Clyde McPhatter
Lover Please / The Complete MGM & Mercury Singles

When the topic of the first soul music recording or most influential R&B singer of the ‘50s comes up, one name should emerge, but often doesn’t: Clyde McPhatter. North Carolina-born McPhatter’s wailing, gospel-charged lead tenor vocal on Billy Ward’s Dominoes’ “Have Mercy Baby” in 1952 predates every other recording cited as the first soul record, and everyone from Frankie Lymon to Smokey Robinson, from Gary U.S. Bonds to Aaron Neville have acknowledged the singer’s omnipresent influence. His lead vocals have graced #1 R&B hits by Ward’s Dominos and The Drifters (“Money Honey,””Such A Night”) as well as such solo smashes as “Treasure Of Love” and “A Lover’s Question.” And he’s in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame.

So it might come as a surprise that the period (1959 to 1965) of this legend’s recording career that includes his biggest pop hit (“Lover Please”), his Top 25 take on “Little Bitty Pretty One,” as well as his final Top 10 R&B hits (“TA TA” and “Deep In The Heart Of Harlem”), would be well-documented. Up until this collection, it has not, and now that oversight has been corrected.

Simply, the recordings here reinforce McPhatter’s status as one of the greatest voices of the ‘50s and ‘60s, while showcasing his extreme versatility - deeply stirring ballads, light-hearted pop, rollicking rock ‘n’ roll, and sumptuous uptown soul, with an all-star lineup including Clyde Otis, Ray Ellis, and Shelby Singleton in the Producer’s chair. The 44 tracks on Lover Please / The Complete MGM and Mercury Singles feature Clyde’s takes on classics “(I’m Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over” and “The Glory Of Love,” plus songs penned by such notables as Brook Benton, Otis Blackwell, Charles Singleton, Neil Sedaka and the singer himself.

Lover Please /The Complete MGM and Mercury Singles also includes extensive liner notes by Bill Dahl, song by song credits, and period photos and recording memorabilia.



Disc 1
1. I Told Myself A Lie
2. (I’m Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over
3. Twice As Nice
4. Where Did I Make My Mistake
5. Let’s Try Again
6. Bless You
7. Think Me A Kiss
8. When The Right Time Comes Along
9. One Right After Another
10. This Is Not Goodbye
11. The Glory Of Love
12. Take A Step
13. TA TA
14. I Ain’t Giving Up Nothing (If I Can’t Get Somethin’ From You)
15. I Just Want To Love You
16. You’re For Me
17. One More Chance
18. Before I Fall In Love Again (I’ll Count To Ten)
19. Tomorrow Is A-Comin’
20. I’ll Love You Till The Cows Come Home
21. I’ll Love You Till The Cows Come Home
22. You’re Moving Me
Disc 2
1. I Never Knew
2. Happiness
3. Same Time, Same Place
4. Your Second Choice
5. Lover Please
6. Let’s Forget About The Past
7. Little Bitty Pretty One
8. Next To Me (mono single version)
9. Maybe
10. I Do Believe
11. The Best Man Cried
12. Stop
13. So Close To Being In Love
14. From One To One
15. Deep In The Heart Of Harlem
16. Happy Good Times
17. Second Window, Second Floor
18. In My Tenement
19. Lucille

http://hip-oselect.com/scr.public.produ ... B2A37D06D0

If this gets a general release (like with most Rhino Handmade titles - does that happen with Hip-o Select titles?) I'll buy it, but getting it direct from Hip-O select would cost too much money.

Clyde McPhatter for me, no matter the cost.

I agree that Hip-o Select charges WAY too much - especially for shipping. That's why I usually get get their titles from Collector's Choice. I just got Check Berry's Have Mercy from them and it only cost 51.04 (on sale with a discount) as opposed to Hip-O's $69.98