The Platters The Very Best of the Platters [Mercury] Genres:Pop, R&B More Ink Spots and Johnny Mathis--they actually covered the former's "If I Didn't Care" and "My Prayer"--than doo-woppers, the Platters were one of the biggest crossover acts of the '50s thanks to their lush romanticism. L... more »ead voice Tony Williams's sense of drama lent the group some gospel-tinged excitement, so that this set of a dozen top 30 singles works both as soft R&B and make-out music. --Rickey Wright« less
More Ink Spots and Johnny Mathis--they actually covered the former's "If I Didn't Care" and "My Prayer"--than doo-woppers, the Platters were one of the biggest crossover acts of the '50s thanks to their lush romanticism. Lead voice Tony Williams's sense of drama lent the group some gospel-tinged excitement, so that this set of a dozen top 30 singles works both as soft R&B and make-out music. --Rickey Wright
Classic Hits From One Of Music's Transitional Harmony Groups
Anthony G Pizza | FL | 02/09/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Platters (represented by 12 of their greatest hits of the 1950s) stood a middle ground between traditional vocal groups such as the Ames Brothers and the doo-wop sounds to follow. Happily (for us, anyway), they were accepted by the new teenage culture and many of their parents.The reason is in the quality of songs presented here. Hard to believe Jerome Kern's estate bristled over their rendition of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"; distinctive lead singer Tony Williams captures the lyric perfectly, walking through a fog of strings and piano with perfect pitch and diction until a glass-shattering finale. The originals, many co-written by their manager, Buck Ram, have themselves become standards: "Twilight Time," "My Prayer," "Only You" (later covered by Travis Tritt and Ringo Starr), "The Great Pretender" (later satirized by rock n' roll grump Stan Freberg). Overall, regardless of which 50s musical style you prefer, anyone loving traditional group harmony will enjoy this set."
"The Very Best of The Platters" says if perfectly
Peter Glandon | Ottawa, Canada | 11/26/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Platters typify 50's music and this cd is exactly what you would expect, and more. Buy it."
All Original Hits
Peter Glandon | 07/14/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Nothing rerecorded here, and all big pop hits. A good buy for those who seek only the cream of the crop, although a few well-known hits are absent."
True Classic Hits
Kim K. | Bayonne, New Jersey | 04/09/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Platters have always been one of the best of the 1950s vocal groups. Every song here is the real thing(no overdubbed remakes as on other Platters collections)and you'll want to play this cd over & over again. The music is timeless and still very romantic-major makeout music. It is easy to see how they were inspired by the Ink Spots and the Mills Bros. Tony Williams' gorgeous voice was one of the best in recorded music. This cd is highly recommended for lovers of great music."