R.I.P. Sonny Turner (24 Sep 1939 - 13 Jan 2022)

Sonny Turner, who replaced Tony Williams as the lead singer for The Platters in 1959 and performed on all their hits throughout the 60s and beyond, died yesterday aged 82. 

The Platters greatest era of hits was the late 50s when they achieved four #1 R&B and four #1 Hot 100 hits with "Only You", "The Great Pretender", "My Prayer", "Twilight Time" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" all before Turner was a member. 

I guess many simply dismiss The Platters as a 50s doo-wop group but you really need to check out their mid 60s (1967-68) output. I've selected some of their best from that era in the playlist below.

Several of their 60s recording were played on the Northern Soul scene, some at Manchester's Twisted Wheel in the early days before it was known by the term i.e.  "With This Ring", "Washed Ashore", "Sweet Sweet Lovin'" along with many others later including "Devri", "Hard To Get That Thing Called Love". They also did one of the few good covers of Jackie Wilson's "I Get The Sweetest Feeling" which was an album only track on an album with the same name. Turner and Wilson were good friends.

They also did a great (unreleased?) version of Johnny Hampton's "Not My Girl" (itself a bit of a holy grail record fetching well into four figures) which got a release on a 100 Club 8th anniversary single in 1987. Kent also released a CD compilation "The Musicor Years" in 1994 which contains most of their best tunes from the period.

Turner left the Platters in 1970 to pursue a solo career which didn't really take off. He released three singles on Musicor between 1970-72, one of which "Now That You're Gone" was later reissued by Kent in 2016. Another two were released in the early 80s. There are also three albums listed for him, the first self-released on Sonny in 1974 which consists of covers. The other two are from 1983 and 1988 and are actually the same album, with the 1988 one being a reissue of the 1983 album.

NS504 Jackie Wilson [1968] - I Get The Sweetest Feeling [Brunswick]

504 Jackie Wilson [1968] - I Get The Sweetest Feeling [Brunswick]

Artist:	Jackie Wilson
A:	I Get The Sweetest Feeling
B:	Nothing But Heartaches (Keep Haunting Me)
Format:	45
Country:	US
Label:	Brunswick
Label Discography:	Brunswick Discography
Cat No:	55381
Year:	1966
Value:	£10
Value Link:	None
Artist Biography:	Jackie Wilson Biography
Artist Discography:	Jackie Wilson Discography

Absolute classic from Jackie Wilson that needs no introduction.  Surprisingly not covered by that many artists as how could you possibly top the original? Erma Franklin probably came closest, The Platters, The Chants (early incarnation of The Real Thing), Liz McClarnon (Atomic Kitten) had a decent effort in 2006 (see below) and a few others here. 

504 Jackie Wilson [1967] - I Get The Sweetest Feeling [Brunswick]

Jackie Wilson [1967] - Nothing But Heartaches (Keep Haunting Me) [Brunswick]

The Platters [1968] - I Get The Sweetest Feeling [Musicor MS 3171]

From the album of the same name, here's The Platters version from 1968.

The Chants [1969] - I Get The Sweetest Feeling [RCA (UK) 1823]

The Chants were founded in Liverpool in 1963. In 1969 they released a cover of the Jackie Wilson classic.  Eddie Amoo from The Chants joined his brother Chris who had started The Real Thing in 1972.  It wasn't until Eddie joined the group in 1976 that they began to find chart success.  They had a UK #1 with 'You To Me Are Everything' and went on a 10 year run of UK hits.  Eddie died in Feb 2018 in Australia.

The Chants were different from the rest of the beat groups in that they were a black vocal group who had a style which owed much to American groups of the Fifties such as The Ravens and The Flamingos. They were formed in Liverpool in 1962 and originally called themselves the Shades. Late in 1962 they turned up at the Cavern club for an audition but didn't have a backing group, the Beatles offered to provide backing for them, but Brian Epstein objected. John Lennon overruled him and the Chants made their Cavern debut in November 1962 with the Beatles providing their backing. Despite his initial opposition, Epstein briefly took over the management of the group early in 1963. They found him ineffectual as a manager and he agreed to release them. Then they signed with a Manchester-based agent, Ted Ross, who arranged a recording deal with Pye Records. The Chants made an impact on several tours and in Eddie Amoo they possessed an effective performer.. They sustained their career throughout most of the '60s without troubling the charts despite recording for several different labels. In the mid-seventies singer Amoo finally found success with the disco band The Real Thing. 'I Get The Sweetest Feeling' was The Chants last single release. 

Erma Franklin [1970] - I Get The Sweetest Feeling [Brunswick 755430]

Older sister to Artetha and Carolyn does her 1970 cover of the Van McCoy & Alicia Evelyn track.

Liz McClarnon [2006] - I Get The Sweetest Feeling [All Around The World]

A 2006 solo release from former member of Atomic Kitten tucked way on the B side of 'Woman In Love'.  'Purists' ... don't let that put you off ... give it a listen and I think you will be plesantly surprised by what you hear.

Daisy Hicks [2002] - I Get The Sweetest Feeling

Daisy Hicks did a modern arrangement on her 'Mistress' album in 2000.  It was released on a vinyl 45 to commemorate the 2nd Anniversary of Trentham Gardens All-Nighter (Stoke-On-Trent UK) in 2002.

It has been posted here