The Platters, "Love All Night" c/w "Tell The World," Federal 45-12188 (rel. 6/1954)
The group debuted on the Cincinnati-based Federal Records label in 1953. They made eight singles there, including one for the main label, King. Among these early recordings was the first go at "Only You," which became a pop standard upon its 1955 Mercury release. Federal dropped their version at the same time, which I'm sure caused confusion. The Federal/King recordings are the group's most genuine, with no foreshadow of the bland pablum so soon to appear.
At their start, this group of LA-based teen singers included Cornell Gunter, soon to lead rival group The Flairs. These kids called themselves The Flamingos and struggled to get a professional foothold. Soon-to-be lead voice Tony Williams moved Westward at the urging of his sister, who recorded under the name Linda Hayes. Williams was a solid fit as lead voice, and before long, Hayes' manager Buck Ram took the group under his dubious wing.
They auditioned for Ralph Bass, King/Federal's artists and repertoire head. He saw promise in William's voice but realized these kids had some rough spots that needed work. He had them sing backgrounds on other artists' singles and then gave them their official debut on Federal in 1953.
We encounter them on their fourth Federal 45, which is a fine specimen of the group before they went vanilla. "Love All Night" is distinguished by its bongo fury and the lead vocal of David Lynch (not the deceased filmmaker), both in stellar form on an easy-groovin' mover that sounds as unlike "Harbor Lights" or "Twilight Time" as can be imagined.
Before 1955, a tinge of modern jazz persisted in Black vocal group music. It's heard here; there's enough of the jump blues style to please our ears. Vocal group music got into a real formula as the decade went on; this March 1954 side still sounds fresh and vivid.
a chance for juke loot.
"Tell the World" has Tony Williams on lead on a ballad not far-removed from the Mercury material. It's a more soulful precursor. A simple arrangement shows how well this group harmonized when it was a real group--not a lead singer and four members who had little to do but stand on stage and smile. Buck Ram claimed co-composer credit along with 'Ande Rand,' one of his many pseudonyms. He purchased the song from some unknown composer, as was common practice in those days.
I hope you have enjoyed the week-long trawl through the great music of Black vocal groups in rhythm and blues. This is a powerful vein of American roots music, and deserves to be heard and enjoyed. I hope it will never become culturally extinct. I do what I can to keep it alive and well in the 21st century.
Tomorrow: an unintentional preview of the Bruce Springsteen sound from Dean Scott, coupled with a solid country-soul ballad from one Dean Scott via a 1966 Scepter Records platter. Produced by Huey P. Meaux--a name of note.
Two really cool songs! Love that distinctive bongo percussion in "Love All Night," a wonderful jump song. "Tell The World" is haunting in its aural beauty. Williams had such a beautiful voice.
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