‘Alias’ Tells Writer Stone’s Fascinating Story

My heroes from the early days of rock ‘n’ roll weren’t just the artists who sang on the records, but also the people whose names appeared in small print just under the song titles: the writers.

Because there were as many one-hit writers as one-hit singers in the ‘50s, before artists commonly wrote their own material, a few names stood out because they appeared on hit after hit.

Two of my favorites appeared on several of the great Atlantic singles: Jesse Stone, who wrote “Money Honey” for the Drifters, and Charles Calhoun, who wrote “Shake, Rattle and Roll” for Joe Turner. (Elvis Presley would later record both songs.)

Who imagined at the time that they were the same person?

This 30-song, German import CD not only presents some of Stone’s rare recordings, but the liner notes also tell his fascinating story. The only disappointment is that the album doesn’t include either Stone’s versions of his best-known songs or the hit versions. The exception is his version of “Smack Dab in the Middle,” which was a hit in the ‘60s for Ray Charles.

A native of Atchison, Kan., Stone, who is now in his 90s, grew up in a show business family and began recording for Okeh Records in 1927. He then worked as a pianist and arranger for various dance bands in the Southwest.

After World War II, Stone was signed by RCA, where he recorded many of the selections that appear on this album, including “Hey Sister Lucy (What Makes Your Lips So Juicy)” and “Keep Your Big Mouth Shut.” As those titles suggest, much of Stone’s work was in the lively, novelty style associated with Louis Jordan.

Stone later joined Atlantic Records as a writer and arranger. One of his greatest contributions at the landmark label, whose hits helped define rock ‘n’ roll, was the pronounced bass line that gave so many of Atlantic’s hits such a strong dance quality, Peter Grendysa writes in the album’s liner notes.

Mostly, however, Stone made his mark as a songwriter, using the two names for music publishing licensing reasons. Among the hits: “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ but Trash” for the Clovers, “Money Honey” and “Bim Bam” for the Drifters, “Shake, Rattle and Roll” for Turner (and later Bill Haley), “As Long as I’m Moving” for Ruth Brown and “Don’t Let Go” for Roy Hamilton.

As a writer, Stone didn’t focus on teen attitudes in the manner of Chuck Berry, but he had a comparable sense of storytelling and rhyme. While he never duplicated the success of the Atlantic years at other labels, his music and songs remain an important part of the rock legacy.

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