The Platters formed in Los Angeles, CA, USA in 1953 and were initially managed by Ralph Bass. They had a contract with Federal Records but experienced little record success until they met music entrepreneur and songwriter Buck Ram. He added lead vocalist Tony Williams (who gave the Platters their distinctive sound) and female vocalist Zola Taylor. Under Ram's guidance, the Platters recorded seven singles for Federal in an R&B/gospel style, scoring minor regional hits on the West Coast. One song recorded at Federal, "Only You (And You Alone)", originally written by Ram for the Ink Spots was deemed unreleasable by the label.
Despite lack of chart success, the Platters were a profitable touring group--so successful that The Penguins, fresh from their No. 2 single Earth Angel, asked Ram to manage them too. With the Penguins as a bargaining chip, Ram persuaded Mercury Records into a 2-for-1 deal. In order to sign the Penguins, he insisted, the label also take the Platters. Ironically, the Penguins never had a hit for the label.
Convinced by Tony Williams that "Only You" had potential, Ram had the group re-record it during their first Mercury session. Released in the summer of 1955, it became the group's first Top Ten hit on the pop charts, and topped the R&B charts for seven weeks. It has since become one of the most played records in any genre and the song has been covered by innumerable artists. Ironically, the follow-up, The Great Pretender, with lyrics written by Ram in the washroom of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, exceeded the chart success of their début and became the Platters' first national No.1 hit. The Great Pretender was also the act's biggest R&B hit, with an 11-week run at the top of that chart. In 1956. The Platters appeared in the first major rock n roll movie, Rock Around the Clock, and performed both "Only You" and "The Great Pretender"[2] and they sang "You'll Never Never Know" in The Girl Can't Help It, produced the same year.
The Platters' unique vocal style touched a nerve in the music-buying public, and a string of hit singles followed, including two more Top 100 No. 1 hits, one Hot 100 No. 1 hit, and more modest hits such as "I'm Sorry" (No. 11) and "He's Mine" (No. 23) in 1957, "Enchanted" (No.12) in 1959, and "The Magic Touch" (No.4) in 1956. The Platters hit on a successful formula of updating older standards, such as "My Prayer", "Twilight Time", "Harbor Lights", "To Each His Own", "If I Didn't Care" and Jerome Kern's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". This latter release caused a small controversy after Kern's widow expressed concern that her late husband's composition would be turned into a "rock n roll record". It topped both American and British charts in a tasteful Platters-style arrangement.
The group was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1998. The Platters were the first rock n roll group to have a Top Ten album in America. They were also the only act to have three songs included on the American Graffiti soundtrack that sparked an oldies revival in the early to mid-1970s: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "The Great Pretender" and "Only You (and You Alone)".
Many groups have toured bearing the name The Platters but only one member of the original line-up, Herb Reed, was still touring and performing with Herb Reed's Platters in 2008.
Zola Taylor died on April 30th 2007 of pneumonia whilst recovering from surgery.
The Magic Touch
The Platters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It makes me glow so much
It casts a spell, it rings a bell
The magic touch
Oh when I feel your charm
It's like a fourth alarm
You make me thrill so much
If I go reeling, uh-oh, I'm feeling the glow (Uh-oh)
But where can I go from you
I didn't know too much
And then I felt your touch
And now I've learned I can return
Magic touch
If I go reeling, uh-oh, I'm feeling the glow (Uh-oh)
But where can I go from you
I didn't know too much
And then I felt your touch
And now I've learned I can return
The magic touch
The Platters' song "The Magic Touch" is a love song that expresses the impact and significance of one's partner's touch. The singer expresses that their partner's touch is magical, casting a spell that makes them glow so much. The touch is so powerful that it rings a bell and makes them feel like a fourth alarm. The singer also acknowledges that when they feel the charm of their partner's touch, they go reeling and feel the glow. This suggests that the touch has a physical and emotional impact on them, causing them to lose control.
The song continues to express the idea that the singer did not know too much before they felt their partner's touch. The touch has taught them that they can return to it whenever they need it. The singer emphasizes the importance of the magic touch by repeating the phrase "magic touch" at the end of each verse. The song has a slow tempo that highlights the message of the lyrics and creates a dreamy ambiance.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got the magic touch
Your touch is magical and special
It makes me glow so much
Your touch gives me happiness and joy
It casts a spell, it rings a bell
Your touch has a hypnotic and enchanting effect on me
The magic touch
Your touch is magical and special
Oh when I feel your charm
When I experience your captivating charm
It's like a fourth alarm
It has an intense and exciting effect on me
You make me thrill so much
You give me a thrilling feeling
If I go reeling, uh-oh, I'm feeling the glow (Uh-oh)
If I become overwhelmed and dizzy, I am feeling the effects of your touch
But where can I go from you
I can't escape the powerful influence of your touch
I didn't know too much
I was unaware of the power of your touch
And then I felt your touch
But after experiencing your touch
And now I've learned I can return
I have discovered that I too can give a magical touch
Magic touch
A touch that is magical and special
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LEE PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bibledoctor7623
God bless you.
My dad's been home with the Lord nearly 14 years. We loved The Platters.
If your relationship was anything like ours then I know how you feel.
Just remember...
Psalm 116:15 KJV...
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
In Christ's Love
@marildadasneves2791
You-oo-ve got the magic touch
You make me glow so much
It casts a spell, it rings a bell
The magic touch
Oh-uh-oh when I feel your charm
Its like a fourth alarm
You make me thrill so much
You've got the magic touch
If I go reeling, uh-oh, Im feeling the glow (uh-oh)
But where can I go from you
I didn't know too much
And then I felt your touch
And now I've learned I can return
The magic touch
If I go reeling, uh-oh, Im feeling the glow (uh-oh)
But where can I go from you
I didn't know too much
And then I felt your touch
And now I've learned I can return
The magic touch
@shawnbrunelle5449
I remember my mother listening to the Platters when she did her housework....I think I was about 9 years old. I find it amazing that I know all the words to the songs. Thanks Mom, Rest in piece dear woman.
@theswagrid7522
RIP out here gonna make me cry
@mariezacharda6542
My dad would drive us around on warm evenings and play the Platters.
@jameswrappner4624
You beautiful soul 🌹
@clevlandbrown5018
No..that was my mother , and I was 8 yrs old
🤣 LOL
@bloodfeast9239
Rest in peace
@maryomnes9445
THE PLATTERS WHAT A GREAT GROUP. THESE SONGS TAKE ME BACK TO MY ERA WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER. YEA FOR THE 50'S AND 60'S. WISH I COULD TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME.
@cottoncandy856
Why did I read that in my head screaming?
I can't help myself
@imariainessalazarmaturana2505
Q Música tan hermosa me recuerdan cuando era joven tiempo pasàdo
@tabathastaples7884
Shepherd's Chapel Network !!!!!!! Pastor Murray is an Anointed Servant of GOD who teaches the Word of GOD with Authority!!!!!!!