"This Magic Moment "," Up On The Roof","Saturday Night at the Movies " are major hits. Now when you start your Christmas music please include "White Christmas "
Another rhythm and blues group around the same time in early 60's I really love is The Platters. I don't know if you have ever done any of their songs but you must check out, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Only You", "Twilight Time," "My Prayer", "The Great Pretender"
@@brianherrington7226 The Platter's version is actually a cover of The Ink Spots "My Prayer". Check out the original version it is very cool...I love both versions...
The instrument that Jay asked about were Castanets. I'll just copy and paste a definition from Google here for you: Small, concave pieces of wood, ivory, or plastic, joined in pairs by a cord and clicked together by the fingers as a rhythmic accompaniment to Spanish dancing.
And the percussion instrument that makes that "ratchet" sound during the rest of the song is a guiro, which is a hollow gourd with notches carved in it. The sound is made by moving a stick across the notches.
@@DJHolte I never knew that - thank you! The guiro sounds like it could be the antecedent, or tropical cousin of the washboard, beloved of British skiffle groups of the same period. :-)
From “Under the Boardwalk” to “Up on the Roof”, and so many great songs in between, The Drifters where a phenomenal group. Here in the Carolinas, this song is a staple in the Beach Music genre.
Like others have mentioned, "Up On the Roof", "Save the Last Dance for Me", "There Goes My Baby", and "This Magic Moment" are other great dishes on the Drifters menu. ☺♥
the clicking like sounds near the end ( 5:20 ) were Castanets ... Drifters had a great Doo-Wop ( 1953 -1965 ) sound of the early 60's .. so many great songs ... make sure to check out The Silhouettes - "Get a Job" Billy Joel did a great throwback salute with his song "The Longest Time"
I'm not too familiar with the drifters but if you guys want to hear more early doo wop and r&b (from the 40s and 50s) check out Billy Ward and the Domino's, the midnighters, the Rays, Big Joe Turner (also just called Joe Turner) and wynonnie Harris, to start out with and enjoy the early Roots music of what is today Rock and pop and modern contemporary r&b
the Drifters were a name of a singing group owned by Atlantic Records starting in the fifties with Clyde McPhatter as lead. They went through many personnel changes, disbanded and reformed by naming a new group(Five Crowns )the Drifters with Ben E King as the lead. Again they went through numerous personel changes with some form of the group still performing on the oldies but goodies circuit today.
You say how does he know this , when I was a young teenager in the early seventies there was a seventies revival with shows like "Happy Days" leading the way. I actually bought an anthology album of the Drifters in 1974-5 for some reason.. It explained the origin of the group and I must of played that album into the ground between 75-78. Though I knew" Under the Boardwalk" from my earlier childhood since it seems they always played it when you went to the beach.
I've always known this style of singing as Doo Wop, that came into being in the 50's. A style of singing that started on the streets of East coast cities. Young toughs actually singing these beautiful harmonies, acapella on street corners and stairwells. The style features group harmonies with a wide vocal range, usually with a strong lead vocal. So many wonderful songs in that era. It's great for listeners to learn to sing. There's a place for your voice range in the mix and singing with others is less intimidating, too. Fun to sing with your friends.
This was post the doo-wop era. At the time, we knew it as 'Uptown Soul', a genre of music that included Chuck Jackson, Dionne Warwick, The Shirelles, The Crystals, Arthur Alexander as well as The Drifters. Most of this was swept away by the arrival of The Beatles and other 'beat groups' of the era.
@paul, no please then they’d get all confused. Sha Na Na was more of a parody group doing covers of all the original songs. Thy need to start with the originals. If they want some comedic entertainment later than they can listen to them.
@@nkcbrazil Sha Na Na sang at Woodstock. They were VERY serious about preserving the do wop legacy. Don't get the music confused with their variety show.
This song always make me think of summer. I believe the boardwalk they are talking about is in Atlantic City. The dapper clothing style of the 50's transitioned to more casual during the late 60's coming from the hippy/tie-dye style popular at that time.
Well done, you're starting to get into some of the key songs of this era. The amazing thing is, you still have hundreds of songs to discover from the 1930s to the end of the 20th century that will absolutely blow your mind. The crown jewels of modern music and songs that set the template for the music that today's artists are making.
You gotta follow up with Up On The Roof by them, and don't forget about Carole King for Female Friday. Anything by her but the Tapestry album is a good start. You'll absolutely love her.
Ah The Drifters... this might be an easy listening song but it is instantly recognizable and nostalgic to many.... they began to drop the suits mid to late sixties.... violins and spanish style J. I am Australian but I have been to America several times. This seems to me to be a loose latin beat and reminds me of the little spanish type towns down the west coast.
@@oldiesguy7552 Those really are iconic songs that take you right back to that era. It’s actually a little before my time but I grew up listening to this kind of music.
So Amber. My wife Millie said, Oh she is gonna swoon on this one!" And you did not disappoint, lol. Back in the day, when our drum corps went to parades, we tried to do these doo wop songs to get the girls! Our most successful was "What's Your Name?" by Don and Juan. That's worth a listen. Thank you!
@dannysalamon Frankie Lymon...was once married to Zola Taylor, of the Platters. She and I attended the same schools. I wasn't allowed to sing ''WORLDLY SONGS''...I was a little church girl, singing and directing the Choir, at my church. Missed out on becoming a Platter...I cried! Made up for it, that's how I met Sam Cooke, Johnny Taylor, Johnny Mathis, Sarah Vaughn...etc... GOD IS GOOD!~
J&A, Their "Up On The Roof", "This Magic Moment" and "There Goes My Baby" are next for you! Their biggest hits were1959-1965. On "Boardwalk", Johnny Moore - lead & tenor,Charlie Thomas - lead & tenor, Gene Pearson - baritone, Johnny Terry - bass, Abdul Samad - guitar. You need a scorecard to keep track of group members, and wikipedia has it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Drifters#Discography
This song is part of one of my earliest memories. I was either 3 or just about to turn 4. My sister had come home from school and was sitting on the floor by the record player playing the Drifters' LP. (This particular song) Right as they got to the chorus I heard my dad's booming voice singing "UNDER THE BOARDWALK!" He had came home from work and snuck up behind us. Needless to say Dad was mobbed by his daughters.
This was always considered "beach music". Amber got it perfect. This song has always evoked such a fantastic visual in your mind... And when he sings "you could almost taste the hot dog and French fries they sell" it is exactly the way you feel on the beach walking down the boardwalk and smelling that "beach food" from the nearby restaurants and hot dog shops.
Actually, beach music like this is better associated with Carolina's beach music. The Drifters, The Platters, The Catalinas, The Embers, Chairmen of the Board....just a few of the great bands in the "Beach Music" genre. A great representation of this era is in the move "Shag".
Please keep doing some of the 60's music. I'm 74 and that was my era and the music was awesome. Playing on our car radios in 'high fidelity' , not stereo but still sounded great. Please react to 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' by the Tokens. You will be blown away.
Clothes and personalities started changing after the sexual revolution summer of love 1967. It was the height of the hippie generation and they are mainly who changed things a lot. At the exact time I was born.
The song was written for Rudy Lewis to sing lead but he died the night before the session cause unclear as to whether it was a drug overdose. They went agenda the next day with Johnny Moore being called in to sing lead. Moore had been in the Drifters in 1958 and was a natural to call in as the replacement
Always love the string arrangements for the Drifters. this has got to be one of the greatest records ever made. It's perfect. Style? Sort a Latin feel to it actually, not rock or blues. Didn't your hear the guitar noodling along? That's Spanish style guitar playing.
I am a new viewer. I enjoyed your videos and hit that bell. My 5 recommendations. 1. Plasmatics, the Damned. 2. Mahogany Rush, Johnny B. Goode. 3. King Diamond, the Family Ghost. 4. Devo, That's Good. 5. Soundgarden, Rusty Cage. 6. Jim Croce, Time in a Bottle. Thank you for letting me enjoy your musical awakening. You guys make me enjoy these songs again watching you enjoy them.
This song brings back so many wonderful memories for me. I was born in 78, so this era of music was before my time. I have a great appreciation of this era thanks to my grandfather though. I spent a lot of time at my grandparents as a kid. He always listened to this kind of music. He’d randomly break out into song, and this is one he’d sing. I miss him a lot. I’d love to hear more from this era.
Love watching y'alls reactions! I am in South Carolina and listened to this kind of music all my life. We call it beach music and danced the shag. Beach week, cruising 'the strip and going to the carousel and other rides. So much fun. Don't know what movies y'all watch but Shag, Where the Boys Are show this type of reality. Much love. New family.
The Drifters are one of the best groups ever. Their singing was fantastic! I too am surprised you haven’t heard this song before. It was covered by Bette Midler in ‘89 and it was in the movie Beaches.
Great song choice guys. Next by the Drifters - "Up on the Roof" and "White Christmas" and you cannot go wrong with the Platters - "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" "My Prayer" and to round out the classic Doo-Wop sound, The Flamingos "I Only Have Eyes for You" -RafDad out.
The Drifters started in the early 50's. They performed with different members up to the current times on oldies shows. Clyde Mac Phatter and Ben E. King started out in the Drifters. My favorite Drifters song is Your Promise To Be Mine. The Drifters were the first rock vocal group to feature string arrangements. Look for There Goes My Baby as an example.
The drifters had a singer named Ben E King who had left the band. The primary lead singer then did most of the leads for a couple years. On the night before they were scheduled to record this (in 1964) their lead singer passed from a supposed drug overdose. The decision was made to not reschedule and they used their secondary lead singer Johnny Moore. Another of their big hits you should listen to is Up on the Roof. On that one the gentleman who passed before this was recorded is the lead vocal. His name was Rudy Lewis (I believe). Their music was categorized as R & B. By the way Ben E King their lead singer up until 1960 also wrote and performed the big hit Stand by Me which was released in 1961. The instrument that made the distinctive sound was actually a Guiro. It uses a tined "brush" that is dragged across a hollow gourd. It actually sounds a lot like what you get dragging fingertips over a washboard. Almost looks like a big sweet potato being played by an afro pick. Interesting sound though.
In the Sixties, bands like the Beatles, even though they wore suits at first, their haircuts were really controversial. From early Sixties to late Sixties was a radical change. From Barbara Streisand to Janis Joplin. Sweet innocence to down and dirty!
This made me smile because when I was little the Drifters always came to my town and played at our 4th of July celebration and they performed this song...every year. This hit a special nostalgic place in my heart.
The group was formed in 1953 as a Doo Wop band and is still touring. Getting tickets to their shows, especially in Europe, is very difficult as they sell out very quickly. As you can imagine the line up has changed very many times over the decades. Most notable leads have been Ben E. King, Clyde MacPhatter and Johnny Moore. Johnny was a great loss when he died in 1998 in London.
Interesting tidbit: you guys reacted to the radio edit version - the original lyric was "people walking above, under the boardwalk we'll be making love..." Funny to see how far the FCC and radio has come as to what they edit out in lyrics! :) Great song, great reaction video, keep it up!
I am very surprised neither of you have heard this song before. it has been used in movies and TV shows as well as advertisements for years. When people talk about iconic songs; this is definitely one of those topping the list.
For Female Friday: Ronnie Spector - ‘Be My Baby’ Toni Braxton - ‘Un-Break My Heart’ Sugarland (Jennifer Nettles) - ‘Stay’ Roberta Flack - ‘First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ Other notables: Christopher Cross - ‘Sailing,’ Kayne Brown - ‘Worship You,’ Kool and The Gang - ‘Celebration,’ Dan Fogelberg - ‘Same Old Lang Syne’ Luther Vandross - ‘Dance With My Father’
The Drifters had several lead singers : Clyde Mcphatter- Ben E King- By that time the producers brought in all replacements who were originally called The Five Crowns after clyde left to go solo. Under the Boardwalk went up to #14 on Billboards top 100 in 1964
This is the early 1960's and entrenched in the Sam Cooke era of "smooth like butter" soulful rock. The Drifters had so many great songs but were influenced by this era. I call it the Sam Cooke era. A transitional period between rockabilly which was Elvis music to Motown. Lovely, soulful and smooth. African American contributions to American music cannot be underestimated.
Dana says- The instrument Jay asked about was the castanets. They are typically used in Spanish, Italian, Swiss & Portuguese music. Since you haven't heard this song before Amber, I'm assuming you haven't seen the movie "Beaches". I think you'd love it. It was a blockbuster hit about undying friendship and starred Barbara Hershey and songstress Bette Midler.
Although this is a happy song, the recording is quite melancholy. This is because the original lead singer, Rudy Lewis, was found dead from a drug overdose the evening before. The Drifters went ahead and recorded it with Johnny Moore on lead but the sadness the group felt comes through. Rudy had sung lead on many of the Drifters big hits since Ben E.King left and his version of this song was supposed to have been superb in the rehearsals. We will never know. The 'B' side (which was originally going to be the 'A' side) was 'I Don't Want To Go On Without You', with a lead by Charlie Thomas and was used as a tribute song to Rudy Lewis. A truly sad but superb song.
I was invited to a fancy dinner at an Italian restaurant in Howard Beach. Jimmy Lewis was one of the guests. After fangirling and acting a fool, I asked him to sing “Under The Boardwalk “ and to my delight, he did. He received a standing ovation from everyone in the restaurant. It was truly magical. Sadly back then the artists didn’t make much money and he didn’t tour with the latest group calling themselves The Drifters. Thank you for the memory and Jimmy, Rest In Peace from your biggest fan.
This sort of song is a lock for your viewership compared to stuff in the 90s and beyond. I think when the Beatles hit the US in 64, it changed the world of popular music and both the music and lyrical content started touching on different aspects as they transitioned to rubber soul and then the astonishing Revolver album which was such a huge leap.
I was born in 1967, so these 50’s doo wop songs are before my time. However, New Edition released an album of old doo wop covers in the mid 1980’s called Blue Moon which I loved. It caused me to go back and listen to the originals, and them some. My favorites from their album were Tears On My Pillow, originally by Little Anthony & The Imperials, Since I Don’t Have You, originally by The Skyliners, and A Thousand Miles Away, originally by The Heartbeats. Any of these would be a great choice to listen to for your next doo wop song.
I grew up in the late 50's and early 60's. I love this smooth style of music when the group members all dressed the same in very stylish threads. The dance movements were all choreographed so the members moved together. This style of coordinated dress and dance was still somewhat emulated by early bands of the British Invasion, as well as bands on this side of the pond. As the 60's changed with the Vietnam War and other events the music expressed something more serious and individual freedoms and expression was first and foremost. I still love this wonderful music today as much as I did in the late 50's.
In a similar vein, Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions. "Gypsy Woman", "People Get Ready", "I'm So Proud", "It's All Right", "Talking About My Baby", all R&B gems.
Now you are making me cry!! So many memories! This song hits the feels of lots of people…in fact, Bruce Willis covered this on his album “Bruno”…. which was surprisingly good. This Magic Moment is another one you should hear but you really NEED to do “My Girl” by the Temptations…it’s a must and it’s ❤️🔥❤️🔥
I wasn’t sure about the lead. I knew it wasn’t Ben E King and it sounded more like Clyde MacPhatter so I went to Wickimedia and found this surprise: The song was set to be recorded on May 21, 1964, but the band's lead singer, Rudy Lewis, died of a suspected heroin overdose the night before. Lewis had sung lead on most of their hits since the 1960 departure of Ben E. King, including "Up on the Roof". Rather than reschedule the studio session, the lead on "Under the Boardwalk" was given to the group's other lead vocalist, Johnny Moore, who had returned to the group in April 1963. The personnel on that recording included Ernie Hayes on piano, Everett Barksdale, Bill Suyker and Bob Bushnell on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, Gary Chester on drums and George Devens on percussion.[2] The last-minute move was a success, as the single, released on Atlantic Records, went to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and number one for three non consecutive weeks on Cashbox magazine's R&B chart.[3
Simple sweet visual with only words to paint the picture for you and they sing "Under The Boardwalk! Fantastic group to listen to Jay and Amber! Yes those instruments you asked about Jay those are Castanets (Cast -a-nets) I love listening to anything from the Drifters and you two will too! "Up on the Roof", This Magic Moment". "Saturday night at the Movies", "Save the Last Dance For Me", "Stand By Me" just to name some for you! Great reaction you two. I'm going to watch it again! I love this song too! Peace! 🧡
As Victor west has already said, 'Up on the Roof' (my fave) was one of their so dreamy beautiful songs that takes you away to a blissful place wherever you are. The 60's - around 65 - was when things really broke free and artists produced music that leaped through boundaries and came up with folk rock, psychedelia, metal, protest songs, songs about society and headlines of the time like 'Ohio' by Crosby, Stills and Nash (which was actually 1970).
The Drifters were huge in the '60's and rightly so. You might want to check out: "Up on the Roof," "Sweets for my Sweet", and "Save the Last Dance for Me". Pure musical perfection!
Groups started wearing bell bottoms and expressing their own style in the late 60s early 70s. Everybody was smoking pot and tripping acid by 1967, not just the bands but the teenagers. Speaking from personal experience here.😎😎😎😎
For FF: Whitney Houston: "I will Always Love You"; Shakespears Sister: "Stay".... Both songs/music videos are Rites Of Passages for any Music Reactor. They always cause jaw drops.
The Drifters were and R & B vocal group that had their biggest success during the 1950s and early-1960s. Clyde McPhatter was the lead singer during the early-to-mid-1950s, until he left the group to embark on a solo career. Ben E. King took over as lead singer, until he left the group to embark on his own solo career in 1960. Rudy Lewis took over as lead singer, until he died in 1964 of a heroin overdose, one day before the song was scheduled to be recorded in the recording studio. Johnny Moore sang lead vocals for this song, and it became a "Top 5" hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in 1964.
Stick with Motown it's GREAT and MANY great songs to choose from. Late 60s the British Invasion changed the dress code for bands. Then mid 70s it got redicuous!
you know I was born in 1958 and remember all of these songs, I lover everything, my father taught me to love all genres, country, rock, blues, jazz you name it I love it, it's wonderful to see a young couple enjoying all the different genres
The lead singer on this song was Johnny Moore. Most of their popular songs from 1959 to 1962 were led by Ben E. King. He sang the hit "Stand By Me" as a solo artist.
You can hear a percussion instrument called a guirro -or commonly called the "fish" some even call it the scraper. This band is from the early '60s. Mid '60s is when dress became more casual.
This song was a follow up to their huge hit, "Up On the Roof," which they refer to in the song's first line. "Up On the Roof" was written by Jerry Goffin and Carole King, and it has been covered many times, including by Carole and James Taylor.
3:25 the "decade" was the mid 60's, when everything in popular music and styles and attitudes suddenly turned topsy turvy. Hippies, psychedelic, peace movements, free love, counter-culture, etc. became the main theme. In music it was no longer Pat Boone but Van Morrison, no longer Annette Funicello but Grace Slick, no longer Andy Williams but Bob Dylan that young people wanted to hear. It was a seismic shift. It really started in the late 50's but really took off from 1964 on.
I love this group everything that they made is fantastic, my favorite lead singer is Ben E. King singing This Magic Moment!!! oh my goodness his voice was fantastic, makes you want to fall in love all over again! lol!!
You guys really need to do the music video of the band/ Five Finger Death Punch , and the song is called - wrong side of heaven. I THINK EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD WATCH THIS VIDEO !!!!!! This will get to you. #Help the troops
The Drifters were one of *the* most influential early soul harmony vocal groups of the late '50s and early '60s. They are right up there with the Platters, the Clovers, the Flamingos, and possibly the most important of them all, the Impressions (where Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler got their start). Give a listen sometime to the Impressions, starting with It's All Right, Gypsy Woman, Keep On Pushing, and the Woman's Got Soul. A great, important, influential group.
This is Motown style of rhythm and blues music, doo-wop the best music ever created!! Clyde McPhatter is the lead singer and was a founding member of The Drifters before he went solo, you should check out his song A Lovers Question (1958).
Another great vocal band of the era is the Coasters, who also are one of the funniest bands ever to record. Try "Charlie Brown," "Yakety Yak," "Along Came Jones" and my favorite, "Little Egypt."
As for the fashion in the 50s and 60s, it wasn't JUST celebrities that dressed well. If you went to town, at all, to dinner, to a movie, to church, to the bank, car dealer or shopping at Sears, Penny's or the fancy elevator.department stores, men wore a suit and women wore a dress and overcoat....with dress shoes!! Sneakers, shorts and t-shirts were a big no-no. (We couldn't even wear sneakers, shorts or t-shirts to school) Especially if it was a birthday party, Thanksgiving, Christmas or other holiday. If you even worked anywhere in retail, you dressed like a business professional...suit, tie, shined shoes...BUT!! You could also smoke anywhere, even in the supermarket, hospitals, doctors office, school, airplanes and courthouse. Then the 70s came, along with the 60s hippies, long hair, polyester and the sexual revolution. The 70s was the decade that America stopped being classy.
One of the greatest songs of all time. "Save the Last Dance for Me" was another of their great ones. Save the Last Dance ... has been covered many times in the years since. My favorite cover of it is by Emmylou Harris.
How can you say "bluesy"? Yeah, that one tiny guitar riff was kinda, but the beat, the chord procession are '60s latin or carribean. Sartorial grunge started working its way into bands in the late '60s, early '70s. Thanks so much for your efforts. I love watching you "kids" reacting to stuff I came up with. Blessings on you and yours from the piedmont of Georgia.
I grew up in Santa Cruz where we have the Beach Boardwalk amusement park. The Drifters perform at the summer concerts there - fantastic shows, always packed! And yes, I've been under the Boardwalk. ;p
great reaction! you guys are getting really popular so you probably won't catch this comment...but i hope you stay in this area for awhile...so many singing groups of the 60's and 70's making sweet love music...try the dells, delfonics, and whispers
The Drifters were hugely popular in the 50s and 60s. They have so many wonderful songs, Stand By Me, This Magic Moment, Save the Last Dance For Me, Saturday Night At The Movies, and Up In the Roof are only a few of their many hits.
The Drifters "(and the coasters and a bunch of other similar bands) were popular in the 60's and continued to be popular thru the 70's. They were old school bands that were still wearing suits when Led Zeppelin was prancing around in tight jeans with holes in them in the 70's. This band is FULL of hits and all of them are great whether they got popular or not. The band was tight. Check out "Rose in Spanish Harlem" Even tho the Drifters were a bluesey ballad band, they definitely liked to esperiment with percussion instruments and latin sounds that influenced them. "Rose in Spanish Harlem" shows their range and this crossover hit was huge and everybody covered it. Databyter
