The song Kansas City was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952 and first recorded by Little Willie Littlefield the same year. Wilbert Harrison recorded it in 1959 and his version became a #1 hit. It’s included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. Here’s the Harrison take:
Here’s a live performance of Kansas City by the great Muddy Waters from 1976:
The Beatles recorded a version mashed with Little Richard’s Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey. Here’s a live performance from 1964:
Finally, here’s Paul McCartney with a few famous friends (Elton John, Clapton, Sting etc.)  in the late 70s.
The Reds (18-20) play two games in Kansas City starting tonight. The Royals (24-14) are in first place in the AL Central with the second-best record in the league. They lost the 2014 World Series 4-3 to the San Francisco Giants, who the Reds just played at GABP.
The two teams last played in 2010 and the Reds haven’t been to Kauffman Stadium since 2009, when Dusty Baker’s team was swept in a three-game series. Johnny Cueto, tonight’s starter, pitched the third game of that series. The Reds’ rotation that year was Aaron Harang, Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey and Micah Owings. The Reds lineup in Kansas City, minus regulars Joey Votto and Paul Janish:
- Willy Taveras CF
- Alex Gonzalez SS
- Brandon Phillips 2B
- Laynce Nix LF
- Jonny Gomes DH
- Jay Bruce RF
- Ramon Hernandez 1B
- Ryan Hanigan C
- Adam Rosales 3B
Both games start at 8:10 ET. Jason Marquis gets the start tomorrow night (sigh).