In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

The Drifters

Male Vintage Group

The Drifters are an American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953.

There were three golden eras of the Drifters; the early 1950s, the 1960s, and the early 1970s (post-Atlantic period). From these, the first Drifters, formed by Clyde McPhatter, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as "The Drifters". The second Drifters, featuring Ben E. King, was separately inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as "Ben E. King and the Drifters". In their induction, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selected four members from the first Drifters, two from the second Drifters, and one from the post-Atlantic Drifters.

Vocal Group.

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Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-7 of 7 items.

The Drifters : Save The Last Dance For Me / The Good life

Two classic Atlantic albums from '61 and '65, featuring some of the Drifters' biggest hits-including 'Save the Last Dance for Me; Some Kind of Wonderful; I Count the Tears; Sweets for My Sweet; Please Stay; Saturday Night at the Movies; Mexican Divorce; Tonight; Temptation', and more. 24 tracks, over an hour of music!

Songlist: Save The Last Dance For Me, I Count The Tears, Somebody New Dancin' With You, Jackpot, No Sweet Lovin', Sweets For My Sweet, Some Kind Of Wonderful, Sweets For My Sweet, Mexican Divorce, Some Kind Of Wonderful, When My Little Girl Is Smilin', Please Stay, Nobody But Me, Room Full Of Tears, Quando Quando Quando, On The Street Where You Live, I Wish You Love, Tonight, More, What Kind Of Fool Am I, The Good Life, Desafindo, As Long As She Needs Me, Who Can I Turn To, Saturday Night At The Movies, Temption

The Drifters : Up On The Roof / Under The Boardwalk

Two original early '60s LPs are combined here and the result is a virtual Drifters Greatest Hits. "Up on the Roof," Carole King's gorgeously romantic ode to working class escape and freedom, is here in both the hit single and slightly longer LP versions (the single is in mono, the LP version is stereo with a longer intro). Elsewhere, you'll find a real embarrassment of riches, with song after brilliant hit song from the fertile imaginations of the great Brill Building writers of the pre-Beatle era, including Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill ("On Broadway"), Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman ("Sweets for My Sweet," "This Magic Moment," "Save the Last Dance for Me"), plus lesser known but equally evocative songs from Burt Bacharach and Otis Blackwell. Timeless stuff.

Songlist: Up On The Roof, There Goes My Baby, Sweets For My Sweet, This Magic Moment, Mexican Divorce, Stranger On The Shore, What To Do, Save The Last Dance For Me, Lonliness Or Happiness, Another Night With The Boys, (If You Cry) True Love, True Love, Room Full Of Tears, When My Little Girl Is Smiling Ruby Baby, Under the Boardwalk, One Way Love, On Broadway, Didn't It, I Feel Good All Over, Vaya Con Dios, Rat Race, In The Land Of Make Believe, If You Don't Come Back, Let The Music Play, I'll Take You Home

The Drifters : Very Best Of Drifters

All the great hits!

Songlist: There Goes My Baby (If You Cry), True Love, True Love, Dance With Me, This Magic Moment, Save The Last Dance For Me, I Count The Tears, Some Kind Of Wonderful, Up On The Roof, On Broadway, Under the Boardwalk, I've Got Sand In My Shoes, Saturday Night At The Movies, Please Stay, Sweets For My Sweet, When My Little Girl Is Smiling, I'll Take You Home

The Drifters : Winter Wonderland

We have always loved recordings by the Drifters, and have enjoyed their live performances even more. "Winter Wonderland" is an all-accompanied collection of 10 soulful Doo-Wop Christmas tunes: "Christmas Just Ain't Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," The Beach Boys' wonderful "Little Saint Nick," "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Please Come Home for Christmas," "The Christmas Song," "Silent Night," "O Holy Night" and "Auld Lang Syne." No frills, no extensive liner notes, just some great fun, romantic tunes to dance to, enjoy and brighten up your holiday season!

Songlist: Christmas Just Ain't Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Little Saint Nick, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Please Come Home for Christmas, The Christmas Song, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Auld LangSyne

Audrey Snyder : White Christmas

It's the Irving Berlin favorite as performed doo-wop style by the Drifters, rediscovered in the movie Home Alone and with Santa and his reindeer on the web. Now perform it live with your group and this easily learned choral arrangement! Available separately: SATB, SSA, TTB, ShowTrax CD. Electric bass part included. Duration: ca. 2:50.

Jay Althouse : Save the Last Dance for Me

This pop hit from 1960 (the only #1 hit for the group, The Drifters) has been recorded by dozens of artists from country to r&b, including Dolly Parton and Michael Bublé. Jay's new arrangement has a light, almost Latin groove, a fresh new approach for a pop classic.

Kirby Shaw : On Broadway

This 1963 pop hit by the Drifters was covered by George Benson in 1978, and this Discovery Series arrangement is great fun for beginning choirs. Available: 2-Part, 3-Part Mixed, ShowTrax CD. Performance Time: Approx. 2:50.

Individual Folios

Displaying 1-8 of 8 items.

Kirby Shaw : On Broadway

Arranger: Kirby Shaw Performed By: The Drifters

Kirby Shaw : Save the Last Dance for Me

Here is a jazzy take on a classic pop/rock tune. The original version, sung by the Drifters, with all of its back up harmony and part singing, is a great beginning for a choral arrangement. In the hands of this skilled arranger it is a real concert piece.

Arranger: Kirby Shaw | Composer: Mort Shuman Performed By: The Drifters

Jay Althouse : Save the Last Dance for Me

Arranger: Jay Althouse | Composers: Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus Performed By: The Drifters

Mac Huff : This Magic Moment

First recorded by Ben E. King and the Drifters in 1960 this easy listening love song is here set in a doo wop style that harkens back to the 1950s with finger snaps, a doo wop bass line and a feature for a soloist who can really bring the style. The instrumental accompaniment for 2 trumpets, tenor and baritone saxophones, trombone and rhythm section is just as stylish as the vocals and together a scene with poodle skirts, bobby sox, duck tail hairstyles and all things cool from the period is set.

Arranger: Mac Huff | Composer: Mort Shuman Performed By: The Drifters

Drifters : Under the Boardwalk

With its easy-to-sing harmony and fun hook, younger groups will enjoy singing this accessible setting of the 1964 Drifters hit, also recorded by James Taylor. Available separately: TB & VoiceTrax CD. Duration: ca. 2:30. Discovery Level 2.

Composers: Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick Performed By: The Drifters

The Drifters : Under the Boardwalk

In 1964 the legendary pop group The Drifters recorded Artie Resnick and Kenny Young's "Under the Boardwalk." It has become one of the most recognized popular songs ever recorded. Have fun singing this audience pleaser by making up a visual plan for your performance. For example, you could wear colorful shirts and sunglasses, or create simple choreography to showcase the tenors and basses when they sing the melody on the refrain. Any visual references in the text could be accompanied by appropriate gestures that entertain your listeners. Allow the syncopated rhythms to sound free and agile while maintaining a god connected flow to the singing. Four copies of the sheet music arrangement plus a CD featuring the full performance plus part-predominant tracks (Tenor, Lead, Baritone, Bass), sung with lyrics.

Arranger: The Drifters | Composers: Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick Performed By: The Drifters