The Platters were the most successful vocal group of the 1950s, with a dozen gold singles and a trio of million-selling albums in their résumé. Blessed with lead singer
Tony Williams' warm, rich tenor, and a manager,
Buck Ram, who was also a skilled arranger and songwriter, the Platters toned down their R&B and gospel roots to fit pop radio, merging Tin Pan Alley pop with just enough R&B grit to prefigure what came to be known as soul, and their biggest hits ("Only You," "The Great Pretender") have become acknowledged classics. Their cover of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," originally recorded by
Paul Whiteman in 1933, has become the definitive version of this beautiful song. This 17-track budget collection that has all the hits and more, including an interesting version of
Merle Travis' "Sixteen Tons."