If I remember correctly, this was the flip side of Ruby, Ruby, which was a big hit for the white singer -- I believe it was maybe Dion -- and the Belmonts. My brother liked McPhatter's 'Ruby' side, but the 'Treasure of Love' was one of my all time favorites, though I also liked McPhatter's 'Ruby,'.I have long since thought how regretful it is that such singers as this man Clyde McPhatter and his group never appeared on the Johnny Carson show. Johnny started there in 1966(?) Anyway, he was a World War II veteran who (obviously) had not grown up in the fifties, and so he had no appreciation for the roots of Rock 'n' Roll. I say that in all due respect to Johnny Carson, who gave much, much to me as to entertainment.I have heard it said that McPhatter died a broken man, unable to comprehend the conflict between his popularity and the fact that he was not accepted by white society. I am in no way a bleeding heart Liberal. All I know is that this man could sing, and that his backup group on this particular song is simply, well, GREAT. The performance by that base singer in this song is classic -- he provides the basis for the rest of the group's splendid harmony. The piano is Floyd Cramer-ish, which means it is classic fifties. McPhatter's lead over against this group -- well, it never got any better than this, in my opinion, and the song (and those who sang it) never came to light like I think they should have. McPhatter has been said to be the model for many other such singers who followed him -- but the white society who accepted this as their fifties music never had anyone to bring the music directly to 'the Big Stage.'The way, indirectly, that this kind of music came to light was through those such as Elvis Presley. I believe it is Elvis' rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" where the backup group's rendition sounds something like McPhatter's group sounds in "Treasure of Love." As a teenager I was a preacher's son in north Mississippi during the fifties when Elvis was in the 'germination' stage of his career. That Mississippi Delta sound that Sam Phillips tapped into was the breeding ground of Elvis' music. Today, if you drive up through north Mississippi on I-55, it is amazing how much of that sound can STILL be heard on the radio. It is a cultural blending of what was the Blackwood Brothers and Statesmen quartets (both were, I believe, fifties white groups from north Mississippi -- I know the Blackwoods were) with Black Delta Blues music. The harmony backs up the lead singer, just as in this 'Treasure of Love' by McPhatter. Black quartet music was right there also as a part of that cultural blend.The Platters, had they been able to 'keep it together,' would have been wonderful on The Tonight Show (Carson). That same splendid lead tenor sound with the great harmony of the backup group can be heard in their "The Great Pretender." This was a SOUND -- McPhatter had it, and the Platters had it. Harmony never got better, in my humble opinion.
10 years ago
Theresa Dalrymple
The Treasure of Love - I have found it at Last. In Jesus Christ.
11 years ago
cuppajoe1
This was my introduction to Clyde. What a talent.
11 years ago
WOODBINEXX .john r
words can not descibe how fantastic this record is