This is singing. Range, control, passion, showmanship. Seriously, this doesn't exist anymore. Tony Williams is his name, Harri.

Tony Williams is the lead singer and I could listen to his voice forever. The Platters had quite a few big hits.

This is another fabulous group from the 50's-60's. This was the time of classy romantic heartfelt songs. Sadly they don't make music like this anymore. They had so many great hits such as "Only You", "Enchanted", "(You've Got) The Magic Touch", "My Prayer", "Twilight Time", "Harbor Lights", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "The Great Pretender" etc.

I love Tony William's voice!

Before Rock and Roll. This was my parents music. Before Chuck Berry Before Elvis Presley. The Platters were a fabulous group.

Now that is a singer.The songs from that Era were so clear..get vocals

Tony Williams what a vocalist

One of the greatest songs ever recorded. Thank you for honoring it.

Brilliantly written song too

Wonderful song writer. Wonderful singer.

Gorgeous ballad! Excellent reaction, Governor!

Love this song so beautiful

A heart melting ballad from the 50's. When I hear this track I see my mom & dad young and vibrant holding one another on the dance floor. 3 songs they danced to because it was their songs. This is one, "Under the Boardwalk" by the Drifters, and "I Only Have Eyes For You" by the Flamingos. Any of these great artists singing thier ballads will set that loving mood in your hearts.

Classic this song will carry you away

Oh..the magical voice of the great Tony Williams! He's one of just a handful of singers from that era that just give me goosebumps. The music was so classy and the arrangements were always so beautiful. This is a treat to hear again!

This music comes from the heart!!! I am glad, that you gave it a chance, and listened to it. Beautiful voices, lyrics, songs are great from the past.

Some of us believe that the platters were the greatest singing group of all time.

Tony Williams is a GIANT! What a vocal. That "Oooooooh" part is just phenomenal.

YES !! One of the greatest !!

Everything the platters recorded was pure magic. My Prayer still one of my favorites.

I love watching peoples reactions to that first “Ohh” is always the best!!

An awesome song and group.

Number one song fotr the year. It doesnt get much better.

The voice of the late, great Tony Williams from my hometown of Elizabeth NJ. The Platters have a whole catalog of hits that you might want to check.

this is one of the finest songs ever recorded...

His. Voice is gorgeous! All their songs are equally beautiful! Thx fo4 the memories.

Tony Williams had a wicked set of pipes... Could run rings around any opera singer...

MORE MORE MORE of the Platters! You won’t regret it! Great reaction Harri💕

I haven't heard this song in a long time. My stepfather always had good music coming from his room. Great analysis Harri! Fabulous song.

Awesome review of this song! He had a beautiful voice! Thank you for posting this review!

Another wonderful song from the same genre done in the 50's is "I Only Have Eyes for You" by 'The Flamingos' try it you'll love it Harry.

It's a fact, that this is a class act .. !!!

Insanely great song.....love Tony's incredible voice

I grew up with my older brothers playing this and singing in our house. Both my brothers are musicians... One plays the piano, one plays the guitar and sings. BUT when I was in high school my major was Auto Mechanics. My shop teacher Mr Caban huge fan of The Platters. HE had the most beautiful voice and he used to sing this acapella. Years ago, before my vocal chords were injured I used to sing as well. Of course we weren't able to do the range that they did but we did harmonize pretty well together. MANY times after school was over was when we would spend time together. That's when I would have to makes up the work that needs to be done on my cars they came in and we would sing together. He always decided that we would sing together to help the time pass more quickly... He knew that it was very hard for me to have to make up the extra time from class. I was the only girl at that time taking auto shop and it was a VERY HARD experience for me. NOBODY want me to be in that class at all. They made that very clear from the first day when somebody in the back of the room through a wrench in my head but they missed. MANY TIMES the boys would say that there was still busy with tools that I needed. MANY TIMES tools all of a sudden will disappear that I needed to use. Myself and Mr Caban would end up spending time looking for them and find them hidden somewhere behind other things in the shop. Sometimes we'd find them in the oil or transmission fluid supply boxes... Wedged way down behind them or sometimes hidden underneath! Mr Caban exactly what they were doing but we never knew which one of them was doing it because they were all in on it together. So I ended up spending a lot of time after school in the shop. My car has had to get repaired~no matter what. Like I said with my brothers, I had heard the music of The Platters before. BUT when it came to Mr Caban... He knew every single song they had ever put out! HE was one of the hardcore fans. So he would sing that almost every day because he knew it was one of my favorites! HE IS the main reason why I became such a huge fan of The Platters. He was such a wonderful mentor to me when I was a teenager. He had three young sons and lived in New York City with his wife. My school was out on Long Island and after high school I came to him and let him know I was getting married. Even though I wanted to invite him and his wife to the wedding I wasn't in charge of the guest list. We had three sets of parents involved. Mine, and my ex-husbands mother and her husband, and his father and his wife. I was absolutely stunned when I was walking back down the aisle after getting married and greeting everybody on my way out of the church. I looked it's one of the pews and there Mr Caban was with his wife and his three boys. I went over to him and hugged him and kissed him and I said I can't believe that you came all the way out here from Jamaica Queens for my wedding! He said I know you didn't think that I would let MY LITTLE CHRISSY get married without me coming to see you! He always used to call me my little Chrissy because I was in a way like a daughter that he never had and that's what he used to tell me. Now that he's passed on this song will always remind me of him so that's another reason why I love this song so much. ❤️❤️❤️

Twilight Time has always been a favorite.

For me, no group can top the Platters. That lead singer could have made it in any field of music. What a voice.

The song was written in 1933, and used in several movies. One with Irene Dunne, and I believe Judy Garland. However, no one sings it like Tony Williams. I remember dancing all night to this song at one party. What a singer! Such command. Such a great group of talented people.

Grew up on this music, it's priceless! Otto Harbach and Jerome Kern wrote this in 1933.

From the peak days of Tin Pan Alley where composers continuously churned out great music!! Try more from them! MY PRAYER!!!! Twilight Time!

I love the way that some singers enounciate and elongate the vowels "They AHsk me HOAhw I knohhhw" love it. Reminds me of the way Nat King Cole sang. I wonder what the story is with how that style developed. You hear it in 50s Doo Wop also.

Harri, this song was written by the great Jerome Kern (lyrics by Otto Harbach) in 1933 for the musical "Roberta." Of course, Tony Williams and the Platters take it to another level.

AWESOME SONG AND SINGER!

My Mother loved song and it always makes me think of her. Thank You 🙏

Probably the greatest song ever recorded. The Platters are wonderful. I only came to them via a friend, last week Harry. Take care my frend, love your channel. X

I graduated from high school in 1963. This song would play in our cafeteria at lunch time. This brings back nice memories. You have been reacting to such good music lately, thank you.

Oh Harri, you hot Gold either this one!! They are the greatest.

I love everything thins man has ever sung. He is wonderful. I glad his work is being revisited.

A veritable work of art !

I got to see them in person in Miami back in the 60’s. Incredible show.

The Great Pretender was a favorite.

I agree. We may never see another group like this again. I never, ever, heard anything bad, disreputable, or questionable to "anybody" from these folks. I can't say that about many singers, or groups. Truly, Harri.

This is my favourite song ever! Blown away with that final note - unlike the smoke!

50+ years ago I listened to this music and it still gives me chills.

His voice is almost out of this world. Rare these days.

Best group of the 50s, period

Oh my goodness Harri, You did it , you reacted to one of my all time favorite songs . Voices like velvet🔥🔥🔥❤️

It is one of my favorite karaoke songs. Tony Williams was my favorite doo-wop singer, and one of my favorite pop tenors to emulate, along with Roy Orbison, Jay Black, Bobby Darin, and Bobby Vinton, because they were in my range. He also reminds me of several opera tenors which I emulate: Wunderlich, Crooks, McCormack, Schipa, the early Caruso, Lanza, Björling, Felix Knight. You are correct in noting that his voice is of operatic quality.

This is just One example of the Amazing and Best composers in the 30's and 40's. Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and more. This was written by American composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Otto Harbach for the 1933 musical Roberta. The song was reprised by Irene Dunne, who performed it in the 1935 film adaptation of the musical co-starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Randolph Scott.

The platters. Another word for Class!

Oohh yeah Harri you are so correct! I’ve had the smoke in my eyes both good and the not so good. Still don’t regret at all I would do it over and again. Maybe I’ll get it right next time.

Greatest vocalist Tony Williams. Harbor Lights another great song.

Thanks for this one Harry. It's always great to hear. Love your review.

Wonderful review Harry. Thanks for posting

This song was written by Jerome Kern 25 years earlier. The Platters made it their own, thanks to Tony Williams' soaring vocals.

Keep up the '50's retrospective harri. It's great.

Tony Williams had the VOICE -- best lead singer of any vocal group -- EVER. If you're not deeply effected by this sound...you're dead.

A great dance song back in the day

The BEST of the Best, THE PLATTERS WERE FANTASTIC. Saw them on Dick Clark's BANDSAND, ED SULLIVAN, plus many more! You have no idea how the Music of America, how diverse, how wide & deep 1950s through 1960s.

The Platters was my.moms favorite group. Makes me miss her

Tony Williams had a voice second to none Try reacting to ONLY YOU or THE GREAT PRETENDER they had so many hits . Just a brilliant band . They were up there with the all time Greats .

This was one of my Mom's favorite songs when she was young. She is eighty-one now. What class the groups had before and such wonderful voices and lyrics.

While in love -- smoke in your eyes = you can't see what's real. (said by the friends) After love dies -- smoke gets in your eyes = it hurts and you cry. (said by the sad guy)

Hugely popular - and a classic performance.

This is an old song that was covered by the Platters in the 50s. It was written some years before the Platters recorded it. This was a 50s dowapp version. It has been widely reported that the widow of the author of the song, who obviously was gone from the earth for some time, was furious at the Platters version. Before them it was performed very differently. As was all the music of that time. But it's an interesting bias that can exist toward modern music that cannot be accepted by some people who need their music in a particular format. The irony is she...the widow of the writer of the song....should have been eternally grateful for the Platters introducing her late husband's song to a complete generation of music lovers and for it becoming so famous once again and in a way that I cannot imagine a more amazing and beautiful rendition.

When I was growing up in the 70s I was always listening to music from the 50s and this song was one of my absolute favorites!!

My mother loved this song. She loved music and singing. Such sweet memories listening to her records and we both singing. I miss you so much Mom. I love you. 💔

1933, Jerome Kern: They ask me how I knew My true love was true I, of course, reply "Something inside Cannot be denied" They said some day you'll find All who love are blind When your heart's on fire You must realize Smoke gets in your eyes So I chaffed them And I gaily laughed To think they could doubt To think they could doubt my love But today My love has flown away I am without my love Now laughing friends deride Tears I cannot hide So I smile and say "When a lovely flame dies Smoke gets in your eyes" But today my love has flown away I am without I'm without my love now laughing friends deride Tears I cannot hide So I smile and say "When a lovely flame dies Smoke gets in your eyes"

An all time classic!

One of my all time favorites. Tony Williams was just amazing

The Platters are the ones that got me hooked on 50s and 60s Doo-Wop music! Please go down the rabbit hole with The Platters!!! My other favorites of theirs are My Prayer, The Great Pretender, Twilight Time, You’ll Never Never Know, On My Word Of Honor, (You’ve Got) The Magic Touch, and I’m Sorry.

In the autumn of 1956 I got to see "Rock Around The Clock". I don't know how I got to see it as the film was causing disturbances up and down the UK with dancing in the aisles, seats being ripped up and other vandalism. But at the age of 9, I was taken to the Bluehall, Islington Green (?) and witnessed two songs by the Platters "Only You" and "The Great Pretender". I was mesmerised. The lead singer (who I later found out was Tony Williams) had such a beautiful voice which I tried to imitate much to my parents chagrin. I think I got away with singing "Only You" constantly because my parents liked the song too. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" was a UK #1 in 1959. The marriage of Tony Williams voice and a Jerome Kern song was made to be. Your reaction to the lyrics is spot on. I didn't have a record player until 1960, so I didn't buy either of these discs until much later when they appeared on a Greatest Hits album. But the Platters songs (see other comments for a list) have stayed with me from my youth into my dotage through many changes in the musical horizon. BTW. There were no disturbances when I attended the cinema 😀😀

You have the BEST music sight period!

That group was way ahead of their time, it's hard to believe they're a group from the fifties, one of the best music group of all times.

Beautiful!

EPIC STUFF. Thanks for checking out the platters. Nobody like them before or since. Those vocals are haunting. Check out the Platters ONLY YOU....my personal favorite.

Would definitely recommend "Since I Don't Have You'" by the Skyliners. One of the most iconic 50s ballads, so beautiful.

My brother & I listened to The Platters & danced around the house when we were teens, some wonderful memories from the 50’, 60’s & 70’s !! We were (are) so lucky to have this music when growing up, now you are helping to carry on these precious tunes. I couldn’t live without music & taking trips back to share & enjoy your Reactions is so much fun !! 🤗🇨🇦🎵☮️

*Genius Lyrics indeed! The Lyricist was Otto Harbach*

The song was written in the 1930s by Otto Harbach and Jerome Kern. The first recording was in 1933 by Gertrud Niesen which is worth listening to on its merit.

I agree Harri. I listen to all styles of music and this song is in my top 5 of all time. Simply beautiful.

The Platters are so easy on the ears, I love all their music ♥️😎

Great vocal group !!!!!!!!!!!

Great song. Great group.

When I was in high school we sang this song in our yearly musical. We were fortunate enough to have a classmate with a beautiful voice to sing the lead.

Great. Song goes back to an old Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers movie with Irene Dunne singing the song circa 1934.

One of the greatest male voices of all time.

Masterpiece,this was a majestic group from the 1950s,along with the Drifters and the Flamengos.The lead singer of the group was Tony Williams,what a beautiful tenor voice he had.I have always believed that this man had a background in classical singing.Note the range,the passion in his voice.He pronounces every word clearly ,great diction.What did you think of that last note.The Platters were pure class,that cannot be disputed.Great selection,well done.

The Platters sound is beautiful and filled with images....I often wonder....will anyone evaluate the music from the last thirty years or merely dismiss as souless and without redeeming value. As I do. Great group!

Love! Love! Love this song!

Yeah, this is good as doo-wop got. And that includes a whole lot of wonderful tunes. Great reaction, Harri!