[ Jasmine / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 14 May 2021
Although BEN E. KING's name is synonymous with The Drifters, he only actually sang on a dozen tracks with them, most of which were recorded concurrent with the start of his own solo career.
This compilation anthologises Ben's solo recordings between 1960-62, presenting his early singles plus a handful of standout album tracks.
All his early hits are included, viz: the Drifters-like 'First Taste Of Love', his first million-seller 'Spanish Harlem', his signature song 'Stand By Me', the lilting Latin shuffle of 'Amor', the dramatic, bluesy 'Here Comes The Night'/'Young Boy Blues', his Sex'n'Soul double-sider 'Ecstasy'/'Yes', the explosive 'Don't Play That Song', the soulful 'Too Bad', the haunting 'I'm Standing By' and Goffin & King's 'Tell Daddy'.
The LP tracks featured herein include memorable covers of songs like 'My Heart Cries For You', 'He Will Break Your Heart', 'Dream Lover', 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', 'It's All In The Game', etc.
This is a truly magnificent, almost faultless body of work.
1. Brace Yourself
2. Show Me The Way
3. A Help-each-other Romance (With Lavern
Baker)
4. How Often (With Lavern Baker)
5. First Taste Of Love (Mono - Single Edit)
6. Spanish Harlem
7. Stand By Me
8. On The Horizon
9. Amor
10. Souvenir Of Mexico
11. Here Comes The Night
12. Young Boy Blues
13. Ecstasy
14. Yes
15. My Heart Cries For You
16. He Will Break Your Heart
17. Dream Lover
18. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
19. Moon River
20. At Last
21. It's All In The Game
22. Don't Play That Song (You Lied)
23. The Hermit Of Misty Mountain
24. Too Bad
25. First Taste Of Love (Stereo - Full Length
Version)
26. I Promise Love
27. I'm Standing By
28. Walking In The Footsteps Of A Fool
29. Tell Daddy
30. Auf Wiedersehn, My Dear