October 27, 2023

45 RPMs 75: Ben E. King ~ Stand by Me

~      
45 RPM record in sleeve
photo by Styrous®


Sixty years ago today, on October 27, 1960Ben E. King recorded his first solo songs after he left the Drifters. They were Spanish Harlem (link below) and Stand by Me.      


45 RPM record label
photo by Styrous® 

 
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.     
 
 
 Ben E. King ~ Stand by Me
45 RPM record
photo by Styrous®
 

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       

In 1986 a re-release coinciding with its use as the theme song for the film of the same name peaked at number 9 on December 20, 1986 – January 3, 1987, following its appearance in the film.           
 
 
Ben E. King ~ Stand by Me
45 RPM record label
photo by Styrous® 


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
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
I'm going to pick that rose
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
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)
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jerry Leiber / Phil Spector


 Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love
45 RPM record in sleeve
photo by Styrous®

 
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.     
 
 
Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love
45 RPM record label
photo by Styrous®    
     

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.       


Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love
45 RPM record label
photo by Styrous®   

     
      
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:
 
    Arranged By, Conductor – Stan Applebaum
    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

Ben E. King – Stand By Me
Label:    Atlantic Records – 7-89361
Format:    Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul
Style: Rock & Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues

       
       
      
  
Viewfinder links:       
         
The Drifters          
Ben E. King         
Doc Pomus         
Spanish Harlem      
     
Net links:       
         
50srockin ~ Bell Sound Studios N.Y.C                 
     
YouTube links:      
        
The Drifters ~ Spanish Harlem         
John Lennon ~ Stand by me        
Ben E. King ~      
        First Tast of Love        
        Spanish Harlem        
       Spanish Harlem (Original 1960 version in MONO recorded by Phil Spector)    
Cliff Richard ~ Das Ist Frage Aller Fragen        
        
              
      
Styrous® ~ Friday, October 27, 2023        







      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      
    

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