Description
Personnel: Bill Pinkney (vocals, tenor, bass voice); Johnny Williams, Jr., Johnny Lee Moore (vocals, tenor); Clyde McPhatter, Rudy Lewis, Ben E. King (vocals); Gerhart Thrasher (tenor, baritone); David Baughn (tenor); Andrew Thrasher, Doc Green, David Baldwin, Charlie Hughes, Eugene Pearson (baritone); Willie Ferbee, Tommy Evans, Elsbeary Hobbs, Johnny Terry (bass voice); Reggie Kimber, Jimmy Oliver, Walter Adams (guitar); Dee Dee Warwick, Dionne Warwick, Doris Troy (background vocals).
Audio Remasterers: Daniel Hersch; Bill Inglot.
Liner Note Author: Billy Vera.
Photographer: George Pickow.
Arrangers: Claus Ogerman; Garry Sherman; Ray Ellis; Stan Applebaum.
Along with Ray Charles, the Drifters epitomized the sound of black commercial music in the late 1950s and early 1960s as it was being marketed by Atlantic Records. Silky smooth, sophisticated, and distinguished by irrepressible pop melodies and just enough churchy grit to keep the body moving, the Drifters were arguably the finest pop/R&B ensemble of the era, and their record sales and long string of memorable hits attest to the fact.
Over two discs and 30 songs, DEFINITIVE SOUL represents the best of the Drifters. Immortal classics like "Under the Boardwalk," "Some Kind of Wonderful," and "Save the Last Dance for Me" are here, of course, but there isn't a dud in the lot. A must for fans of Brill Building pop and early soul/R&B, this excellent, well-packaged set is sheer pleasure front to back.
- Format: CD
- Genre: R&B
- Released: 2006-07-11