Before fronting the original
Drifters
in 1953,
Clyde McPhatter
first hit the big time as a member of
Billy Ward & the Dominoes
from 1950-'53. Even though
Ward
was the figurehead and prime money maker in the band, it was
McPhatter
who soon became the star lead singer and one of the first crossover attractions in the
pop
world. His high-toned, pure, and soulful voice graced such
Dominoes
smashes as
"Sixty Minute Man,"
"Have Mercy Baby,"
and
"The Bells."
Later hits on
Atlantic
, both with the
and as a solo act, may have given
greater exposure, but it was those early
recordings that qualify as some of his best work. This 18-track collection of the band's
King
sides mixes several cuts featuring
with a handful spotlighting other group members. And even though most of the group's big hits can be found on other roundups,
18 Original Hits
does include a wealth of highlights like
"Do Something for Me,"
"Harbor Lights,"
"When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano,"
not to mention a couple of nice vocal leads by
Little Esther
. A must for
fans. ~ Stephen Cook