The year I was born
little known Little Willie Littlefield
cut this Leiber and Stoller gem for the Federal label
only to have the label change the original "Kansas City"
to "K.C. Loving" thinking it might connect with
African-American record buyers.
Mike Stoller was a 19 year old kid still living at home with his parents.
Jerry Leiber was also 19, they'd been writing songs for two years.
Seven years later, in 1959, pianist Wilbert Harrison,
another little known musician would record "Kansas City" as a
rolling stroll that immediately grabs you by the arm
and stays in your head all day long.
