The Drifters: "Save the Last Dance for Me"

October 24, 1960 (1 week)

Over the previous eight weeks, the CHUM charts had been topped by three hit singles: The Ventures' "Walk — Don't Run", Jimmie Rodgers' "The Wreck of the John B" and Bob Luman's "Let's Think About Living". None of them managed to accomplish the same feat on either the Hot 100 or the UK's Record Retailer chart, the longest such streak to date in which the Canadians refused to be in concert with either the Americans or the British (or both).

This modest run concluded with "Save the Last Dance for Me", an American number one and UK number two for The Drifters. It also managed to top the charts in New Zealand and South Africa — and perhaps a few more than I'm not aware of. No doubt millions of people bought it and many continue to play on streaming services. It has also been covered by the likes of Dolly Parton and Michael Buble. A great many people love this song; I just think it's pretty good.

What do I have against it? Nothing much. It's perfectly fine for what it is, it's just never grabbed me. I'm frankly amazed that there to learn that there are people out there who consider it to be about a controlling husband or boyfriend attempting to manipulate his lover into staying with him. I mean, it could be about that for all I know, I just can't believe anyone has ever put so much thought into such a relatively innocuous song. (And I say this as someone who regularly puts way too much thought into even more innocuous songs)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame began in 1986 with a bang, inducting twenty-five members in its first two years. It was only in '88 that things began to settle. And what a class it was that year. The Beatles (who somehow weren't a charter member; yes, I'm aware the Rock Hall has their twenty-five year rule but you'd think they would have looked the other way when it came to the biggest group of all time), Bob Dylan (ditto), The Beach Boys and The Supremes make up a rock solid quartet that no one could've quarreled over. But there was a fifth new member: The Drifters. Among such lofty company, they must have been pretty special in their own right.

Yeah, not really. "Save the Last Dance for Me" is nice a nice R&B song but they don't have much else. The Coasters got into the Hall a year earlier with a far greater discography. Ultimately, their induction just goes to show that the American rock critics were going to be loose with who ends getting in, which is fair enough. I'd much rather have Halls of Fame in music and sports that induct too many members rather than not enough. The Drifters can be in for all I care. But let's not go nuts here. A fine vocal group with one major hit and a handful of smaller ones with a rotating lineup (appropriately enough, they Drifted in and out) does not a legend make.

It's significant that the best song involving a member of The Drifters is Ben E. King's remarkable solo hit "Stand by Me" which will eventually be coming up in this blog. I have far more to say about it than I do this competent single. It may sound like I'm trashing "Save the Last Dance for Me" but it's more that it's a good song that I don't care about. I'd sooner be blogging about number ones that I can't stand than those I'm largely indifferent towards. Oh, and look! It looks like there's one coming up next!

Score: 6