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.
I Wish
The Platters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish for you
I wish you were always with a smile
I wish you were happy all the while
I wish you were never in despair
And life could be a sweet affair
I wish that my love could bring to you
All the things that gives a lover's wings
Are all the things I wish for
(Chorus)
I wish somehow we could always be
Finding sunshine hiding misery
I wish someday we would never part
And love would start from heart to heart
All these happy things I wish for you
All the wondrous things and dreams we knew
Living, loving things that lovers do
They do come true, my wishes
(Repeat entire chorus)
The Platters' song I Wish speaks to the deepest wishes and desires one might have for the person they love. The song is an expression of deep love and affection from one person to another. The singer of the song wishes the best for their loved one, and they want them to feel happy and content in their life. They wish that their loved one always wears a smile and never experiences moments of despair or sadness. They want their loved one to find joy in everyday pleasures and experience a life full of sweetness.
The singer of the song believes that their love can bring happiness and joy into the life of their loved one, and they want to provide comfort and support to their partner through tough times. They believe in the power of love to create a comfortable and love-filled life for both of them. The singer wants to ensure that their loved one is always able to find sunshine hiding behind any moments of misery.
Ultimately, the song conveys the message that true love can bring about all the things a person may wish for in life. The happiest moments, the most joyful experiences, the sweetest dreams, and the most fulfilling lives are all possible when you find love with someone who reciprocates your love in full.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish for you
Expressing desire for the person's well-being
I wish you were always with a smile
I want you to be constantly happy and content
I wish you were happy all the while
I want you to have a lifetime of happiness
I wish you were never in despair
I wish that you never experience sadness or hopelessness
And life could be a sweet affair
I desire for life to be an enjoyable and pleasurable experience for you
I wish that my love could bring to you
I hope that my love can give you
Happiness and joy to cling to you
Feelings of joy and happiness to hold onto in difficult times
All the things that gives a lover's wings
The things in life that make a lover feel uplifted and elated
Are all the things I wish for
I want these things for you
(Chorus)
Repeating the same sentiment of wishing good things for the person
I wish somehow we could always be
I yearn for us to constantly be
Finding sunshine hiding misery
To uncover happiness even when it may be hidden or obscured by difficulties
I wish someday we would never part
I hope that we never have to be separated or part ways
And love would start from heart to heart
A deep and true connection formed through love
All these happy things I wish for you
I desire for you to experience all of these wonderful things
All the wondrous things and dreams we knew
The amazing experiences and aspirations we shared
Living, loving things that lovers do
All the heartfelt and loving actions that romantic partners share
They do come true, my wishes
I believe that my heartfelt desires and wishes can come true for you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cecilia Cortés
¡¡¡ que voz tan hermosa !!!
Murp h
One of the great groups of all time ---- Tony Williams ' voice is for all time -- an amazing singer
murp h
The greatest voice in popular music we ever had _ rip thank you my man _ there will never be another
Alicia Gamboa
Muy bella e inolvidable. Muchas gracias.
Luis Chavez
Beautiful 🌹 love the wording
Peggy Sue
I always liked the Platters......a beautiful song
Paul Joseph
This is honey for the Soul and gold to the ears. One floats off to heaven. Had not heard before. What a pity.
Jerry Barone
What a voice and a great song
M Smith
One of my favorites - hard to pick one I know but this one somehow struck that nerve
Cecilia Cortés
Esa voces maravillosas no necesitaban orquestacion