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 Wonder of You
The Platters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When everything I do is wrong
You give me hope and consolation
You give me strength to carry on
And you're always there to lend a hand
In everything I do
That's the wonder
And when you smile the world is brighter
You touch my hand and I'm a king
Your kiss to me is worth a fortune
Your love for me is everything
I guess I'll never know the reason why
You love me like you do
That's the wonder
The wonder of you
"The Wonder of You" by The Platters is a heartfelt love song that sings praise of an individual who acts as both a source of emotional support and a love interest. The lyrics express the singer's deep gratitude towards this person, who is always there for them, even when the rest of the world is alienating them for their actions. The singer is comforted by their presence and feels empowered to keep going in life. The song's chorus speaks to the intriguing nature of their relationship - the reason why this person loves the singer so much is a mystery, but it is clear that their love is a powerful force that keeps the singer going.
The first two lines of the verse describe the singer's sense of alienation in the world, emphasising a feeling that no one else can understand them. The verse then transitions into the powerful effect the subject of the song has on the singer. The individual provides hope and consolation and is a source of strength for the singer, allowing them to persevere even when things are tough. The second verse highlights the romantic aspects of the subject's relationship with the singer, with the subject's smile brightening the world and their touch making the singer feel like royalty. The third line in this verse, "Your kiss to me is worth a fortune," implies that the subject's love is of great value to the singer. The chorus, with its repetition of "That's the wonder/The wonder of you," stresses the enigmatic yet powerful nature of the relationship between the singer and the subject.
Overall, "The Wonder of You" is a moving expression of gratitude and love that highlights the power of emotional support from a romantic partner. The song's lyrics paint an image of a deep connection between two individuals that transcends understanding, making their relationship all the more mysterious and extraordinary.
Line by Line Meaning
When no-one else can understand me
In times when I feel alone and misunderstood, you are the one who gets me and is there for me.
When everything I do is wrong
Even when I mess up and feel defeated, you give me hope and are a source of comfort and encouragement.
You give me hope and consolation
You are the light at the end of the tunnel, the one who puts my worries to rest and lets me know that everything will be OK.
You give me strength to carry on
Without you, I would be lost and unable to face what the world throws at me. You give me the inner strength to keep going.
And you're always there to lend a hand
No matter what, you are always available to help me in any way you can. Your support is unwavering.
In everything I do
Whether I'm succeeding or failing, you are right there beside me, cheering me on and providing guidance and wisdom.
That's the wonder
Your amazing presence in my life, your unconditional love and support, is what makes you so special and awe-inspiring to me.
The wonder of you
You are truly one of a kind, and I feel so lucky to have you in my life. Your love and care are worth more than anything in the world.
And when you smile the world is brighter
Just seeing your smile can light up my whole world and make everything better. Your happiness is infectious.
You touch my hand and I'm a king
Your touch is powerful and transformative. It makes me feel strong and capable, like I can conquer anything.
Your kiss to me is worth a fortune
Your love and affection means more to me than any material possessions ever could. Your kiss is priceless.
Your love for me is everything
At the end of the day, all I really need is your love. It sustains me, inspires me, and fills me with joy and contentment.
I guess I'll never know the reason why
I'm not sure what I did to deserve someone as wonderful as you, but I am endlessly grateful for you and the way you enrich my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANCIS ZAMBON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robin Longobardi
Platters were great, NEVER KNEW THEY MADE THIS( LOVE ELVIS’ version💕🔥🌹
Hendro Adiman
L
Luciana Pennelli
I think elvis' versione Is amazing
Trying My Best To Be Sigma
They didn't. Ray peterson did , not the platters.
Cruizn for a bruizn travel Australia
Best version i have heard gives me chills down my spine
Luzon Visayas Mindanao
Every morning I play this piece several times and it starts my day right. Lovely music calming and sweet.
selby16
elvis could take any song and make it his own but having said that this version is brilliant
Donizete Pereira
Eles são demais, linda , magnífica interpretação....
Micky May
Best version of the song I ever heard. Thanks you so much for your work in posting this for all to enjoy as much as I did!!
Valda Fasano
rxxreeves Oh I know. Nobody can take Tony Williams’ place. He was awesome. And this rendition can’t even come close to Elvis. Sorry.