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.
Remember When
The Platters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I first met you (dah-doot-doo-doo)
My lips were so afraid to say "I love you"
Remember when (dah-doot-doo-doo)
To my surprise (dah-doot-doo-doo)
The heaven in my heart leaped into your eyes
Remember how much I cried
Darling, down deep inside
I still feel that feeling divine
I loved you then (dah-doot-doo-doo)
And I still do (dah-doot-doo-doo)
I can't remember when I didn't love you
Remember how much I cried
Tears of joy to think you were mine
Darling, down deep inside
I still feel that feeling divine
I loved you then (dah-doot-doo-doo)
And I still do (dah-doot-doo-doo)
I can't remember when I didn't love you
The Platters' song "Remember When" is a sweet and nostalgic ballad that describes the early days of falling in love. The lyrics paint a picture of two people who have been together for a long time and who still cherish their memories of falling in love. The opening lines describe the moment when the singer first met their lover and how nervous they were to express their feelings. The phrase "My lips were so afraid to say 'I love you'" conveys a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the enduring nature of the love between the two individuals. The lines "I loved you then, and I still do" suggest that the love between the two people has only grown stronger over time. The lyrics also hint at the idea that love is a constant, unchanging force that can withstand the passage of time. The phrase "I can't remember when I didn't love you" reinforces this idea by suggesting that the love between the two people has always been present, even in the earliest days of their relationship.
Overall, "Remember When" is a timeless and sentimental ballad that captures the enduring nature of true love. The song's gentle melody and loving lyrics make it a favorite for romantic occasions such as weddings and anniversary celebrations.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when (dah-doot-doo-doo)
Let's recall a specific moment in our past
I first met you (dah-doot-doo-doo)
The first time we saw each other
My lips were so afraid to say 'I love you'
I was scared to express my feelings towards you
Remember when (dah-doot-doo-doo)
Going back to another moment in the past
To my surprise (dah-doot-doo-doo)
I was amazed and taken aback by what happened next
The heaven in my heart leaped into your eyes
The love I had for you was reflected in your eyes
Remember how much I cried
I shed tears of joy and happiness
Tears of joy to think you were mine
I was overwhelmed to have you in my life
Darling, down deep inside
My love for you is rooted deep within my heart
I still feel that feeling divine
The emotion I feel for you is pure and heavenly
I loved you then (dah-doot-doo-doo)
My love for you at that time
And I still do (dah-doot-doo-doo)
And my love for you hasn't diminished
I can't remember when I didn't love you
I have loved you for so long that I don't remember a time when I didn't
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BUCK RAM, MICKEY J. ADDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JudeNance
Im 83 and wish i could dance to the music one more time.
@Jerry-gu7yp
Hello Jude, how are you doing?
@pfalzhof_klosterneuburg
Just do it, Dance as you Van, have fun with that kind of music
@ritaburton5347
I'm 78 and have always loved The Platters!!!! Brings back so, so many memories.....brings tears to my eyes listening to this beautiful song.....
@Jerry-gu7yp
Hello Rita, how are you doing?
@howardthrongard640
75 years old. I agree with you. Great music.
@virginiatabirao8707
Tony williams voice is like a
Cold ice so clear and so beautiful voice.
@Jerry-gu7yp
Hello Virginia, how are you doing?
@deloresdindlebeck918
You are correct. I love the Platters then an Now.Im glad it is being plad because it brings back memories and a very special time in my life .I'm now 78.
@Jerry-gu7yp
Hello Delores, how are you doing?