(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over
Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential Afri… Read Full Bio ↴Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential African-American R&B singer, born in Durham, North Carolina. He was raised in a religious Baptist family, and formed a gospel group in 1945 after his family moved to New Jersey. They soon relocated to New York City, and McPhatter joined the Mount Lebanon Singers, a popular gospel group.
In 1950, McPhatter joined Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and was present for the recording of "Sixty Minute Man", which was a huge hit in 1951, and was one of the earliest rock and roll records. After several more hits, McPhatter quit the group in 1953 because he made little money and gained virtually no fame, in spite of his voice being the lead on most of the group's songs. McPhatter then signed to Atlantic Records after forming a group, The Drifters. "Money Honey", "Such a Night", "Honey Love", "White Christmas" and "Whatcha Gonna Do" became huge hits.
In 1954, McPhatter was drafted but was assigned in the U.S., allowing him to continue recording. He soon left The Drifters and launched a solo career. His first solo hit occurred just after being discharged - "Love Has Joined Us Together" (with Ruth Brown). He released several R&B hits in the next few years, but only made one serious dent in the pop charts with the Brook Benton penned song "A Lovers Question", which made it to #6 in 1958. White groups usually covered his best compositions and achieved more widespread mainstream success. In spite of this, McPhatter became one of the most popular black musicians among white listeners. His 1956 recording of "Treasure of Love" saw him enjoy just one week in the UK singles chart. The lack of any subsequent entry gave him the unenviable tag there of being a one hit wonder
McPhatter soon signed to MGM Records, and released several more hits. "I Told Myself a Lie" and "Think Me a Kiss" (1960) became minor pop hits, as was "Ta Ta", his first single for Mercury Records. "I Never Knew" and "Lover Please" (1962) became even bigger pop hits, but his career started suffering due to his alcoholism. Other black artists were following McPhatter's blueprint into pop audiences, including Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore, Sam Cooke and an all new line-up of The Drifters. McPhatter's unreliability kept him from maintaining his career in the face of this competition. As the 1960s wore on, McPhatter's career kept falling in spite of a few minor hits.
In the early 1970s, McPhatter spent some time living in England, where he still had a significant audience, but this was short-lived. Back again in America, Clyde McPhatter died of a heart attack in 1972, at the age of 39.
In 1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
In 1950, McPhatter joined Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and was present for the recording of "Sixty Minute Man", which was a huge hit in 1951, and was one of the earliest rock and roll records. After several more hits, McPhatter quit the group in 1953 because he made little money and gained virtually no fame, in spite of his voice being the lead on most of the group's songs. McPhatter then signed to Atlantic Records after forming a group, The Drifters. "Money Honey", "Such a Night", "Honey Love", "White Christmas" and "Whatcha Gonna Do" became huge hits.
In 1954, McPhatter was drafted but was assigned in the U.S., allowing him to continue recording. He soon left The Drifters and launched a solo career. His first solo hit occurred just after being discharged - "Love Has Joined Us Together" (with Ruth Brown). He released several R&B hits in the next few years, but only made one serious dent in the pop charts with the Brook Benton penned song "A Lovers Question", which made it to #6 in 1958. White groups usually covered his best compositions and achieved more widespread mainstream success. In spite of this, McPhatter became one of the most popular black musicians among white listeners. His 1956 recording of "Treasure of Love" saw him enjoy just one week in the UK singles chart. The lack of any subsequent entry gave him the unenviable tag there of being a one hit wonder
McPhatter soon signed to MGM Records, and released several more hits. "I Told Myself a Lie" and "Think Me a Kiss" (1960) became minor pop hits, as was "Ta Ta", his first single for Mercury Records. "I Never Knew" and "Lover Please" (1962) became even bigger pop hits, but his career started suffering due to his alcoholism. Other black artists were following McPhatter's blueprint into pop audiences, including Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore, Sam Cooke and an all new line-up of The Drifters. McPhatter's unreliability kept him from maintaining his career in the face of this competition. As the 1960s wore on, McPhatter's career kept falling in spite of a few minor hits.
In the early 1970s, McPhatter spent some time living in England, where he still had a significant audience, but this was short-lived. Back again in America, Clyde McPhatter died of a heart attack in 1972, at the age of 39.
In 1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
The Masquerade Is Over
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'The Masquerade Is Over' by these artists:
"Little" Stevie Wonder My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are…
Al Jarreau My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Aretha Franklin Your eyes don’t shine like they used to shine And the…
Big Maybelle My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Blue Martini Jazz Your eyes don′t shine Like they used to shine And the thrill…
Buddy Greco My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Cannonball Adderley/Nancy Wilson My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Carla Thomas My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Carmen McRae My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are drifting…
Dave Carpenter Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
David Porter My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are drifting…
Etta James My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
George Benson My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
George Shearing After the waltz is over After the music ends After I held…
Helen Merrill My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Jimmy Witherspoon Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Kenny Burrell My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are drifting…
Larry & the Conservatives Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Little Stevie Wonder My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are…
Little Willie John Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Magidson Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine cnd the…
Marvin Gaye My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Musikjury Titel Nr. 5 So this is Christmas And what have you done Another year ove…
Nancy Wilson My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Nancy Wilson & Tom Scott Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Nancy Wilson -Cannonball Adderly My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Nancy Wilson / Cannonball Adderley My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
nancy wilson feat. cannonball adderley My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Nancy Wilson Vocal - Cannball Adderley & Company The angels have gone The songs have gone silent You're sinki…
Nancy Wilson [feat. Cannonball Adderley] My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
P.J. Proby My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are drifting…
Patti Page Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Peggy Lee Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Porter David My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are drifting…
Sammy Davis Jr. & Frank Sinatra Time, there was a time you could Talk to me without…
Sarah Vaughan My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Sarah Vaughan & Harold Mooney And His Orchestra Never thought I'd fall, But now I hear love call, I'm gett…
Stevie Wonder My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are…
The Moonglows My blue horizon is turning gray And my dreams are drifting…
The Platters My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
Tom Scott Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Tom Scott and Special Guests My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
various artists Happy Xmas (War Is Over) [John/Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band/The…
Walter Bishop Jr.Trio Outside The storm clouds gathering, Moved silently along the…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Clyde McPhatter:
A Lover Does she love me, with all her heart Should I worry,…
Come What May I am yours and you are mine Come what may Love like…
Deep In The Heart Of Harlem A dog barking at the crack of dawn A baby's crying…
Deep Sea Ball Deep in the ocean at the catfish hall All of the…
Don't Dog Me Well, you don′t want a lover What you want is a…
From One To One Mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm Mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-…
Gone Early in the mornin, before the crack on dawn I'm sitting…
Heartache Heartaches Heartaches My loving you meant only heartaches Yo…
Honey Love Love me, love me, love me, love me, lo Love me,…
How Deep Is The Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie How…
I Can't Stand up Alone One of these days I will take a vacation By a quiet…
I Do Believe Won't you try try baby, love me one more time Try…
I Never Knew I never knew Love could be so cold I never knew How true…
I Told Myself A Lie I told myself a lie When I said I had no…
I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday I'm gonna be a wheel someday I'm gonna be somebody I'm gonna…
I'm Lonely Tonight If you think I miss you After you said we're through Well,…
If I Didn't Love You Like I Do Won't you try try baby, love me one more time Try…
Just Give Me A Ring When love has come and gone And you feel so all…
Just Hold My Hand I want to know do you love me? Tell me do…
Just to Hold My Hand I want to know do you love me? Tell me do…
Let's Forget About The Past Let′s forget about the past Cause it can't be undone I reali…
Let's Try Again Let's make a goal Of the love we used to share That…
Little Bitty Pretty One Mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm Mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-…
Long Lonely Nights Long, long and lonely nights I cry my eyes out over…
Lover Please Lover please, please come back Don't take a train coming dow…
Lover's Question Does she love me, with all her heart Should I worry,…
Lovey Dovey Well, you're the cutest thing that I did ever see I…
Lucille Lucille, you won't do your daddy's will Lucille, you won't d…
Money Honey You know, the landlord rang my front door bell I let…
My Island Of Dreams I wandered the streets and the gay crowded places Trying to…
night Do, da doby doby do Da doby doby do Da doby doby…
No Matter What No matter what I have It′s yours to share No matter where…
please please please Lover please, please come back Don't take a train coming dow…
Rock And Cry A read a story the other day Guaranteed to tell you How…
Seven Days Seven days, seven days (Seven days, seven days) And there'…
Since You've Been Gone Song code: 125616 Early in the mornin' Before the crack of…
Since You’ve Been Gone Early in the mornin, before the crack on dawn I'm sitting…
Sixty Minute Man Sixty-minute man, sixty-minute man Look a here girls I'm te…
Spanish Harlem There is a rose in Spanish Harlem A red rose up…
Such A Night T was a night mmm, what a night it was…
Ta Ta When I hold my baby tight With all my might I tell…
The Bells The bells of St.Mary's I hear they are calling The young lov…
The Treasure Of Love The treasure of love, is easy to find It's waiting for…
Think Me A Kiss Think me a kiss, whoa, oh Think me a kiss, come…
Thirty Days I'm gonna give you thirty days to get back home I…
Treasure of Love The treasure of love, is easy to find It's waiting for…
Twice As Nice I've been faithful I've been true I've done everything Yo…
Warm Your Heart Well, we're all searching for peace of mind Love in…
When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano When the swallows come back to Capistrano That's the day you…
White Christmas I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I…
Without Love I awakened this morning, I was filled with despair All my…
You Early in the mornin, before the crack on dawn I'm sitting…
You're Moving Me If I take you by the hand And tell you I'm…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Bertha Daniels
Wow, Clyde can sing anything. First time hearing this. This is great. 🎶🎶🎶🎶
mintrecords4ever
Hi Bertha, you're right, Clyde could sing anything! I'm glad you like his version. It was nice of you to take the time and leave a comment.
Eileen Ingala
bertha i just heard a song by clyde i never heard before - the best man cried - it made me cry
Bertha Daniels
@Eileen Ingala: I also heard 'The Best Man Cried' by Clyde Mcphatter. Its a real beautiful and passionate song.. Love it. ❤🎶🎤
Bertha Daniels
@mintrecords4ever : I just became a subscriber.. Thank you for your comment. 🎶🎤❤
mintrecords4ever
Hi Bertha, I'm glad you subscribed to my channel. I have uploaded a lot of great music. I'm sure you'll find some more songs on my channel that you will like. Thank you for your support!
Paul Riofski
Thanks again, Ron, for introducing me to Clyde McPhatter's superb recordings on MGM. The flip side of this record, "I Told Myself a Lie," made an appearance on Billboard's Hot 100, peaking at #70 in April of 1959. It's nice to hear him paired with the great Ray Ellis directing the orchestra and chorus. Billboard selected the single as a "Spotlight Winner of the Week (The Pick of the Week's New Releases") in its March 23, 1959 edition, commenting thus: "McPhatter's first for his new label appears a two-sided click. Top side is a classy reading of a new rockaballad with good ork support, while the flip side spots a listenable go on the evergreen. Both can score." Shortly thereafter, Cash Box selected it as a "Disk of the Week" in their March 28, 1959 issue with the following review: "The pop-R&B star, after a highly successful disk tour with Atlantic, debuts with an effort on the MGM label on the lament, "I Told Myself a Lie", that's certain to continue the artist's notable chart standing on his previous outlet. Fine blueser's fooling-oneself theme is carried with smooth, feelingful finesse by McPhatter. A McPhatter beaut. Songster superbly faces up to things again on his similar essay on the oldie, "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over". Could make the chart grade along with top end."
Bob H
Nice version by Clyde but not up to the quality of the Five Satins version. Still good though.