Say the name Ben E King, and one song immediately springs to mind. Yet Stand By Me might never have become his signature hit had King not left The Drifters, who foolishly turned down the opportunity to record it. Upon going solo, King subsequently recorded the song to blow some spare studio time. Had it not been for that extra hour, we may never have known this 1960’s lurve gem!
Hitting number one on the R&B charts and UK singles chart, as well as Top 10 twice on the US charts, BMI named Stand By Me the fourth most performed song of the 20th century, with seven million estimated performances. From movie theme song to Levis ad song, Stand By Me has been covered by many, including Otis Redding, Jon Lennon and a duo from U2 and Bruce Springsteen. Then Olympic gold medallist boxer Cassius Clay even released a version in 1963!
So darlin’ darlin’ will you, stand by, this Timeless 50?
Tags: ben e king, music, stand by me, vw polo, vw timeless 50