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.
Sincerely
The Platters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I love you so dearly, please say you'll be mine
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
I love that fella so
He doesn't want me
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
I love that fella so
He doesn't want me
But I'll never never never never let him go!
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
Please say you'll be mine
The Platters' song "Sincerely" is a classic love song with a touch of melancholy. The lyrics express the singer's deep love for the person they are addressing, pleading with them to reciprocate their affections. The singer is asking for their love interest to be theirs, to say yes to a relationship. The repeated phrase "Oh Lord, won't you tell me why I love that fella so" is a poignant admission of unrequited love; the singer can't help feeling the way they do, despite knowing that the object of their affections doesn't want them. However, they remain determined to hold on to their love, promising never to let go.
The song's simple melody and earnest lyrics are a testament to the power of love, and its ability to move us despite obstacles and heartbreak. The repeated vocalizations of "oh yes, sincerely" and "please say you'll be mine" are a desperate and poignant plea for acceptance, conveying the depth of the singer's emotions.
Overall, "Sincerely" is a timeless song that captures the essence of unrequited love and the longing for reciprocation. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal and relatability to listeners of all generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Sincerely, oh yes, sincerely
Expressing true and genuine emotions for the loved one
'Cause I love you so dearly, please say you'll be mine
Asking the loved one to be theirs forever because of intense love
Sincerely, oh you know how I love you
Reiterating the depth and sincerity of their love for the loved one
I'll do anything for you, please say you'll be mine
Expressing willingness to do anything to make the loved one theirs
Oh Lord, won't you tell me why
Expressing confusion and curiosity about the reason for their intense love for the person
I love that fella so
Confessing love for someone who doesn't reciprocate the same feelings
He doesn't want me
Expressing the pain of unrequited love from the person they love
But I'll never never never never let him go!
Refusing to give up on the person they love and will hold on to them forever
Please say you'll be mine
Pleading with the loved one to return their love and be their forever
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: SOPHIA BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oscar Guerrero Banda
La mejor época que y me tocó vivir, está hermosa música de los años 50' a 60's. Gracias Oscar guerrero banda desde la CDMX.
olo brown
Love this song.I may not be born during that generation but i see myself as an old fashione crooner music lover! Thanks for posting!
Jorge Mario Rodas
Tora cancó de les records que jo buscar tant temps i finalment encontrar-la. Em agrada escoltar-la perqué ser molt bona.
Maria Elizabeth Azevedo
Love This Song...I Love The Platters!
valerie briggs
Reminds me of my late Mum she loved this kind of music, Thanks for posting it brings back so many happy memories xx
Karin Glöckner
I like their version of the song most :) - thanks for sharing !
Svetlana Mozgina
Восхитительно!
Jorge Mario Rodas
This is another tender song of the past I looked so much here and at last found it. It is very good to hear and enjoy.
Zev Feldman
AWESOME VERSION
Chris H
Thank you for posting this awesome verson of this song.
The best version too...
I just liove this.
Thanks so much...