The group was formed in 1953 by lead singer in the Dominoes Clyde McPhatter and Ahmet Ertegun - founder of Atlantic Records under the management of former jazz singer George Treadwell. Right from the very beginning there was a constant succession of regular lineup changes that would characterize The Drifters name. Early line up members included William Anderson, David Baughan, David Baldwin and James Johnson, bass player Bill Pinkney, guitarist Jimmy Oliver, brothers Gerhart and Andrew Thrasher and bass singer Willie Ferbee.

Early recordings included songs such as 'Lucille,' 'Money Honey,' 'Such a Night' and 'Honey Love.' The Drifters' career was quickly established and they became one of the most popular acts in the charts and on stage. In 1954, McPhatter parted with the group to pursue a solo career that would make him successful for the rest of the 1950s. He sold off his interest in the group to George Treadwell, making the line up nothing more than salaried members earning as little as $100 a week - a factor that contributed to the constant line up rotation in the group's history.

Ertegun, Treadwell and Jerry Wexler decided to continue recording The Drifters. In 1954, George Treadwell auditioned tenor Johnny Moore, previously a member of The Hornets, who would remain with the group for over two decades. A number one R&B chart single, 'Adorable' followed thanks to the outstanding songwriting talents of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who would later take over the job of producing the group.

The first album by group, entitled 'Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters' was released in 1956. Despite a busy tour diary, financial disputes continued as did the constant line up change, with the departure of Bill Pinkney and Andrew Thrasher. Subsequent line up members included Jimmy Ricks, Tom Evans, Charlie Hughes, Jimmy Millender and guitarist Jimmy Oliver.

On one occasion, George Treadwell sacked the entire line up just before a show at the Apollo Theater in New York and replaced them with a group known as 'The Five Crowns'. And so the rotation continued, with a new line up that included baritone Benjamin Earl Nelson, later known as Ben E. King, Dock Green and Elsbeary Hobbs.

The group still had a recording contract with Atlantic Records and the hits kept coming including "There Goes My Baby, "Dance With Me," "This Magic Moment," "I Count the Tears," and "Save the Last Dance for Me," followed. Ben E King was replaced by Johnny Williams, who exited suddenly in late 1960 but was replaced by Rudy Lewis, who took the lead on "Some Kind of Wonderful," "Up on the Roof" and "On Broadway" among others.

Lewis, tragically, was not the longest serving of the group's lead vocalists but his time with The Drifters, following King's, arguably constituted the second golden age in their history. Success followed in the 1960's notably in 1964 with a song by composers Art Resnick and Kenny Young, called "Under the Boardwalk." In 1964. Tragically, just hours before a recording session began, Rudy Lewis was found dead in his apartment under circumstances that are still in dispute.

The death of George Treadwell in 1967 proved to be yet another stumbling block for The Drifters' continuation as a going concern. George's wife Faye Treadwell took over the reins and took the group to England, where they nurtured a relationship of a further 15 years under the Bell Arista label. Releases included "Come on Over to My Place" "Like Sister And Brother", "Kissing In The Back Row Of The Movies", "There Goes My First Love", "Your More Than A Number In My Little Red Book", "Saturday Night At The Movies" and many more.

The Drifters became a dance-disco outfit for a time during the late '70s, focussing on stage presentation and fabulous showmanship and eventually developed their act to cover all eras of their glittering career. Thereafter, the band earned a reputation as one of the finest live acts in the world and even Ben E. King returned to the line-up for a tour in the late '80s.

Several successful tours followed for many years under the guidance of Faye Treadwell and the succession of line up changes that had become synonymous with the name from the very beginning continued. In 2003 'The Definitive Drifters' album was released in the UK.

The Drifters 2023 - GREATEST HITS - Save The Last Dance For Me, Kissin' In The Back Row Of The M...

[00:00:00] - 01. Save The Last Dance For Me
[00:02:29] - 02. Kissin' In The Back Row Of The Movies
[00:06:01] - 03. Under The Boardwalk
[00:08:43] - 04. Up On The Roof
[00:11:18] - 05. Save The Last Dance For Me
[00:13:47] - 06. Kissin' In The Back Row Of The Movies
[00:17:19] - 07. Under The Boardwalk
[00:20:01] - 08. Up On The Roof
[00:22:36] - 09. Save The Last Dance For Me

Tags:
2023, best songs, top 10, Save The Last Dance For Me, Kissin' In The Back Row Of The Movies, Under The Boardwalk, Up On The Roof

#2023 #bestsongs #top10

This is simply my all all time favourite Drifters song. Never a hit but still brilliant, probably one of my top ten songs of all time. Not on YouTube . . . until now.

If you're from Northern Ireland, listened to Big T on Downtown Radio and were around in 1976 when the station started broadcasting, then you will love and recognise the song, especially as Trevor regularly plays it on the station's birthday - March 16th.

It's from their 1976 album 'Every Night's A Saturday Night With You'.

Full Track Listing :

"You're More Than a Number in My Little Red Book", "I'll Get to Know Your Name Along the Way", "Do You Have to Go Now", "Like a Movie I've Seen Before", "Twice a Week", "Another Kind of Sorrow", "Sweet Little Rock'n'Roller", "Midnight Cowboy", "Another Lonely Weekend", "I'll Know When True Love Passes By", "Summer in the City", "Every Nite's a Saturday Night with You"

1. I Count The Tears #17 in December 1960.
2. Dance With Me #15 in November 1959.
Both songs on the Atlantic label in stereo.

"Please Stay" (also known as "(Don't Go) Please Stay") is an early hit of The Drifters featuring the new lead singer Rudy Lewis, who replaced Ben E. King. It is one of songwriter Burt Bacharach's early pop hits, featuring Dionne Warwick's sister Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy on background vocals. This and "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Sweets for My Sweet" were all recorded in the same session. The musicians who backed the Drifters on this record include George Barnes and Allan Hanlon on guitar, Abie Baker on Bass, Bobby Rosengarden and Ray Kessler on percussion and Ed Shaughnessey and Gary Chester on drums.

The song was covered by The Cryin' Shames (1966, UK #26), Lulu (Melody Fair album, 1970), The Bay City Rollers (1974), Jonathan Butler (1975, SA #2) [1] Elvis Costello on Kojak Variety (1995), Marc Almond (2001) and Zoot Money, who also changed the lyrics.

Peter Kember recorded the song with his band Spectrum, released on the 1992 EP True Love Will Find You in the End.[2]

"Please Stay" was covered by Welsh singer Duffy for the deluxe edition her debut album, Rockferry, adapting The Cryin' Shames' arrangement.

The Drifters - Save The Last Dance For Me

The Drifters Let the music play 1963 B side to On Broadway.With Rudy Lewis on lead vocals.Written by Burt Bacharach/Hal David.Also recorded by Roy Hamilton.

Save The Last Dance For Me

"You can dance-every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight
You can smile-every smile for the man
Who held your hand neath the pale moon light
But don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling... save the last dance for me

Oh... I know that the musics fine
Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing, but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling... save the last dance for me

Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never never let you go
I love you oh so much

You can dance, go and carry on
Till the night is gone, And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he walk you home, you must tell him no
'cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling... save the last dance for me

Oh... I know that the musics fine
Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing, but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling... save the last dance for me

So don't forget who's taking you home
Or in who's arms you're gonna be
So darling save the last dance for me
Oh baby, won't you save the last dance for me
Oh, you make a promise
That you'll save the last dance for me
Save the last dance
The very last dance
For me"

"Save the Last Dance for Me" is the title of a popular song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, first recorded in 1960 by Ben E. King with The Drifters.
The Drifters' version of the song spent three non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the U.S. pop chart, in addition to logging one week atop the U.S. R&B chart. In the UK, the Drifters' recording reached #2 in December 1960.
This tune was requested by Mike French.
So here it is, and as always I hope you like it. Dave and Dave

No copyright

Album: 16 Greatest Hits
Year: 1987
Record Label: Deluxe

Watch the official music video for "Bring Me To Life" performed by Evanescence

Music video by Evanescence performing Bring Me To Life. (C) 2004 Wind-Up Records, LLC

#Evanescence #BringMeToLife #Vevo #Rock #OfficialMusicVideo