"Spanish Harlem" was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector along with a very healthy contribution from Mike Stoller (the song's intro). The recording by Ben E. King would be his first as a solo artist away from singing lead for The Drifters, and it was a succesful one. "Spanish Harlem" would go to the #10 spot on the pop charts during January of 1961 and be named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of their "500 Greatest Songs Of All Time".
Totally unreal! Most original and beautiful instrumentation ever. Xylophone, kettle drum, violins,. Not your average song of that time. just the best, Ben E.!
rodsgier 1 day ago
When I grew up on the Upper West Side in Manhattan near the Hudson River we all knew of a great singer on the streets of Harlem about a mile north. He was Benny King, one of the best male vocalists of his day. He would later front the Drifters. He was one of the best I ever knew of.
Jay Adler Comment
JayAdlerComment 5 days ago
great memory from a lovley time
thegilfavor
thegilfavor 1 week ago
may not be old enough, but I sure do love this song!
evamarie102 2 weeks ago
THANKS FOR THE UPLOAD!!!! *TWO THUMBS UP*
415alkeez 3 weeks ago
Takes me back to the day.
preacher4ya 1 month ago
Seasons Greetings
This is one of the best songs written. You can tell the Phil Spector influence in
this great song.
JAGGARD14 3 months ago
One of my favorite Ben E King songs of all time!
MeriScrapper13 4 months ago 2
Wonderful performance!
mcfrdmn 4 months ago
Real music!
tropicalpancake56 4 months ago