The Great Pretender

Album: Best Of The Platters (1956)
Charted: 5 1
Play Video
  • Lyrics currently unavailable Writer/s: Buck Ram
    Publisher: Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Comments: 6

  • Don Yarber from UsaI posted a 13 second sound track (within a video) of this song on Facebook. United Musical Group blocked it claiming they own the copyright. I would like to see proof that they indeed own the copyright. May 10, 2021
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 27th 1957, the Platters performed "The Great Pretender" on CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    Two years earlier on December 1st, 1955 it entered Billboard's Top 100 chart at position #41; and nine weeks later on February 2nd, 1956 it peaked at #1 {for 2 weeks} and spent almost a half-year on the Top 100 {24 weeks}...
    And on December 22nd, 1955 it reached #1 {for 11 weeks} on Billboard's R&B Singles chart, and for 7 of those 11 weeks it kept Little Richard's "Tutti-Frutti" in the #2 spot...
    Between 1955 and 1967 the Los Angeles-based quintet had thirty-nine Top 100 records; seven made the Top 10 with four reaching #1, there three other #1 records were "My Prayer" for 5 weeks in 1956, "Twilight Time" for 1 week in 1958, and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" for 3 weeks in 1959}...
    They just missed having nine Top 10 records when “You’ll Never Never Know” {1956} and “I’m Sorry” {1957} both peaked at #11…
    Sadly, all five original members have passed away; the last being bassist Herb Reed on June 4th, 2012 at the age of 83...
    May they all R.I.P.
  • Tom from Nashville, TnThe song was actually written by Buck Ram, both music and lyrics. The Platters as a group were only performers and never wrote any hits themselves.
  • Ed from Lebanon, NhMore than twenty years later, the song title provided the name for the English rock band "The Pretenders."
  • Grace from Conway, ArThe Platters are just the consummate group. I read where Jerome Kern's widow was concerned about the group doing "smoke gets in your eyes". Best thing that ever happened to that song. Zola Taylor looked just like my stepmom. Wow, if I could only wear clothes like that and singing with the guys!
  • Amy from Dallas, TxFreddie's version is much better.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Boy Bands

Boy BandsFact or Fiction

From NKOTB to 1D, how well do you know your boy bands?

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.