The great pretender
The Platters
50 €
Estimated vinyl value [2026 Valuation]
Technical Identification Sheet
| RELEASE NUMBER (Discogs ID) | 803568 |
| Excel File Row | 373 |
| Date Added to Archive | 27/09/2026, 14:12:49 |
| Pressing Year | 1955 |
| Pressing Type (Press) | 78 RPM |
| Country of Pressing | UK |
| Record Label | Mercury/PYE |
| Stereo / Mono | MONO |
| Catalogue Number | MT.117 |
| Barcode | N/A |
| Matrix / Runout Side A | 78-1017-A-1 6 N |
| Matrix / Runout Side B | 78-1017-B-1 6 2 B |
| Sleeve Condition | F |
| Media Condition | EX+ |
| Inner Sleeve Condition | VG+ |
| Genre | Pop/Rock |
| External Link | View Original Release ↗ |
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Story & Background
"The Great Pretender" was not a casual success for The Platters, but the result of a meticulous strategy by their manager-mentor, Buck Ram. He had, in fact, stipulated a contract that gave him full artistic control, writing or co-writing much of their material. With this piece, Ram composed a sophisticated blues ballad, calibrated to break down the barriers between rhythm & blues and the nascent pop market, aiming for a wider audience. The original 1955 pressing on 78 RPM, especially under the Mercury/PYE label, testifies to the international scope of this vision. While Mercury managed the American market, the partnership with PYE in the United Kingdom guaranteed lightning-fast transatlantic distribution, propelling the track to the top of the American and European charts almost simultaneously. This 78 RPM record, with its double label, therefore represents a strategic turning point in musical crossover.
Image Gallery
Official Tracklist
- A - The Great Pretender
- B - Only You (And You Alone)
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