Fury 1059 and Fury 1063.

"Let's Work Together" was later a hit for Canned Heat, and again as "Let's Stick Together", for Bryan Ferry. It was also recorded by country rock band the Kentucky Headhunters for the soundtrack to the movie Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man. In 2001, his recording of "Kansas City" was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award, and has also been named as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Harrison was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Tracklist
1        Kansas City
2        Let's Work Together (Parts 1 & 2)
3        Don't Drop It
4        Stagger Lee
5        C.C. Rider
6        Cheatin' Baby
7        The Horse
8        Stand By Me
9        Since I Fell For You
10        Have Some Fun
11        My Love
12        1960
13        Blue Monday
14        Don't Wreck My Life
15        Why Did You Leave?
16        Walking By The River
17        Da-De-Ya-Da
18        Listen My Darling
19        Forgive Me
20        Pretty Little Woman
21        Poison Ivy
22        A Woman In Trouble
23        It Took A Long Time
24        Messed Around And Fell In Love
25        Goodbye Kansas City

Wilbert Harrison