As befitting one of the great R&B groups,
the Drifters' discography has been reissued many times and in many different ways. Impressively, in 2021 Sequel Records released each album the group recorded between 1958 and 1965, along with singles and flipsides. Definitely a solid choice for anyone wanting to get the full
Drifters experience, from the alternatively raucous and romantic R&B of the
Clyde McPhatter years to the drama-drenched mini-operas of the early '60s to the beach-worthy soul of their mid-'60s work. By 2021, those discs weren't always easy to come by, so Strawberry Records decided it was time to get some of this amazing music back in print while presenting it in a new way.
We Gotta Sing: The Soul Years 1962-71 presents all their post-
McPhatter and
Ben E. King songs in chronological order by date of recording. It allows the listener a chance to track them through their changes step by step, from the changing of lead singers from
Rudy Lewis -- who tragically passed in early 1964 -- to
Johnny Moore, and through the shifts of writers and producers. The legendary team of
Jerry Leiber and
Mike Stoller was responsible for their massive early-'60s hits like "Up on the Roof" and "On Broadway"
Bert Berns was up next, and scored right away with "Under the Boardwalk."
Berns helped create an indelible sound that matched the group's loose and lively vocals with swaying, Latin-inspired rhythms and happy-go-lucky songs. Tracks like "At the Club," "I've Got Sand in My Shoes," "I'll Take You Where the Music's Playing" are light soul at its finest, perfect for dancing without a care in the world. After
Berns left in 1966, the band was rudderless for years. Shuttling between producers and not releasing much music due to lack of label support, they still managed to put out some winners. "My Islands in the Sun" is a jaunty throwback to the band's classic sound, "Baby What I Mean" is a strutting soul track that proves the band could hold their own as the years ticked by, and "I Need You Now" is some diamond-hard funk. "You and Me Together Forever," an unreleased track from 1969. shows they could even do credible smooth Philly-style soul with their usual panache. If nothing else, listening to the tracks on
We Gotta Sing! is solid proof that the group were much more than just hitmakers. They had an unmistakable sound and no matter what they did -- even swerving into nightclub classics on the 1964 album
The Good Life -- that blend of sophistication, sweetness, and drama comes through. Whether it's timeless classics or deep cuts, the band made music that stands the test of time, and hearing it presented as it is here is something of a revelation. Don't throw out the Sequel CDs, but stick this fine collection right on the shelf next to them. If you're not lucky enough to have those reissues, this collection is the perfect way to experience the glory of
the Drifters. ~ Tim Sendra