In the 1950s, the American vocal group the Platters was the onlymajor act to appeal to teenagers and their parents in equalmeasure. They had planned it that way or, at least, their manager,Buck Ram, did. When he was asked about their popularity, hedidn’t say, “They’re going to be bigger than Elvis”: he said,They’re going to be bigger than Louis Armstrong!” The Plattersintroduced us to the soul ballad although it wasn’t known as suchin the 1950s. Their influence lives on in the work of others, andMichael Jackson’s She’s Out of My Life and the Stylistics’ YouMake Me Feel Brand New might never have been recorded if itwasn’t for the Platters. Bryan Ferry revived Smoke Gets In YourEyes and Freddie Mercury, The Great Pretender. None havebettered the originals,and even the group the Pretenders tooktheir name from a Platters’ single.

• 1. Only You (and You Alone)
• 2. The Great Pretender
• 3. Harbor Lights
• 4. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
• 5. My Prayer
• 6. Twilight Time
• 7. I'm Sorry
• 8. Remember When
• 9. You'll Never Never Know
• 10. Wish It Were Me
• 11. (You've Got) That Magic Touch
• 12. It Isn't Right
• 13. He's Mine
• 14. Enchanted
• 15. To Each His Own
• 16. One In a Million
• 17. Sixteen Tons
• 18. Only You (and You Alone) (Alt. Ver.)