Customer Reviews

Clyde McPhatter - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So many people who recall the Drifters think of Ben E. King as the group's first lead singer, but Clyde McPhatter had a number of hits earlier at the helm of the group, some later covered by other major artists (Elvis Presley, "Such A Night; Dion, "Ruby Baby", "Drip Drop"). Clyde's distinctive voice can also be heard singing backup for Billy Ward and the Dominos on "Sixty Minute Man" to name one, before his time with the Drifters. After he went on his own, Clyde made a number of memorable recordings that were commercial hits; they are included on this CD. One I especially liked was "Ta Ta" which is easy to sing along with though it is less remembered than others. Clyde McPhatter died tragically young, the newspapers alternately saying he was 39 or 42. His music was part of my formative years and the songs on this CD really carry me back.

In doing my reviews it is seldom that I find complete favour with a Curb release - but this one is an exception. Not only do you get two pages of informative liner notes, in this instance written by Barry Alphonse, but all 12 selections are, indeed, original charted hits, and the sound reproduction in this 1991 offering from Curb's One And Only Collectors Series is excellent.

Included are three hits while lead singer with the Drifters - Money Honey [# 1 R&B for ELEVEN weeks in late 1953/early 1954], Lucille [# 7 R&B in March 1954], and Honey Love [# 1 R&B for three weeks in July 1954]. All the other tracks are from his solo years at Atlantic, MGM, and Mercury with, among them, his very hard-to-find version of Little Bitty Pretty One which reached # 25 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in summer 1962 backed by Jerry Kennedy's orchestra and The Merry Melody Singers.

The others charted as follows: A Lover's Question [# 1 R&B/# 6 Pop Top 100 November 1958 with Howard Biggs & His Orchestra]; Lover Please [# 7 Hot 100 April 1962 with Stan Applebaum & His Orchestra]; Treasure Of Love [# 1 R&B/# 16 Top 100 - June 1956]; Without Love )There Is Nothing) [# 4 R&B/# 19 Top 100 February 1957 with Ray Ellis & His Orchestra]; Ta Ta [# 7 R&B/# 23 Hot 100 September 1960]; Deep In The Heart Of Harlem [# 90 Hot 100 January 1964 with Alan Lorber & His Orchestra - the year the R&B charts had been suspended by Billboard]; Let's Try Again [# 13 R&B/# 48 Hot 100 January 1960 with Ray Ellis & His Orchestra]; and Crying Won't Help You Now [# 22 R&B and # 117 Hot 100 "Bubble Under" in May 1965 and his last charted hit].

After forming the gospel group The Mount Lebanon Singers when he was just 14, Clyde joined Billy Ward's Dominoes when only 17 in 1950. In 1954 he helped form The Drifters, his high tenor voice leading them through several major hits before he was drafted into the armed forces in 1954. Upon his discharge in 1956 he went solo with Atlantic and, over the next nine years, put 23 songs onto the R&B/pop charts, including four with MGM and three with Mercury.

Clyde, who died at age 39 on June 13, 1972, was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1987. In an epitaph Jerry Wexler said it best: "The great, unique soul singer of all time." Get one of these while they remain available.

You couldn't mistake the voice of Clyde McPhatter any time you heard it when Rock and Roll was really catching on in the late "50s and early 60"s. His songs regularly made the top 30 in my area and I am enjoying listening to him all over again today. The only reason I've given this CD 4 stars is because there are 3 songs that could have been left off in my opinion. They are probably there just for filler. I can't say they are great hits but the rest are all very familiar. Don't let those 3 stop you from buying this CD. This era of entertainer and their songs are fading away. You'll be glad you have it for the enjoyment of Clyde's music, and the nostalgia of an era that was special to those of us who got to watch and listen to it unfold on a weekly basis.

Clyde McPhatter made everything he sang sound extra special with his amazing voice and his natural talent for sophisticated phrasing. This is one of the few Curb CD releases that I truly like; Curb usually just doesn't offer enough music to be a "greatest hits" type of CD but here we have a notable exception. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is nice; I also liked the liner notes.

There's nothing but excellent music on this album. "Lover's Question" was a hit for Clyde and it still sounds great today! His excellent diction and that percussion enhance the song; there's also a backup chorus but Clyde never really needed backup--he was quite the masterful performer! "Lover Please" is perfect in Clyde's more than capable hands; and I really like "The Treasure of Love" which gets the royal treatment from Clyde McPhatter.

"Without Love (There Is Nothing)" gets a most sensitive treatment; this is quite a gem and I love it. "Little Bitty Pretty One" is full of energy and it's easily a major highlight of this album! Moreover, there's "Ta Ta" with Clyde singing this to perfection--and beyond; "Money Honey" with its terrific beat and Clyde standing front and center which is right where he belongs!

"Honey Love" has a great flavor to it with those drums; Clyde aces this as effortlessly as if it were mere breathing and I'm very impressed. "Lucile" is very well done; and "Deep in the Heart of Harlem" is faultlessly performed by Clyde. "Let's Try Again" picks up the pace a little bit and the CD ends well with Clyde McPhatter performing the very memorable "Crying Won't Help You Now."

Clyde McPhatter may have left us all too soon; but he lives on through his music on albums like this one. This is a wonderful CD for any fan of the great Clyde McPhatter; and it also makes a great starting point for newcomers just discovering his incredible artistry.

this is a classic disc.a great voice&great songs.Treasure of Love&Money Honey are two of his classics here.

Absolutely some of his greatest recordings from the studio. But if you want to hear "Without Love There Is Nothing" and "Money Honey" at his greatest, listen to these two song on his "Live At The Apollo." I bought this CD for "Crying Won't Help You Now." All the other song on this CD I have on other CD's. Enjoy!

As single disc McPhatter samplers go, this is about as good as it gets. If you are looking for an introduction to this wonderful, influential singer, this is the place to start. You'll soon be wanting more.

clyde mc phatter off the planet, what a voice, what a cd ,lets rock clyde ,love it , want more please now !!!!

Excellent CD. Crisp, clear sounds of one of the greatest voices of the 1950s. Treasure of Love will send chills down your spine.

This CD was excellent in quality and value. I highly recommend this item for those who are looking for listening pleasure.