Platters Great Pretender

The Daily Guru: June 5: The Platters, "The Great Pretender"

Though many have tried in a number of different ways over the decades, the fact remains that there is simply no replacement for raw talent.  Whether it be an exceptional ability on a given instrument or a voice that simply knows no equal, when one experiences a truly great performer, it quickly puts all other music into the proper perspective.  While in the modern music scene, technology has made it possible for those without such talent to appear as if they are skilled, in the early days of recording, it is almost impossible to find any sub-par song.  This makes it a bit more difficult to pick out the "best of the best," but there are a handful of voices and performances that remain as potent as the day they were released.  Though there were countless great vocal groups throughout the 1940's and 1950's, few were able to change their style as much as The Platters, and it is often the way in which their performances sound so effortless that has enabled them to become one of the most recognized groups in all of music history.  Though in many ways, they did not fit with the "normal" form for similar vocal groups, it was their powerful and heartfelt approach to every song that gave The Platters a handful of hit singles, and while their name may have been somewhat forgotten, their performance still rank among the greatest in history.  Though they scored a few hits both before and after, there is no better definition of the sound and style that makes The Platters so fantastic than what one can experience within their unforgettable 1955 single, "The Great Pretender." As "The Great Pretender" opens, it quickly establishes itself with as classic a sound as one can find anywhere, and the strolling piano progression instantly transports the listener back to the era during which the song was first released.  There is a smooth, yet soaring quality to this element of the song, and one can easily understand how it would have brought entire dance halls onto the floor.  The swing that comes forth from the piano is matched perfectly by the lone saxophone, and the combination of these two sounds is the ideal representation of the classic 1950's sound, seamlessly blending together soul, r&b, and blues.  Yet the saxophone also presents a fantastic sonic contrast to the piano, as it brings a more sultry, almost sharp sound, and it is through this instrument that "The Great Pretender" gains most of its mood.

Mistrider Anything Goes show is playing Platters - The Great Pretender :[Listeners: 437] Listen at

Now playing: The Great Pretender by Platters

Currently dancing and singing to The Platters' "The Great Pretender"! Next up is Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool."

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