Drifters - When My Little Girl Is Smiling (Original)

[jsykes107]

The Drifters with Ben E. King as lead singer, were amazing. Saw them live in Montreal 1959-60ish. Great group.

[eurocharter]

This has just got to be the best verision of this song by miles

The haunting strings break is brilliant

[TheMissMod]

@Anneretha1 Same name, no connection whatsoever SO they changed their name to The Shadows to avoid confusion :)

[surfcityproductions]

Such an uplifting song by Goffin and King. And such a great Drifters arrangement -- one of their very best. A wonderful vocal by Charlie Thomas. This deserves a million views!

[nomiclas]

argubaly the best vocal group of all time?the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers are right in there also.i just love the strings and the rock tempo of the Drifters.the vocals were all very good between the groups

[vinylsingleman]

I always felt that when they wrote this they were thinking a bit about "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling". There's just a hint of it in the melody.

[dogcat126]

i had the original album that this song was on and i just played it over and over again-every song was so great!!!!! thank you soso much for posting!!!!!!

[nomiclas]

Nocaro,you always to have the best stuff on your channel and your bio's are great!Thanks.

[Anneretha1]

The Drifters according to my sources were the backing band for Cliff Richard also ...

[Nocaro]

@Anneretha1 The Drifters played no instruments. They were always just a vocal group.

[Gaiaan08]

@Anneretha1

When the backing band of Cliff Richard got to know the American group The Drifters, they changed their name into " The Shadows".

[EdwinQnr1]

@Anneretha1 I found this little piece of information when I was diving into the charts and looking at The Drifters songs.

"Just to add further confusion Cliff Richards backing band, The Shadows recorded some music using the same name." there you have your answer. Not strange that you were confused.

[coyotesong]

I still remember two sweet, cute girls who went to my high school but weren't in any of my classes, Donna Rice and Mary Tynes, introducing me to this song. They were super excited about the Drifters' new song. And once I heard it, I was too!! And nearly 50 years later, it still sounds superb. Thanks for the posting.

[jekiwe]

are you sure about Charlie Thomas. The bio I have on the Drifters says it was Rudy Lewis..lead singer from '61 thru '63....perhaps the bio book is incorrect???

[Nocaro]

@jekiwe I have two sources for this the most authoritative being Marv Goldberg's notes on The Drifters: "On October 26, 1961, the Drifters were back in the studio, recording "Jackpot" (led by Rudy), "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" (Charlie), and "She Never Talked To Me That Way" (Rudy).

[111sienna]

i meant to say phil spector's wall of sound effect......sorry

[MingnonDunn]

Next to "There Goes My Baby" I think it's their best. The electricity and pulse are rare and remarkable.

[111sienna]

one of the best from the drifters.....phil spector i believe, great arrangement

[MingnonDunn]

@111sienna Phil Spector, really? Wasn't Phil on his own by now?

[ChrisBigBoy]

ITS MONO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[raincoatriver]

I like just about all of the Drifters' songs, but this one really gets to me. The lively arrangement is a knockout, the song is terrific and Charlie's vocal fits right in. Great post.

[vynilistic]

@raincoatriver Agreed.....Rudy Lewis sings the intro.

[MingnonDunn]

Arguably their best!

[ivycompton]

This is such a great song, such powerful emotions! Thanks for posting.

[KissMeQuk]

Sweet song... Enjoy your notes...  Thanks for posting!!!

[adhonores100]

♥♥ Dear Mr Love...you can't imagine how happy you make me that evening !...I love this song so much...I only knew the french version, but this one is a fabulous one...Thank You, thank you...♥♥♫