Home
Diggs
Submit To FacebookSubmit To RedditSubmit To Twitter

C&L's Late Nite Music Club with Ben E. King

By Nicole Belle Saturday Jul 21, 2007 10:02pm

(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

I had no idea what was drawing me-- none of my friends were interested in the slightest-- but when I was just entering my teen years I started going to the Brooklyn Paramount to see the rock'n'roll shows. It was so foreign, a window on another, stranger, vaguely glamorous (i.e.- non-Flatbush) world. This was pre-Beatles. Ben E. King was one of the greatest singer songwriters of the time and "Stand By Me" was the biggest in a long string of hit songs, from "This Magic Moment," "Spanish Harlem," "There Goes My Baby," to "Save the Last Dance For Me" and "Dance With Me."



Login or Register to post comments.

40 comments
I love this legend, Ben E. King.
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:07 — Straight Shooter (not verified)

I love this legend, Ben E. King. Thanks for sharing. :)

On Thursday morning, July 19th, the
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:16 — Angry One (not verified)

On Thursday morning, July 19th, the beloved GOP talking point "up or down vote" was officially declared dead. Its demise was little noticed in the aftermath of the Senate Republicans' successful all-night filibuster to block the Reed-Levin bill seeking to begin U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq. "Up or down vote" was killed by a desperate Republican Party trying to obstruct Democratic accomplishments at any cost in advance of the 2008 elections. And so far, the GOP seems to be getting away with the crime.

For the details, see:
"Up or Down Vote: Death of a GOP Talking Point."

My standard answer for the last 40
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:18 — Medford Tim (not verified)

My standard answer for the last 40 years to the question, "If you could only have one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?" - Spanish Harlem. Ben E.'s first solo effort after the Drifters, song written by Spector and Jerry Leiber , The perfect marriage of the incredible velvet-with-a-touch-of-sandpaper voice of Ben E. and the Spector Wall of Sound.
La la la - la la la - la la la - la

For my best friend Sphinx! 20 yrs of
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:21 — lafin gas (not verified)

For my best friend Sphinx!
20 yrs of STAND BY ME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSdk4B24jdM

Lets party one for
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:22 — L.A. Confidential (not verified)

Lets party one for Ben!

http://www.chicksrockchicksrule.com/video/onthefly_giveitup.wmv

not pre-beatles, but if you like ben e.
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:31 — skippy (not verified)

not pre-beatles, but if you like ben e. king (and hey, who doesn't?), you'll love skippy's monday nite music club from last week where the temptations square off against the four tops, singing a medley of both groups' biggest hits!

ps howie i don't say this enough, you
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:37 — skippy (not verified)

ps howie i don't say this enough, you do a fantastic job, both here and at dwt!

Such a talent who performed before he
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:37 — hareli (not verified)

Such a talent who performed before he even had a right to vote!

An absolutely wonderful choice! Ben E
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:41 — GonzoD (not verified)

An absolutely wonderful choice! Ben E King is soooooo smooooth!

King performing a classic of another
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:49 — GonzoD (not verified)

King performing a classic of another legend - "In The Midnight Hour"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxXOxPuKO-E

#3: Agreed on Spanish Harlem. In fact,
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:49 — tayinnawin (not verified)

#3: Agreed on Spanish Harlem. In fact, when I saw Ben E.'s name, that's what came to mind. Great song.

skippy @ 7: I concur, Howie. Ahead of
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:49 — hareli (not verified)

skippy @ 7:

I concur, Howie. Ahead of your time. No wonder you ran a record company.

Anyone remember The Spinners ? I'm
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:51 — lafin gas (not verified)

Anyone remember The Spinners ? I'm working my way back to you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mip_5oIsLCk

Medford Tim @ 3: My standard answer
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:52 — larue (not verified)

Medford Tim @ 3:

My standard answer for the last 40 years to the question, "If you could only have one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?" - Spanish Harlem. Ben E.'s first solo effort after the Drifters, song written by Spector and Jerry Leiber , The perfect marriage of the incredible velvet-with-a-touch-of-sandpaper voice of Ben E. and the Spector Wall of Sound.
La la la - la la la - la la la - la

Spanish Harlem and There Goes My Baby had this preteen at the time in all KINDS of angst ridden bliss.

To this day, both give me shivers. He was a hoss.

King toured in a show with the
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:53 — LongTooth (not verified)

King toured in a show with the pre-mania Beatles. Or rather, they toured with him. When they hit here, he caught them on TV (probably their Sullivan appearance). They looked familiar, but it took him a minute to figure it out. He then turned to his wife and said, "I think those are the kids I toured with in England". Anyway, that was the story as told in his obituary. He was definitely one of the greats.

I'll Be
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:55 — lafin gas (not verified)

I'll Be Around
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xTPRT3a3Do&mode=related&search=

Thanks for sharing, that song is a true
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 22:58 — Chitown (not verified)

Thanks for sharing, that song is a true classic.

The O'Jays - "Emotionally
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:00 — GonzoD (not verified)

The O'Jays - "Emotionally Yours"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y92oPJ89i3o

"Only You" - The
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:01 — lafin gas (not verified)

"Only You" - The Platters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W2u7-8-oFY
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57tK6aQS_H0&mode=related&search=
"The Great Pretender"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58rgEdiPaa4&mode=related&search=

Jackie Wilson - "(Your Love Is Lifting
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:03 — GonzoD (not verified)

Jackie Wilson - "(Your Love Is Lifting Me) Higher And Higher"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL2_zhLs_T4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCsGSMze_
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:03 — Motorhead Vette '67 (not verified)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCsGSMze_6Q

Wow, look what I found! Peggy Lee - I
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:06 — lafin gas (not verified)

Wow, look what I found!
Peggy Lee - I Only Have Eyes For You (1950)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0yYud187MY&mode=related&search=

Fever - Peggy
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:08 — lafin gas (not verified)

Fever - Peggy Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGb5IweiYG8&mode=related&search=

I always loved that song. Chills run
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:11 — Straight Shooter (not verified)

I always loved that song. Chills run up and down my spine.

Five Satins - In the Still of the
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:16 — lafin gas (not verified)

Five Satins - In the Still of the Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBT3oDMCWpI

Lafin, thank you. Back atcha! :) The
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:18 — Sphinx (not verified)

Lafin, thank you. Back atcha! :)

The song "Stand by Me" as performed by Ben E. King always brings me to tears no matter what. I got hooked on it with the movie, which I believe was written by Stephen King. I think the movie is narrated by Richard Dreyfuss. I loved River Phoenix so much. R.I.P.

Stand By Me - Video Tribute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ7Zi6jg8wM

And now let me introduce, my favorite
Sat, 07/21/2007 - 23:19 — Straight Shooter (not verified)

And now let me introduce, my favorite song of all time!

Oh, How Happy, by the Shades of Blue
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x4c7LmJuvgk

I don't know what it is about this song :)

Well, yes, this is all good, but I'm
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 00:22 — 99 (not verified)

Well, yes, this is all good, but I'm bliss-blitzing again today. This time on Page and Plant.

The Rain Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-jCNySpWiM

LG - > For my best friend
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 00:41 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

LG -
> For my best friend Sphinx!

I'm jealous. ;-)

And the Spinners? Actually, my cousin (whom also created the band titled the "Doctors") used to play guitar for a version of The Spinners. From my recollection, there was debate about whether or not it was an official version of The Spinners. 'Turn It Upside Down' - Spin Doctors!!!!

Faith Hill: This KISS
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 00:59 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

Faith Hill: This KISS -

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OnR2udkzYsY

"It's subliminal"

And for LG, this is a version of Peggy
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 01:20 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

And for LG, this is a version of Peggy Lee's 'Woman', in which my (same, I got tens of cousins) cousin was playing guitar on (Little Jack Melody on lead vocals and bass); Schwantz Lefantz: I'm A Woman -

http://www.thesequencers.us/various/Schwantz_Woman.mp3

This is dedicated to anyone that's ever
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 02:20 — Stanley Rosenthal (not verified)

This is dedicated to anyone that's ever been banned or deleted on C&L -

Kenny Rogers: There You Go Again -

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cTKnxTqmTeY

music remains " the food of
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 02:50 — booglede (not verified)

music remains " the food of life."

Ahhhh......dancing in the aisles & Alan
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 04:00 — BlueStateMan (not verified)

Ahhhh......dancing in the aisles & Alan freed.

Magic times.

Howie you are one of my biggest
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 07:10 — Captain Kangaroo (not verified)

Howie you are one of my biggest heros.

Yay, thanks for posting
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 07:35 — TruthSeeker (not verified)

Yay, thanks for posting this!

Couldn't agree more about Ben E. and
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 08:12 — Rene ala Carte (not verified)

Couldn't agree more about Ben E. and with GonzoD about "Mr. Excitement", Jackie Wilson. Both had incredible voices.

How about "The Iceman", Jerry Butler and "Your Precious Love". Just 17 years old when he did that. You can still see him on those PBS Doo Wop fundraisers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqIfg_gCr
Sun, 07/22/2007 - 09:40 — ysbaddaden (not verified)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqIfg_gCrL0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlPlJH37YjE

The last one was a model Ian Fleming drew on to create James Bond.

40 comments

Login or Register to post comments.