The Magic Touch: An Anthology (2CD)

The Platters

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 22, 1991)
• Original Release Date: October 22, 1991
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B000001DTF
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,105 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the Platters That Matters (And Then Some!), April 18, 2000

By	Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

When lead vocalist Tony Williams died in 1992--just a year after this collection's release--popular music lost one of its most memorable voices. Beginning in 1955 with "Only You (And You Alone)" through 1961's "If I Didn't Care" (actually recorded in 1958), Williams' powerful tenor was the voice of numerous smoochin' music classics, including chart toppers "The Great Pretender," "My Prayer," "Twilight Time" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes."

Sonny Turner replaced Williams in 1961, but this collection covers the Platter's peak years, 1955-1961, when they charted more than thrity songs on Billboards Hot 100. As such, Turner appears only on disc-2's final two tracks.

As the liner notes point out, the Platters were "the first black group ever to have a Number One Pop record, the first to cross racial barriers on the concert circuit and the first to overcome the 'cover' syndrome of white acts copying black originals." Listen to artists like Curtis Mayfield's Impressions or Smokey Robinson's Miracles and the Platter's influence on early rock and R&B is undeniable. Their 1990 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a testimony to their success and this two-disc collection is a must-have for serious fans of Fifties R&B. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Album Is The Real Deal, July 27, 2001

By	Todd Clingan (Farmington Hills, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

In my opinion, no one could do it like The Platters, which says a lot I think being that The Platters are my favorite vocal group of the 50s era. They were the first black vocal group to have hit records without anyone covering them. For this two CD set pictured above is the real deal that features the original Platters along with their original Mercury recordings. This CD set has everything anyone would ever want by The Platters and that this is the ultimate collection.

What I found unique and enjoyable about this collection as I was listening that it included B-Sides to many of their chart toping singles heard here. For any of you out there who may have owned some of these original Platters singles back in the 50s may find it to be a nice added touch. Even the flip sides I found were just as good as the hits themselves for the most part. None the less all selections were great. Also the sound quality of theese digitally re-mastered recordings were very good and clean to the ear. I don't know what else to say about this CD is that when you pop this in to your CD player, the music speaks for itself. Happy Listening.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album is enchanted!, May 5, 1999

By A Customer

These are the original recordings from Mercury. Most tracks are mono, but the sound is terrific. I have listened to these CD's over and over again since obtaining them, and each time the material is still fresh. Tony Williams was phenomanal, and his voice comes through fresh and clear. There are other tracks featuring Zola Taylor and Herbert Reed, not often heard even in the group's heyday. If you like the Platters, you'll love this collection. A five star plus album!