♫ Only You ♫

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I was chatting with a friend via email this evening, and he mentioned having smoke in his eyes.  Naturally, that put the old Platters’ song “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” into my head, and I intended to play it tonight.  But … sigh … when I checked to make certain I hadn’t already played it, I found that sure enough … I had already played it, and only two months ago!  You would think my memory could hold data for a mere two months, wouldn’t you?  So, I settle on the next best thing, having now gotten the Platters stuck in my head, and I give you, Only You.  Well, okay, I must give credit where credit is due … it was the friend with the smoke in his eyes who suggested Only You.

There is some fun history behind this song.

The Platters first recorded the song for Federal Records on May 20, 1954, but the recording was not released, for reasons unbeknownst to moi. In 1955, after moving to Mercury Records, the band re-recorded the song (on April 26) and it scored a major hit when it was released in May.  Platters bass singer Herb Reed later recalled how the group hit upon its successful version:

“We tried it so many times, and it was terrible. One time we were rehearsing in the car … and the car jerked. Tony went ‘O-oHHHH-nly you.’ We laughed at first, but when he sang that song—that was the sign we had hit on something.”

This was the only Platters recording on which songwriter and manager Ram played the piano.  The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1998.

Only You (And You Alone)
The Platers

Only you can make all this world seem right
Only you can make the darkness bright
Only you and you alone can thrill me like you do
And fill my heart with love for only you

Only you can make all this change in me
For it’s true, you are my destiny
When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do
You’re my dream come true, my one and only you

Only you can make this change in me
For it’s true, you are my destiny
When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do
You’re my dream come true, my one and only you

Songwriters: Buck Ram / Ande Rand
Only You (And You Alone) lyrics © T.R.O. Inc.

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21 thoughts on “♫ Only You ♫”

  3. Thanks for the background on this classic Jill.
    Whatever the musical tastes, this will meoldy and haunting vocals will not go away

    Liked by 1 person

      • Thanks. I enjoy these posts. I do think we have a lot of similar favorites. Have you done any on Etta James, Muddy Waters, or Ray Charles? Also, some more old school would be Blind Faith, with Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton – there is one song called “In the presence of the Lord,” I think that is outstanding. Keith

        Liked by 1 person

        • All wonderful suggestions … I will add them to my list! I have not done any of those, except Ray Charles “Hit the Road, Jack” back in January 2018, for a Saturday Surprise post, as I didn’t start doing these regular music posts until last July. Thanks for the ideas!

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