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45 RPM record in sleeve
photo by Styrous®
Sixty years ago today, on October 27, 1960, Ben E. King recorded his first solo songs after he left the Drifters. They were Spanish Harlem (link below) and Stand by Me.
Stand By Me was written by King with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who together used the pseudonym Elmo Glick. According to King, the title is derived from, and was inspired by, a spiritual written by Sam Cooke and J. W. Alexander called Stand by Me Father, recorded by the Soul Stirrers with Johnnie Taylor singing lead. Stand By Me went to number one on the R&B charts and was a Top Ten hit on the US charts twice—in its original release, entering the Billboard chart on May 13, 1961 and peaking at number 4 on June 16, 1961.
The personnel on the song included Romeo Penque on sax, Ernie Hayes on piano, Al Caiola and Charles McCracken on guitars, Lloyd Trotman on double bass, Phil Kraus on percussion, and Gary Chester on drums
The song was covered by The Drifters and Aretha Franklin in 1971. The Drifter's version is a little faster while the Franklin version is way faster and a bit jazzier (links to all below).
Spanish Harlem lyrics
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
And watch her as she grows in my garden
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
And watch her as she grows in my garden
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jerry Leiber / Phil Spector
The "B" side on this record, Taste of Love, actually started out as the "A" side with Spanish Harlem on the "B" side. By the time this record was issued, the switch had been made.
First Taste of Love was written by Doc Pomus, who wrote songs for many blues and rock singers, and Phil Spector, record producer, musician, and songwriter who developed the Wall of Sound, a music production formula he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock and roll.
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A Stand By Me, written by King*, Glick* - 2:44
Side 2:
B On The Horizon, written by Leiber, Stoller* - 2:18
Companies, etc.
Published By – Progressive (3)
Published By – Trio (8)
Published By – Adt
Lacquer Cut At – Atlantic Studios
Credits:
Side 1:
A Stand By Me, written by King*, Glick* - 2:44
Side 2:
B On The Horizon, written by Leiber, Stoller* - 2:18
Companies, etc.
Published By – Progressive (3)
Published By – Trio (8)
Published By – Adt
Lacquer Cut At – Atlantic Studios
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Stan Applebaum
Producer – Leiber-Stoller*
Producer – Leiber-Stoller*
Notes:
Both sides recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York City on October 27, 1960
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Side A label): 60C-5164
Matrix / Runout (Side B label): 61C-5442
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched): 45-60-C-5164-13 AT W
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched): 45-61-C-5442-11
Rights Society: BMI
Matrix / Runout (Side B label): 61C-5442
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched): 45-60-C-5164-13 AT W
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched): 45-61-C-5442-11
Rights Society: BMI
Ben E. King – Stand By Me
Label: Atlantic Records – 7-89361
Label: Atlantic Records – 7-89361
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul
Style: Rock & Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul
Style: Rock & Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues
Viewfinder links:
50srockin ~ Bell Sound Studios N.Y.C
YouTube links:
The Drifters ~ Spanish Harlem
Ben E. King ~
Styrous® ~ Friday, October 27, 2023
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