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.
Exodus
The Platters Lyrics
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This brave and ancient land to me
And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain
Then I see a land where children can run free
So take my hand and walk this land with me
And walk this lovely land with me
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With the help of God, I know I can be strong
To make this land our home
If I must fight, I'll fight to make this land our own
Until I die, this land is mine
The Platters’ Exodus Song is a powerful ballad that speaks of the deep connection between a man and his land. The lyrics describe the land as a gift from God, a brave and ancient land that belongs to the singer. He feels a sense of pride and responsibility towards this land and envisions a future where children can run free on its hills and plains. The singer invites someone to walk this land with him, acknowledging that he is just a man, but with God’s help and their companionship, he can be strong.
The song is a poignant reminder of the deep connection between people and their homeland. It is a celebration of the pride, love, and sense of duty that people feel towards the place they call home. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, and the melody is haunting, creating a beautiful tribute to the land.
Line by Line Meaning
This land is mine, God gave this land to me
I believe that God personally bestowed this land to me
This brave and ancient land to me
This land is not only brave but also bears a rich history
And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain
When rising sun uncovers its hidden beauty and nature
Then I see a land where children can run free
I visualize a place where innocent children are free to play and enjoy
So take my hand and walk this land with me
Join me in exploring and experiencing this piece of land
And walk this lovely land with me
Let us traverse through this beautiful piece of earth together
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
I'm limited but with you supporting me, I'm capable
With the help of God, I know I can be strong
Divine intervention provides me with the strength to face any challenge
To make this land our home
We aim to establish this land as our immediate dwelling place
If I must fight, I'll fight to make this land our own
I'm willing to fight and struggle to fully own and occupy this land
Until I die, this land is mine
This land belongs to me for the rest of my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ernest Gold
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind