Discography and Biography of The Drifters. Listen to all their hits.
The Drifters Songs

(with biography below if available)

The Drifters are a long-lasting American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group. They were originally formed to serve as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter (of Billy Ward & the Dominoes) in 1953.

There were three Golden eras of the Drifters; the early 1950s, the 1960s, and the early 1970s (post-Atlantic period). From these, the first Drifters, formed by Clyde McPhatter, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as "The Drifters". The second Drifters, featuring Ben E. King, was separately inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as "Ben E. King and the Drifters". In their induction, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selected four members from the first Drifters, two from the second Drifters, and one from the post-Atlantic Drifters.

According to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame: "Through turmoil and changes, the (original) Drifters managed to set musical trends and give the public 13 chart hits, most of which are legendary recordings today." Matching that feat, subsequent formations of the Drifters managed to give the public 13 Billboard Hot 100 top 30 chart hits.

Below is a list of The Drifters songs, sorted by the most popular first. Place mouse on to see information about song. Click song title to play song and to read details about the song including lyrics (if available). Click year to list all songs from that year. Click label to list songs from that record label. Songs with chart position "---" either never made it into the US top 100 R&B or UK charts or we have no details of their highest chart positions if they did.

(Song are sorted in highest US R&B Top 100 and/or UK Top 100 chart position order)


showing 1-62 of 62 records
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artist discography/bio
read song lyrics, etc.
year
record label
1 record label: Atlantic 2071
chart position: RandB #1 (1 week), US #1, UK #2
weeksinr&bchart: 15
written by: Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman
album: Save The Last Dance For Me
The Drifters Save the Last Dance for Me
1960 Atlantic
2 record label: Atlantic 2237
chart position: RandB #1 (3 weeks), US #4, UK #45
weeksinr&bchart: 18
written by: Arthur Resnick & Kenny Young
album: Under The Boardwalk / Atlantic Soul Classics
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters Under The Boardwalk
1964 Atlantic
3 record label: Atlantic 2025
chart position: RandB #1, US #2
written by: Benjamin Nelson, Lover Patterson and George Treadwell
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #193]
The Drifters There Goes My Baby
1959 Atlantic
4 record label: Atlantic 2260
chart position: UK #3, RandB #8, US #18
written by: Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
album: The Good Life With The Drifters
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters Saturday Night At The Movies
1964 Atlantic
5 record label: Atlantic 2162
chart position: RandB #4, US #5
weeksinr&bchart: 15
written by: Gerry Goffin & Carole King
album: Our Biggest Hits / Up on the Roof: The Best of the Drifters
The Drifters Up On The Roof
1962 Atlantic
6 record label: Atlantic 10148 (UK)
chart position: UK #3
written by: Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
album: Saturday Night At The Club
comments: (re release) [pop soul]
The Drifters At the Club -- Saturday Night At The Movies
1972 Atlantic
7 record label: Atlantic 2050
chart position: RandB #4, US #16
weeksinr&bchart: 12
written by: Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman
The Drifters This Magic Moment
1960 Atlantic
8 record label: Bell 45600
chart position: RandB #83, UK #2
written by: Roger Greenaway & Tony Macaulay
album: Love Games
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies
1974 Bell
9 record label: Bell 1433(UK)
chart position: UK #3
written by: Barry Mason and Roger Greenaway
album: There Goes My First Love
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters There Goes My First Love
1975 Bell
10 record label: Arista 78
chart position: UK #5
written by: Roger Greenaway and Tony Macaulay
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters You're More than a Number in My Little Red Book
1976 Arista
11 record label: Atlantic 2062
chart position: RandB #9, US #54
weeksinr&bchart: 8
written by: Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
The Drifters Lonely Winds
1960 Atlantic
12 record label: Atlantic 2182
chart position: RandB #7, US #9
weeksinr&bchart: 9
written by: Cynthia Weil, Barry Mann, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
album: Under The Boardwalk / Our Biggest Hits
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters On Broadway
1963 Atlantic
13 record label: Bell 1381(UK)
chart position: UK #7
written by: Roger Greenaway and Tony Macaulay
album: Love Games
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters Down on the Beach Tonight
1974 Bell
14 record label: Atlantic 2105
chart position: RandB #13, US #14
written by: Burt Bacharach & Bob Hilliard
album: Save The Last Dance For Me
The Drifters Please Stay
1961 Atlantic
15 record label: Atlantic 2117
chart position: RandB #10, US #16
weeksinr&bchart: 10
written by: Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman
album: Save The Last Dance For Me
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters Sweets for My Sweet
1961 Atlantic
16 record label: Atlantic 10216 (UK)
chart position: UK #9
written by: Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
album: I'll Take You Where The Music's Playing
comments: (re release) [pop soul]
The Drifters Come On Over to My Place
1972 Atlantic
17 record label: Atlantic 2268
chart position: RandB #10, US #43, UK #35
written by: Gerry Goffin & Carole King
album: I'll Take You Where The Music's Playing
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters At the Club
1965 Atlantic
18 record label: Atlantic 2040
chart position: RandB #2, US #15, UK #17
written by: George Treadwell, Irving Nahan, Jerry Leiber, Lewis Lebish and Mike Stoller
comments: B side to True Love, True Love
The Drifters Dance with Me
1959 Atlantic
19 record label: Bell 1313 (UK)
chart position: UK #7
written by: Geoff Stephens, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway
album: Love Games
The Drifters Like Sister and Brother
1973 Bell
20 record label: Bell 1462(UK)
chart position: UK #10
written by: Barry Mason and Roger Greenaway
album: There Goes My First Love
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters Can I Take You Home Little Girl
1975 Bell
21 record label: Atlantic 2096
chart position: RandB #6, US #32
weeksinr&bchart: 7
written by: Gerry Goffin and Carole King
album: Save The Last Dance For Me
The Drifters Some Kind of Wonderful
1961 Atlantic
22 record label: Atlantic 452087
chart position: RandB #6, US #17, UK #28
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman
album: Save The Last Dance For Me
The Drifters I Count the Tears
1960 Atlantic
23 record label: Atlantic 2253
chart position: RandB #21, US #33
written by: Artie Resnick & Kenny Young
album: I'll Take You Where The Music's Playing
comments: [pop soul]
The Drifters I've Got Sand In My Shoes
1964 Atlantic
24 record label: Bell 1469(UK)
chart position: UK #12
written by: Les Reed and Roget Greenaway
The Drifters Hello Happiness
1976 Bell
25 record label: Atlantic 2216
chart position: RandB #10, US #43
written by: Larry Russell, Inez James and Buddy Pepper
album: Our Biggest Hits
The Drifters Vaya Con Dios
1964 Atlantic
26 record label: Atlantic 1078
chart position: RandB #5
written by: Buddy Lucas
album: Rockin' & Driftin'
The Drifters Steamboat
1956 Atlantic
27 record label: Atlantic 2040
chart position: RandB #5, US #63
written by: Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
The Drifters (If You Cry) True Love, True Love
1959 Atlantic
28 record label: Atlantic 45 2225
chart position: RandB #12, US #56
written by: Bert Russell and Jerry Ragavoy
album: Under The Boardwalk / Our Biggest Hits
The Drifters One Way Love
1964 Atlantic
29 record label: Atlantic 45 2134
chart position: Cashbox R&B #10, US #28, UK #31
written by: Carole King and Gerry Goffin
album: Up on the Roof: The Best of the Drifters
The Drifters When My Little Girl Is Smiling
1962 Atlantic
30 record label: Atlantic 2201
chart position: RandB #24, US #25, UK #37
written by: Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann
album: Under The Boardwalk / Our Biggest Hits
The Drifters I'll Take You Home
1963 Atlantic
31 record label: Bell 1491
chart position: UK #29
written by: Geoff Stephens and Roger Greenaway
The Drifters Every Night's a Saturday Night with You
1976 Bell
32 record label: Atlantic 2325
chart position: Cashbox R&B #23, US #48, UK #57
written by: Gilkyson, Miller, Dehr
The Drifters Memories Are Made of This
1966 Atlantic
33 record label: Atlantic 1089
chart position: RandB #10
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: Rockin' & Driftin'
The Drifters Ruby Baby
1956 Atlantic
34 record label: Atlantic 1123
chart position: RandB #10, US #69
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: Rockin' & Driftin'
The Drifters Fools Fall in Love
1957 Atlantic
35 record label: Bell 1396(UK)
chart position: UK #33
written by: Roger Greenaway and Tony Macaulay
album: Love Games
The Drifters Love Games
1975 Bell
36 record label: Atlantic 1101
chart position: RandB #11
written by: Jesse Stone
album: Rockin' & Driftin'
The Drifters I Gotta Get Myself a Woman
1956 Atlantic
37 record label: Atlantic 2285
chart position: US #60, UK #40
written by: Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
The Drifters Come On Over to My Place
1965 Atlantic
38 record label: Atlantic 2366
chart position: RandB #37, US #62, UK #49
written by: Ernie Sheldon and Frank Hamilton
The Drifters Baby What I Mean
1966 Atlantic
39 record label: Atlantic 2336
chart position: UK #52
written by: Bert Russell (as Bert Berns)
The Drifters Up in the Streets of Harlem
1966 Atlantic
40 record label: Atlantic 2298
chart position: Cashbox R&B #22, US #51
written by: Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich
The Drifters I'll Take You Where the Music's Playing
1965 Atlantic
41 record label: Atlantic 1187
chart position: US #58
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: Our Biggest Hits
The Drifters Drip Drop
1958 Atlantic
42 record label: Atlantic 1187
chart position: US #72
written by: Edward Madden and Percy Wenrich
The Drifters Moonlight Bay
1958 Atlantic
43 record label: Atlantic 2191
chart position: US #71
written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller and Van McCoy
album: Under The Boardwalk / Our Biggest Hits
comments: B Side To If You Don't Come Back
The Drifters Rat Race
1963 Atlantic
44 record label: Atlantic 2143
chart position: US #73, US AC #19
written by: Mr. Acker Bilk (as Acker Bilk) and Robert Mellin
album: Up on the Roof: The Best of the Drifters
The Drifters Stranger On The Shore
1962 Atlantic
45 record label: Atlantic 2127
chart position: Cashbox R&B #45, US #72
written by: Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
The Drifters Room Full of Tears
1961 Atlantic
46 record label: Atlantic 2292
chart position: Cashbox R&B #29, US #91
written by: Mort Shuman and Kenny Lynch
The Drifters Follow Me
1965 Atlantic
47 record label: Atlantic 1141
chart position: US #79
written by: Norman Petty and Terry Noland
The Drifters Hypnotized
1957 Atlantic
48 record label: Atlantic 2285
chart position: Cashbox R&B #46, US #90
written by: James Bishop and Kenny Gamble
comments: B side to Come On Over to My Place
The Drifters Chains of Love
1965 Atlantic
49 record label: Atlantic 2191
chart position: US #101
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: Under The Boardwalk / Our Biggest Hits
The Drifters If You Don't Come Back
1963 Atlantic
50 record label: Atlantic 2426
chart position: RandB #36
written by: Ronnie Savoy
The Drifters Ain't It the Truth
1967 Atlantic
51 record label: Atlantic 2471
chart position: US #111
written by: Rose Marie McCoy and James Steward
The Drifters Still Burning in My Heart
1968 Atlantic
52 record label: Atlantic 2253
chart position: US #115
written by: Bert Russell
The Drifters He's Just a Playboy
1964 Atlantic
53 record label: Atlantic 2336
chart position: US #127
written by: Bert Russell (as Bert Berns), Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller and Ahmet Ertegun (as Nugetre)
The Drifters You Can't Love Them All
1966 Atlantic
54 record label: Atlantic 2134
chart position: Cashbox RandB #44
written by: Hilliard, Bacharach
album: Save The Last Dance For Me
The Drifters Mexican Divorce
1962 Atlantic
-- record label: Atlantic 1101
written by: Millett
album: Rockin' and Driftin'
The Drifters Soldier of Fortune
1956 Atlantic
-- record label: Atlantic 2182
written by: Bacharach, David
album: Our Biggest Hits
comments: (B-side of 'On Broadway'}
The Drifters Let The Music Play
1963 Atlantic
-- record label: Atlantic 2216
written by: Bacharach, David
album: Our Biggest Hits
comments: (B-side of 'Vaya Con Dios')
The Drifters In The Land Of Make Believe
1964 Atlantic
-- record label: Atlantic 8093
written by: Otis Blackwell, Winfield Scott
album: Our Biggest Hits
comments: [album cut]
The Drifters I Feel Good All Over
1964 Atlantic
-- record label: Atlantic 2225
written by: Clark
album: Our Biggest Hits
The Drifters Didn't It
1964 Atlantic
-- record label: Atlantic 10700 (UK)
written by: Florio, Vance, Holmes
comments: [northern soul]
The Drifters You Got to Pay Your Dues
1976 Atlantic
-- record label: Bell 2008111 (UK)
written by: Paul McCartney
album: Now
The Drifters Every Night
1973 Bell
-- record label: Bell 1313 (UK)
written by: W. Becker
album: Now
comments: [album cut]
The Drifters The Songs We Used To Sing
1973 Bell




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