One of the most original and genre defining voices of the R&B/Doo Wop era of the late fifties and early sixties belonged to Clyde McPhatter (1932-72). His honey of a tenor voice was as smooth as silk, and was with a sense of swing that caught the attention of fans both black and white. This 2 disc, 59 song collection includes his most famous pieces, both with his initial group The Drifters and on his own. It’s a collection you won’t want to be without.
There’s a ring of joy in McPhatter’s tone, as well as a wink in the eye on a piece like the irresistible “Money Honey” as well as the calypso’d “Honey Love”. The vocal group also did wonders with “White Christmas” and had a hit with “Such A Night’. He had a session with R&B diva Ruth Brown for a sizzling “I Gotta Have You” and “Love Has Joined Us Together”.
On his own, he had a megahit with the doo wop classic “Lover’s Question” as well as the catchy “Lover Please” with popular pieces such as “Seven Days”, “Without Love” and “Such A Night” capturing the imagination of both black and white fans, not a mean feat back then. He did perform for a few more years, but these are his most influential recordings and they stand the test of time amazingly well, rivalling Sam Cooke as the most influential pre-Motown vocalist of the era.