vinyl LP front cover
cover photo by Leonard Heicklen
photo of album cover by Styrous®
The Drifters mono album, Save The Last Dance For Me, was my introduction to the group. The songs on the album are wonderful with two by Carole King who wrote Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? and recorded by the Shirelles, with one by Aaron Schroeder. But most of the songs were written by the Pomus-Shuman team with their Save the Last Dance For Me my favorite tune on the album.
Save the Last Dance For Me was recorded on May 19, 1960, by The Drifters. The song by Doc Pomus (lyrics) and Mort Shuman (music) had Ben E. King on lead vocals; it was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The single was released a few months after King left the group, and would go on to spend three non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the U.S. pop chart, in addition to logging one week atop the U.S. R&B chart.
Later that year in November, as a soloist, King would record one of my all-time favorite songs, Spanish Harlem.
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Save the Last Dance For Me was recorded on May 19, 1960, by The Drifters. The song by Doc Pomus (lyrics) and Mort Shuman (music) had Ben E. King on lead vocals; it was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The single was released a few months after King left the group, and would go on to spend three non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the U.S. pop chart, in addition to logging one week atop the U.S. R&B chart.
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP back cover
photo by Styrous®
Later that year in November, as a soloist, King would record one of my all-time favorite songs, Spanish Harlem.
Pomus recalls that the single originally had Last Dance designated as the B-side of the record. He credits Dick Clark with turning the record over and realizing it was the stronger song.
In the lyrics for the song, the narrator tells his lover she is free to mingle and
socialize throughout the evening, but to make sure to save him the dance
at the end of the night. Pomus had polio and at times used crutches to get around. During an interview on the Elvis Costello show Spectacle, Lou Reed,
who worked with Pomus, said the song was written on the day of Pomus'
wedding; from his wheelchair he watched his bride dancing with
their guests. His wife, Willi Burke, was a Broadway
actress and dancer who was in the Broadway musical, Fiorello!. The song gives his perspective of telling his wife
to have fun dancing, but reminds her who will be taking her home and "in
whose arms you're gonna be."
Willi Burke & Doc Pomus
date & photographer unknown
"Save The Last Dance For Me"
You can dance
Every dance with the guy
Who gave you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Every smile for the man
Who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Oh I know
That the music is fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart
To anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Baby don't you know I love you so?
Can't you feel it when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh so much
You can dance
Go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks
If you're all alone
Can he take you home
You must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Save the last dance for me
You can dance
Every dance with the guy
Who gave you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Every smile for the man
Who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Oh I know
That the music is fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart
To anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Baby don't you know I love you so?
Can't you feel it when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh so much
You can dance
Go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks
If you're all alone
Can he take you home
You must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Save the last dance for me, mmm
Save the last dance for me
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP , side 1
photos by Styrous®
The Drifters ~ Save the Last Dance For Me
vinyl LP , side 2
photos by Styrous®
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 - Save The Last Dance For Me, written by Pomus-Shuman
A2 - I Count The Tears, written by Pomus-Shuman
A3 - Somebody New Dancin' With You, written by Pomus-Shuman
A4 - Jackpot, written by Aaron Schroeder, Chuck Kaye
A5 - No Sweet Lovin', written by David Baughan, James Oliver (4), William Pinckney
A6 - Sweets For My Sweet, written by Pomus-Shuman
Side 2:
B1 - Mexican Divorce, written by Bob Hilliard, Burt F. Bacharach*
B2 - When My Little Girl Is Smiling, written by Carole King, Jerry Goffin*
B3 - Some Kind Of Wonderful, written by Carole King, Jerry Goffin*
B4 - Please Stay, written by Bob Hilliard, Burt F. Bacharach*
B5 - Nobody But Me, written by Pomus-Shuman
B6 - Room Full Of Tears, written by Pomus-Shuman
Companies, etc.
Published By – Progressive (3)
Published By – Rumbalero
Record Company – Atlantic Record Sales
Mastered At – Atlantic Studios
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Stan Applebaum
Producer – Leiber-Stoller*
Written-By – Pomus-Shuman
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Rights Society: BMI
Rights Society: ASCAP
Matrix / Runout (side A label): 11851
Matrix / Runout (side B label): 11852
Matrix / Runout (side A runout etched [except 1]): A11851B AT1 W
Matrix / Runout (side B runout etched [except 1]): 11852-B 1 AT W 5
The Drifters – Save The Last Dance For Me
Label: Atlantic – 8059
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1962
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Doo Wop
Viewfinder links:
The Drifters articles/mentions
The Drifters lineup: 1953 to 2019
Doc Pomus
Lou Reed
Net links:
Unca Marvy ~ The Later Drifters
YouTube links:
The Drifters articles/mentions
The Drifters lineup: 1953 to 2019
Doc Pomus
Lou Reed
Net links:
Song Facts ~ Save the Last Dance for Me
Trivia People ~ The Story behind the song
Unca Marvy ~ The Original Drifters
Unca Marvy ~ The Drifters (The Early Years) Trivia People ~ The Story behind the song
Unca Marvy ~ The Original Drifters
Unca Marvy ~ The Later Drifters
YouTube links:
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