Coming up: The Drifters "We Gotta Sing – The Soul Years 1962-1971"


Out Oct. 22.

Details:

The Drifters have always been one of the most beloved of all African American male vocal groups. This 3CD set is devoted to what we have called for simplification purposes, ‘The Soul Years.' It presents, in chronological order, all of the recording sessions they undertook for Atlantic Records between June 28th 1962 and January 5th 1971.

The accompanying booklet lists discographical information including the group line-up, the writers of the songs, the location and date of the recording sessions, and if known, the producer and arranger of the tracks. Plus, all of their UK and US chart positions

The Drifters were originally formed in 1953 by Clyde McPhatter, one of the most influential of ‘50s R&B vocalists. By 1958 the group had been replaced by another group by their manager and this group featured Ben E King as lead singer for a short time. Lead singers on the ‘Soul Years’ sessions are mainly Rudy Lewis or Johnny Moore.

By 1962 the group moved on from their early ‘50s R&B roots and late ‘50s symphonic pop sounds to embrace the coming of Soul music. Their journey through this genre was helped by renowned songwriters like Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Ellie Greenwich, Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and producers like Bert Berns, Jerry Wexler and Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller.

If any more proof were needed of the never-ending appeal of The Drifters’ sound it was announced in late 2019 that a West End musical would be opening, The Drifters’ Girl – based on the career of the Drifters’ manager Faye Treadwell, starring Beverley Knight. At the time of writing it is set to premiere at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal on October 9th 2021 playing until October 23rd 2021 before opening at the Garrick Theatre in London on November 4th 2021.

Track Listing:

DISC ONE:

1 ANOTHER NIGHT WITH THE BOYS

2 UP ON THE ROOF

3 I FEEL GOOD ALL OVER

4 LET THE MUSIC PLAY

5 ON BROADWAY

6 BABY I DIG LOVE

7 ONLY IN AMERICA

8 RAT RACE

9 IF YOU DON’T COME BACK

10 I’LL TAKE YOU HOME

11 I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG

12 IN THE LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE

13 DIDN’T IT?

14 BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

15 ONE WAY LOVE

16 VAYA CON DIOS

17 UNDER THE BOARDWALK (MONO)

18 HE’S JUST A PLAYBOY

19 I DON’T WANT TO GO ON WITHOUT YOU

20 UNDER THE BOARDWALK (LIVE)

21 ON BROADWAY (LIVE)

22 THERE GOES MY BABY (LIVE)

23 I’VE GOT SAND IN MY SHOES

24 SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

25 UNDER THE BOARDWALK (STEREO)

DISC TWO:

1 SPANISH LACE (MONO)

2 THE CHRISTMAS SONG

3 I REMEMBER CHRISTMAS

4 QUANDO, QUANDO, QUANDO

5 I WISH YOU LOVE

6 TONIGHT

7 MORE

8 WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I?

9 THE GOOD LIFE

10 AS LONG AS SHE NEEDS ME

11 DESAFINADO

12 WHO CAN I TURN TO?

13 TEMPTATION

14 ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE

15 NIGHT SHIFT

16 IN THE PARK

17 AT THE CLUB (MONO)

18 ANSWER THE PHONE (MONO)

19 LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE

20 FOLLOW ME

21 CHAINS OF LOVE

22 FAR FROM THE MADDENING CROWD

23 COME ON OVER TO MY PLACE

24 THE OUTSIDE WORLD

25 SPANISH LACE (STEREO)

26 AT THE CLUB (STEREO)

27 ANSWER THE PHONE (STEREO)

DISC THREE:

1 I’LL TAKE YOU WHERE THE MUSIC’S PLAYING

2 NYLON STOCKINGS

3 WE GOTTA SING

4 UP IN THE STREETS OF HARLEM

5 MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

6 YOU CAN’T LOVE ‘EM ALL

7 MY ISLAND IN THE SUN

8 IT TAKES A GOOD WOMAN

9 ARETHA

10 BABY WHAT I MEAN

11 AIN’T IT THE TRUTH

12 UP JUMPED THE DEVIL

13 I DIG YOUR ACT

14 STILL BURNING IN MY HEART

15 I NEED YOU NOW

16 COUNTRY TO THE CITY

17 YOU AND ME TOGETHER FOREVER

18 YOUR BEST FRIEND

19 STEAL AWAY

20 BLACK SILK

21 YOU GOT TO PAY YOUR DUES

22 A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME (IS STILL A ROSE)

23 BE MY LADY

24 YOU BETTER MOVE ON

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