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Old 03-18-2010, 12:32 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default The drifters
clyde mcphatter,ben e.king,johnny moore,rudy lewis...ever hear of these guys?haha of course you have if you're a fan one one of the greatest doowop/soul groups of all time-THE DRIFTERS,started by the great[clyde mcphatter in[1953]and right away the hits started coming[money honey-gone-such a night-let the boogie woogie roll]and even after clyde left the hits kept coming[steamboat-ruby baby-there was a tear]these guys just kept going and going even after a whole new set of drifters were brought in nothing could stop thier hit making[there goes my baby-save the last dance for me-i count the tears-at the club]before there was a[motown]there were-THE DRIFTERS.
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Old 07-09-2011, 05:24 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by vinylrecords View Post
clyde mcphatter,ben e.king,johnny moore,rudy lewis...ever hear of these guys?haha of course you have if you're a fan one one of the greatest doowop/soul groups of all time-THE DRIFTERS...
I hadn't heard of Clyde McPhatter until today. I know the thread is about The Drifters, who enjoyed his membership from 1953 - 1954 before he launched his solo career, but since Clyde was mentioned specificially I will broaden the topic to include all of his music.

Today I listened to Clyde McPhatter's song, "Take A Step," and am impressed by his energetic singing and the cute, encouraging lyrics. I like his little "oo's" and "uhs." The song sounds so upbeat and cheery that it makes the sad ending to McPhatter's life even sadder:

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Clyde McPhatter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Hopes for a major comeback with a Decca album were crushed on June 13, 1972, when Clyde McPhatter died in his sleep at the age of 39 from complications of heart, liver, and kidney disease, brought on by alcohol abuse - abuse that had been fueled by a failed career and the resentment he harbored towards the fans he felt had deserted him. In a 1971 interview with journalist Marcia Vance, McPhatter told Vance 'I have no fans.' "
Only 39!!! But here we can enjoy his voice and the peppy beat again. How sad to think he died possibly believing he had no fans!

Clyde McPhatter - "Take A Step"



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Originally Posted by Neapolitan:
If a chicken was smart enough to be able to speak English and run in a geometric pattern, then I think it should be smart enough to dial 911 (999) before getting the axe, and scream to the operator, "Something must be done! Something must be done!"
Last edited by VEGANGELICA; 07-09-2011 at 05:36 PM.
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Old 07-09-2011, 05:52 PM   #3 (permalink)
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I've listened to a few Drifters songs now and definitely prefer Clyde McPhatter's solo work. His songs seem punchier and more distinctive than those he sang with The Drifters. Another sweet one by McPhatter that I like:

Clyde McPhatter - "Hey Love"

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Originally Posted by Neapolitan:
If a chicken was smart enough to be able to speak English and run in a geometric pattern, then I think it should be smart enough to dial 911 (999) before getting the axe, and scream to the operator, "Something must be done! Something must be done!"
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Old 07-10-2011, 05:37 PM   #4 (permalink)
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What's sad is that an alcoholic can always find a reason to drink. I like McPhatter's vocal quality and one or two of his solo hits, but I'm not keen on the doo-wop sound of the 'McPhatter' Drifters. I much prefer the later 'Treadwell' Drifters, who used a string orchestra backup -- especially when they featured lead singer Ben E. King: ...
Good point.

I didn't know either of those Treadwell Drifters songs featuring Ben E. King of "Stand By Me" fame.

I read that "There Goes My Baby" was the first commercial rock-and-roll recording to include a string orchestra, which is interesting. The picture for that YouTube video confused me, because it shows Clyde McPhatter rather than Ben E. King.

After reading over a list of songs by the many Drifters groups that have existed, the only song with which I was familiar was "Under the Boardwalk," which I assume is one of their most famous songs...otherwise I wouldn't know it!

The Drifters - "Under the Boardwalk"

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Originally Posted by Neapolitan:
If a chicken was smart enough to be able to speak English and run in a geometric pattern, then I think it should be smart enough to dial 911 (999) before getting the axe, and scream to the operator, "Something must be done! Something must be done!"
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Old 07-11-2011, 05:06 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Excellent vocals in this. I think the lead tenor is McPhatter.

White Christmas (1954) by Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters

Last edited by skaltezon; 07-21-2011 at 04:31 AM.
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Old 07-12-2011, 03:58 AM   #6 (permalink)
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wasn't jackie wilson in the drifters? or am i thinking of the dominoes?
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Old 07-12-2011, 04:27 AM   #7 (permalink)
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not really a big fan of them, whatever incarnation

do adore Ben E. King, though

as for doo-wop, gimme The Ink Spots or the Penguins any day
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what? i don't understand you. farming is for vegetables, not for meat. if ou disagree with a farming practice, you disagree on a vegetable. unless you have a different definition of farming.
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Old 07-12-2011, 05:44 PM   #8 (permalink)
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You're right, VEGANGELICA, that the 'McPhatter' Drifters were featured in the photo accompanying the 'Treadwell' Drifters video, probably because the uploader didn't know what the different singers looked like. And in verifying who's in the photo, I found an M-Drifters tune that I had heard in the movie, 'Home Alone' without realizing who had sung it. Their music is radically different from the T-Drifters, with whom they share zero members and virtually nothing but the name.

Excellent vocals in this. I think the lead tenor is McPhatter.

White Christmas (1954) by Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters

I love those singing reindeer! I kept waiting for the stoic one to do something, and finally he strutted along singing the solo. Very cute.

I like the plucked bass in this next song sung by Clyde McPhatter:

Clyde McPhatter - "Everybody Needs Somebody"



Finally, since I'm supposed to be posting about the Drifters , I'll add this song, a slow, pretty one with a surprisingly long name. I like the strings. I also like the voice of lead singer Mr. Charlie Thomas, especially his scratchy "whoa-ooooooo." This song was written at a time when people apparently still used handkerchiefs, giving the song a quaint touch.

The Drifters - "I Don't Want To Go On Without You" with Charlie Thomas as lead (1964)

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Originally Posted by Neapolitan:
If a chicken was smart enough to be able to speak English and run in a geometric pattern, then I think it should be smart enough to dial 911 (999) before getting the axe, and scream to the operator, "Something must be done! Something must be done!"
Last edited by VEGANGELICA; 07-12-2011 at 06:04 PM.
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Old 11-25-2011, 06:57 AM   #9 (permalink)
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before there was a[motown]there were-THE DRIFTERS.
I thought they were part of Motown??
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Old 02-26-2012, 04:58 PM   #10 (permalink)
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They started their career with Atlantic Records and they go back a long ways, in fact their first lp (Atlantic 8003) is titled Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters.

They had SUCH a quality career and the hits? Save The Last Dance For Me, Under The Boardwalk, Saturday Night At The Movies, Up On The Roof, Some Kind Of Wonderful, and many, many more.

Then there is my personal favorite-On Broadway.

A great, great group-that's the Drifters.
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