(Encore Of) Golden Hits Of The Groups - The Platters

 

The Three Bells

(Encore Of) Golden Hits Of The Groups

The Platters

Mercury Records SR 60893

1964

From the back cover: What is there to say about a group that has been an integralpart of the American musical scene for nearly two decades. The Platters have been that and a great deal more.

They're three young men and a girl who were discovered by California composer-arranger Buck Ram. They've sung together, worked together and literally lived music together ever since.

The Platters are not merely performers (though they are that in excellent fashion), they are chroniclers of virtually every type of music that has developed through the years.

Many a group is capable of doing an act. Many an artist can sing. The Platters, however, bring to music an interpretation – a definite feel, if you will-that only the few "greats" are able to achieve. Perhaps it's fitting therefore that the Platters chose for this, their "umpteenth" album for Mercury (memory fails when the figure passes the dozen mark), a group of songs that charac- terizes some of the great historic musical groups of our time.

Not only does the music represent a broad spectrum of sound- from gospel and spiritual to folk, from honky-tonk to the current surfing melodies – but it also brings to the old time arrangements a touch of something completely new and refreshing.

There's the "Hut-Sut Song," first done by the Merrymacs in 1941, and "Java Jive," done by the Inkspots in 1940, now presented with a wild surfing sound.

The gospel sound is represented by a host of selections, namely "Crying In The Chapel," first done by the Orioles in 1954; "Sincerely," by the McGuire Sisters in the same year; "Row The Boat," done by the Highwaymen as "Michael, Row The Boat Ashore" in 1961; and "False Hearted Lover," done by the Weavers as "On Top of Old Smokey" back in 1957.

"P.S., I Love You" first done by the Hilltoppers in 1953, is done here with the traditional pop-teenage sound that marks the Platters so well. "Three Coins In The Fountain," done by the Four Aces in 1954, is done here with a teen-Calypso beat.

The wonderful "Three Bells" by the Browns in 1955, has a new folk-gospel sound here. And "Mississippi Mud," first done in 1927 by the Whiteman Rhythm Boys (including Bing Crosby) is presented in a happy honky-tonk, razz-ma-tazz arrangement.

"Day-O," first done by Harry Belafonte and the Tarriers in 1958, and "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" by the Boswell Sisters in 1922 round out the group.

There's so much more to say about this album. Like telling about the arranging of the great veteran Fred Norman, or that of the brilliant, though comparatively young, John Neal. Like telling of the artist and repertoire work of the fabulous Buck Ram. But perhaps the best thing is simply to quote the comment of Jean Bennett, agent and close associate of the Platters since they started out together: "The listener of this album is in for many wonderful and enjoyable surprises. If you aren't a fan of the Platters now, listen to a few selections and see if you don't change your mind." – Nick Biro

Sincerely

P.S. I Love You

The Hut Sut Song

Day-O

Mississippi Mud

False Hearted Lover

Row The Boat Ashore

Crying In The Chapel

Java Jive

Three Coins In The Fountain

'Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

The Three Bells