Includes liner notes by Billy Vera.
Audio Remasterer: Dan Hersch.
Liner Note Author: Billy Vera.
Author: James Austin.
Ben E. King was still known as Ben Nelson when the group he was fronting, the Five Crowns, began touring as the Drifters in 1958 (the original Drifters had more or less collapsed and become unreliable after the departure of lead singer Clyde McPhatter), and he quickly proved his worth in the recording studio when a song he co-wrote and sang, "There Goes My Baby," became a big hit under the Drifters name in 1959. More hits followed, including "This Magic Moment" and "Save the Last Dance for Me," before Nelson left the Drifters in 1960 to record on his own as Ben E. King, scoring two huge hits the following year with the gorgeously produced "Spanish Harlem" and another song he co-wrote, the immortal "Stand by Me." This fine 16-track collection combines his Drifters hits with his solo successes, including his mid-'70s comeback track, "Supernatural Thing," to form a solid introduction to the full sweep of King's commercial career in all of its incarnations. The 1960s sides are presented in the original mono single mixes, a definite plus, giving them a strong, compressed punch even when played over stereo speakers. There are other Ben E. King collections on the market, but they frequently feature re-recorded versions of his hits, making this set from Rhino Records the one to get. ~ Steve Leggett
Ben E. King is one of those singers who always sought to capture a great melody and articulate a poignant lyric, no matter the style. And this he did throughout his long, diverse career. This "best of" collection documents the versatile career of the crooner who is synonymous with many "oldies" hits. On GREATEST HITS, we hear the chart-toppers "Spanish Harlem" and "Stand by Me," but this is just the beginning. King possesses the ability to sing in a variety of musical settings, and they are well documented here. For example, we hear five songs made popular by The Drifters, plus the Latin-flavored "Amor," and the dramatic ballad "I (Who Have Nothing)." Finally, King's mid-70s comeback hit, "Supernatural Thing - Part 1" is included as well, and is about as funky as funk can get. minimize