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.
Volare
The Platters Lyrics
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And in the hustle and bustle, no sunshine appears
But you and I have our love always there to remind us
There is a way we can leave all the shadows behind us
Volare, oh, oh! Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh!
Let's fly way up to the clouds, away from the maddening crowds
We can sing in the glow of a star that I know of
Where lovers enjoy peace of mind
Just like birds of a feather a rainbow together we'll find
Volare, oh, oh! Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh!
No wonder my happy heart sings
Your love has given me wings
Your love has given me wings
The lyrics of The Platters' song Volare describe the struggles of living in a world full of heartaches and tears, where there is no sunshine amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. However, the singer and his lover find solace in their love - it serves as a reminder that there is a way out of the shadows. They can 'fly way up to the clouds' and escape the maddening crowds to a place where the glow of a star illuminates their union. They can leave confusion and disillusion behind and find peace of mind in a place where they are free to just be together. Just like birds of a feather and a rainbow together, the singer and his lover can find happiness in their love.
The main message conveyed in the song is about the power of love to transcend suffering and bring joy and happiness into life. The metaphor of flying is used to show how love can take one away from the struggles of life and lead one to a place of inner peace and tranquility. The lyrics highlight the importance of being with someone who loves you and supports you, especially in difficult times. The song reminds us to hold on to love and cherish it as it has the potential to transform our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes the world is a valley of heartaches and tears
At times, life can be full of sorrow and pain
And in the hustle and bustle, no sunshine appears
In the midst of chaos, it's challenging to find any glimmer of hope
But you and I have our love always there to remind us
Our affection towards each other serves as a constant reminder that there's still something worth living for
There is a way we can leave all the shadows behind us
There's a method to move past our obstacles and hardships together
Volare, oh, oh! Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh!
Let's fly and sing together to celebrate our love
Let's fly way up to the clouds, away from the maddening crowds
We can escape from the chaos of the world by ascending beyond it all
We can sing in the glow of a star that I know of
There's an incredibly special and beautiful place we can go to and express our love
Where lovers enjoy peace of mind
Only those who share the bond of pure love can truly feel at peace in this place
Let us leave the confusion and all disillusion behind
We should leave behind all of the confusion and feelings of hopelessness in our lives
Just like birds of a feather a rainbow together we'll find
We'll embark on this journey together, united as if we were birds of a common species, with the promise of discovering something beautiful, like a rainbow
No wonder my happy heart sings
It's no surprise that I feel overwhelmingly joyous
Your love has given me wings
Your love is the fuel that propels me through life
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Domenico Modugno, Franco Migliacci
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind