The Complete A & B Sides 1953-62

The Platters occupy a unique position in the music of the 1950s and early ‘60s, bridging the gap between early ‘50s doowop and black R&B groups, the traditional Tin Pan Alley pop world, and the rock ‘n’ roll explosion, and racking up a string of hits that remain perennially popular with music fans of all persuasions and generations around the world. Their distinctive sound, primarily based on the tenor lead vocal styling of Tony Williams, made them the most successful black group of their era, extraordinarily enjoying credibility with rock ‘n’ roll aficionados at the same time as appealing to middle-of-the-road lovers of nostalgic pop, and scoring No. 1 hits on both sides of the Atlantic. In the decade covered by this collection they had thirty-five chart hits, including four landmark No. 1s. This 3-CD set gives a comprehensive overview of the extraordinary first decade of their career, comprising the A and B side of every single they released on the Federal and Mercury labels in the USA and UK from their recording debut in 1953 through to the end of 1962. It is a remarkable and absorbing musical journey.