Classic Pop Icons

The Drifters’ “On Broadway” is “Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “On Broadway” was released on single in early 1963, backed with “Let The Music Play,” and became one of The Drifters’ signature songs.

The Drifters were a long established act by the time “On Broadway” was recorded, but had already been through numerous line-up changes. The latest line-up included Rudy Lewis as lead singer, in place of Ben E. King who had left to pursue a solo career. The decision to hook up with producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1958 had led to the group’s most commercially successful period and a number of classic recordings, including “There Goes My Baby,” “Save the Last Dance For Me” and “Up On the Roof.”

“On Broadway” was a collaboration between Leiber and Stoller, and the now legendary husband and wife songwriting team, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Mann and Weil had already tried out the song with The Cookies and The Crystals before they pitched it for a Drifters session.

Although drawn to the song, Leiber and Stoller also determined that it needed work before it would be right for The Drifters. The pair suggested that Weil and Mann could either go home and continue writing it or that the four could team up to finish the song. In a 2001 interview with John Braheny, given at the fifth annual TAXI Road Rally, Mann remembered that he was eager to write with Leiber and Stoller:

Weil expanded on the differences in their approaches to songwriting:

The song had originally been intended to be from a female point of view, with the girl expressing her dreams of appearing on Broadway. That theme is retained for the Drifters version, which brilliantly expresses the yearning of the singer to achieve success on Broadway, whilst highlighting the contrast between the glamour of the Broadway scene and the singer’s current lifestyle. There is also an interesting change of mood as the song progresses. In the first two verses, the singer bemoans his lack of success and notes how “the glitter [of Broadway] rubs right off” when you have no food or money. However, at this point the singer’s mood alters. He begins the third verse with a defiant “Ha!”, shrugging off the earlier negative thoughts and claiming “‘Cause I can play this here guitar/And I won’t quit till I’m a star on Broadway.” This assertion is a response to those who say he “won’t last too long on Broadway” and now the bravado really takes over with a series of apparently self-assured declarations – “I’m gonna make it, yeah,” “I’ll be a big, big, big man,” “I’ll have my name in lights” and “Everybody’s gonna know me, yes.” We are left to decide for ourselves whether this is real self-belief in his star potential or merely an effort to convince himself that his detractors are wrong. Rudy Lewis’ marvelous lead vocals effectively communicate the varied emotions, from the subdued opening to slightly manic outro. He is helped in this regard by the writers’ wise decision to raise the key after each verse.

The Drifters – “On Broadway”

Sadly, Rudy Lewis died on May 20, 1964, just one day before the session that produced the group’s hit single “Under The Boardwalk.” Former member, Johnny Moore, rejoined the group and took on lead vocal duties.

Recording date/location

“On Broadway” was recorded on January 22, 1963 at Bell Sound Studios, New York City. The session also produced the B-side of the single “Let The Music Play,” which was penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

Musicians

The Drifters line-up on the “On Broadway” recording consisted of:

• Rudy Lewis – lead tenor
• Charlie Thomas – tenor
• Eugene Pearson – baritone
• Tommy Evans – bass – or Johnny Terry.

The Drifters were backed by:

• Phil Spector, Billy Butler, Bill Suyker, Everette Barksdale – guitars
• Russ Saunders – bass
• Gary Chester – drums
• Phil Kraus, Nick Rodriguez, Martin Grupp – percussion
• Joe Newman, Ernie Royal – trumpets.

The orchestration, including anonymous strings, was arranged by Gary Sherman.

Phil Spector played the lead guitar. He had previously produced a version of “On Broadway” with The Crystals.

Chart performance

“On Broadway” peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 21, 1963.

The song also reached number seven on Billboard’s R&B chart.

Other notable recordings

George Benson – “On Broadway”

George Benson recorded a popular cover of “On Broadway” for his 1978 album “Weekend in L.A.” and also reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released on single. The accomplished singer/guitarist embraced the jazzy undertones of the song and was rewarded with a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance.

Dave Clark Five – “On Broadway”

The Dave Clark Five featured “On Broadway” on their 1964 UK album “A Session with The Dave Clark Five” and then on the US album “Dave Clark Five Return!” Their cover owes much to the original, but is distinguished by a short but well executed sax solo by Denny Payton, and Mike Smith’s insistent organ work and assured vocal.

There will be a new Song of the Week on November 14.

“On Broadway” appears on many compilations, including the 2-CD “The Drifters – The Definitive Soul Collection.”

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