Spanish Harlem / Don't Play That Song

Ben E. King | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collectables
• ASIN: B00000AF9A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,828 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Amor

2. Sway

3. Come Closer To Me

4. Perfidia

5. Grenada

6. Sweet And Gentle

7. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps

8. Frenesi

9. Souvenir Of Mexico

10. Besame Mucho

11. Love Me, Love Me

12. Spanish Harlem

13. Don't Play That Song

14. Ecstasy

15. On The Horizon

16. Show Me The Way

17. Here Comes The Night

18. First Taste Of Love

19. Stand By Me

20. Yes

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FOUR STARS, BUT THE LAST 13 SONGS ARE 5 STAR ALL THE WAY!, November 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Spanish Harlem / Don't Play That Song (Audio CD)

THIS ALBUM IS A MUST HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO DELIGHT IN THE SOUND OF BEN E KING. HOWEVER, I MUST ADMIT THAT I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE FIRST ALBUM - "SPANISH HARLEM" EXCEPT FOR THE TITLE SONG ITSELF, WHICH IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

THE FIRST 11 TRACKS DO NOT APPEAL TO ME AT ALL, I CONSIDER THEM DUDS, HOWEVER, OTHER PEOPLE MAY FIND THEM APPEALING. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE RECORD COMPANY WAS TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE TITLE SONG BY PRODUCING AN ENTIRE ALBUM WITH A SPANISH THEME AND SOMEHOW IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. SO IN MY CASE I FORWARD THE CD TO THE TWELVTH TRACK WHICH IS "SPANISH HARLEM" AND FROM THERE ITS SHEER MUSIC TO MY EARS.

I HAVE SEVERAL BEN E KING CD'S AND MANY OF THE SONGS THAT ARE ON THIS CD ARE NOT ON THE OTHERS. THE SECOND ALBUM "DON'T PLAY THAT SONG", TRULY MAKES UP FOR WHERE THE FIRST ALBUM FELL SHORT. IT JUST HELD ME CAPTIVE BY THE SOUND OF BEN E KING'S VOICE, THE LYRICS TO THE SONGS AND THE ORCHESTRATION OF THEM.

THESE ARE SONGS OF MY YOUTH MANY OF WHICH I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT UNTIL I LISTENED TO THIS CD. TRACKS 12 - 24 ON THIS CD ARE IN MY OPINION SOLID GOLD. MY PERSONAL FAVORITES ARE "HERMIT ON MISTY MOUNTAIN", "I PROMISE LOVE", "SHOW ME THE WAY" AND "YES".

RECOMMENDATION: BUY IT! BUY IT! BUY IT! I DON'T THINK YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. I HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN BY PROMOTING THIS CD, BUT YOU HAVE MUCH TO LOSE BY NOT HAVING AS A PART OF YOUR COLLECTION.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LIKE CHAMPAGNE, December 9, 2003

By 

CHRIS FITZ (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spanish Harlem / Don't Play That Song (Audio CD)

This CD is wonderful, Ben's voice sparkles all the way through from track 1-24. The first 12 tracks all have a latin feel, which makes it a perfect listen on a summers night. His lush voice breathes a new life into Sway, Besame Mucho and the old favourite Quizas (Perhaps,perhaps,perhaps. He brings the latin sides to a close with Spainish Harlem and let's face it nobody sings Spainish Harlem like Ben. Tracks 13-24 are all strong too
opening up with Don't play that song and follows through with a
string of his first singles and their b sides. It's amazing to think that Stand by me, was backed with First taste of love (I have the original 45) What fantastic value for money! The CD winds up with Brace yourself, which is very fitting as you will be....for another listen.
Finally I would like to say that these are the originals, not some re-recorded effort from the 70's or 80's. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most enjoyable, August 21, 2003

By 

Joe Sampson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spanish Harlem / Don't Play That Song (Audio CD)

The first album contains Latin American songs, all of which Ben sings well, backed By Stan Applebaum's orchestra, which is superb. I think that one of the best tracks is Love Me, Love Me which Ben wrote.Ben does a really good job on Granada and on Frenesi. The second album contains a lot of Ben's singles. Ben has a sweet, soulful voice and over the years has shown himself to be a good composer. His recent CD, Shades of Blue, show him to be still in good form. I think he is the best male pop/soul singer around. I think that only Vikki Carr sings with more emotion.