Album of the Day

The late Ben E. King sang lead on some of The Drifters' greatest recordings before going solo; his first big hit on his own was the Top 10 “Spanish Harlem.” Taking a cue from that single's success, his 1961 debut album not only closes with the song, but boasts a Latin flavor through most of its dozen tracks, including wonderful versions of “Besame Mucho' and “Perfidia.” Like King's Drifters sides, this Atlantic collection fits comfortably within the mainstream pop of its day thanks to Stan Applebaum's string arrangements, but the performer's inviting vocals and the production - by R&B songwriting geniuses Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller - ensure that the set has plenty of soul, too. Ben E. King was born on this day in 1938, and we remember the legendary singer with the distinctive SPANISH HARLEM.