Song artist 156 - The Drifters

Search this site with Google

The Drifters Region Profile

The Drifters Chart Profile

This page lists the song chart entries of The Drifters. The songs are listed with the most widely successful first.

Because they were low-paid musicians The Drifters recorded with more than 60 different vocalists. This has resulted in the first classic lineup (formed by Clyde McPhatter) being inducted into the "Vocal Group Hall of Fame" as The Drifters (or The Original Drifters), the second lineup (featuring Ben E King) being inducted as "Ben E King & The Drifters" and some members of the later "Treadwell Drifters" also being inducted.

Just to add further confusion Cliff Richards backing band, The Shadows recorded some music using the same name.

# Artist Song Title Year Chart Entries
1 The Drifters Save the Last Dance For Me 1960 US Billboard 1 - Sep 1960 (18 weeks), Canada 1 - Sep 1960 (15 weeks), NZ Lever 1 - Jan 1961 (4 weeks), Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Nov 1960, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001 (1960), UK 2 - Nov 1960 (18 weeks), Flanders 2 - Jan 1961 (5 months), US CashBox 3 of 1960, WABC NY 3 of 1960, Norway 3 - Dec 1960 (10 weeks), South Africa 9 of 1960, DDD 12 of 1960, D.Marsh 12 of 1960, Australia 13 of 1960, US Radio 16 of 1960 (peak 1 12 weeks), US invalid BB 20 of 1960, POP 20 of 1960, US BB 26 of 1960, Germany 46 of the 1960s (peak 2 21 weeks), Rolling Stone 182, UKMIX 322, Acclaimed 512 (1960), RYM 9 of 1960, NY Daily Love list 20
2 The Drifters There goes my baby 1959 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1959), US Billboard 2 - Jun 1959 (19 weeks), D.Marsh 2 of 1959, DDD 4 of 1959, US CashBox 5 of 1959, Your Hit Parade 5 of 1959, US invalid BB 9 of 1959, POP 9 of 1959, Canada 12 - Jun 1959 (12 weeks), US BB 29 of 1959, US Radio 33 of 1959 (peak 2 10 weeks), nuTsie 63 of 1950s, Rolling Stone 193, Acclaimed 197 (1959), RYM 42 of 1959, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
3 The Drifters Under the Boardwalk 1964 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014 (1964), Keener 2 - Jun 1964 (7 weeks), US invalid BB 2 of 1964, POP 2 of 1964, US Billboard 4 - Jun 1964 (14 weeks), Record World 4 - 1964, NZ Lever 6 - Sep 1964 (3 weeks), D.Marsh 6 of 1964, Canada 9 - Jul 1964 (13 weeks), DDD 14 of 1964, WABC NY 18 of 1964, US BB 20 of 1964, US CashBox 21 of 1964, KQV 24 of 1964, US Radio 39 of 1964 (peak 4 9 weeks), UK 45 - Sep 1964 (4 weeks), nuTsie 88 of 1960s, Rolling Stone 487, Acclaimed 1216 (1964), RYM 37 of 1964
4 The Drifters Up On the Roof 1963 POP 2 of 1963, D.Marsh 2 of 1962, US Billboard 5 - Nov 1962 (20 weeks), NZ Lever 7 - Mar 1963 (1 week), DDD 7 of 1962, US CashBox 11 of 1963, US invalid BB 14 of 1963, Canada 34 - Jan 1963 (6 weeks), WABC NY 40 of 1963, US Radio 71 of 1963 (peak 5 7 weeks), US BB 75 of 1963, Rolling Stone 113, Acclaimed 689 (1962), RYM 54 of 1962, NY Daily Love list 23, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
5 The Drifters On Broadway 1963 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 (1963), D.Marsh 6 of 1963, US Billboard 9 - Mar 1963 (10 weeks), DDD 14 of 1963, POP 20 of 1963, US invalid BB 21 of 1963, Canada 36 - Mar 1963 (4 weeks), US Radio 98 of 1963 (peak 9 4 weeks), RIAA 231, Acclaimed 928 (1963), RYM 24 of 1963
6 The Drifters Money Honey 1953 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1953), DDD 1 of 1953, nuTsie 34 of 1950s, Rolling Stone 252, Acclaimed 732 (1953), RYM 7 of 1953, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
7 The Drifters Kissin' in the Back Row of The Movies 1974 New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks - Sep 1974, UK 2 - Jun 1974 (13 weeks), Springbok 3 - Oct 1974 (13 weeks), Belgium 6 - Aug 1974 (11 weeks), Holland 12 - Aug 1974 (11 weeks), Denmark 13 of 1974, Germany 14 - Aug 1974 (3 months), UK Silver (certified by BPI in Jul 1974)
8 The Drifters This Magic Moment 1960 D.Marsh 6 of 1960, US invalid BB 8 of 1960, POP 8 of 1960, US Billboard 16 - Feb 1960 (11 weeks), Canada 20 - Feb 1960 (8 weeks), DDD 23 of 1960, US Radio 131 of 1960 (peak 16 2 weeks), RYM 93 of 1960
9 The Drifters Saturday Night At the Movies 1964 Keener 13 - Nov 1964 (4 weeks), Record World 14 - 1964, US Billboard 18 - Nov 1964 (9 weeks), Canada 23 - Nov 1964 (7 weeks), Holland 24 - Jan 1965 (7 weeks), UK 35 - Apr 1965 (7 weeks), DDD 88 of 1964, US Radio 168 of 1964 (peak 18 3 weeks), RYM 78 of 1964
10 The Drifters I Count the Tears 1961 Canada 11 - Jan 1961 (10 weeks), D.Marsh 13 of 1960, US Billboard 17 - Dec 1960 (11 weeks), UK 28 - Mar 1961 (6 weeks), DDD 38 of 1960, WABC NY 70 of 1961, US Radio 146 of 1961 (peak 17 2 weeks)
11 The Drifters Dance With Me 1959 Canada 12 - Nov 1959 (10 weeks), D.Marsh 12 of 1959, US Billboard 15 - Oct 1959 (15 weeks), UK 17 - Jan 1960 (5 weeks), DDD 68 of 1959, US Radio 124 of 1959 (peak 15 3 weeks)
12 The Drifters Some Kind of Wonderful 1961 US invalid BB 13 of 1961, POP 13 of 1961, Canada 20 - Apr 1961 (7 weeks), US Billboard 32 - Mar 1961 (11 weeks), DDD 65 of 1961, WABC NY 91 of 1961
13 The Drifters When My Little Girl is Smiling 1962 NZ Lever 4 - May 1962 (5 weeks), Norway 8 - May 1962 (4 weeks), US Billboard 28 - Feb 1962 (10 weeks), UK 31 - Apr 1962 (3 weeks)
14 The Drifters Please Stay 1961 US Billboard 14 - Jun 1961 (12 weeks), Canada 25 - Jun 1961 (6 weeks), DDD 57 of 1961, US BB 100 of 1961, US Radio 122 of 1961 (peak 14 4 weeks)
15 The Drifters Honey Love 1954 DDD 17 of 1954, US Billboard 21 - Oct 1954 (4 weeks), US CashBox 21 - Sep 1954 (5 weeks), RYM 13 of 1954
16 The Drifters White Christmas 1954 DDD 9 of 1954, nuTsie 65 of 1950s, US Billboard 80 - Dec 1955 (1 week), RYM 17 of 1954
17 The Drifters Sweets For My Sweet 1961 US Billboard 16 - Sep 1961 (11 weeks), Canada 21 - Sep 1961 (9 weeks), DDD 84 of 1961, US Radio 141 of 1961 (peak 16 3 weeks)
18 The Drifters You're More Than a Number in My Little Red Book 1977 UK 5 - Dec 1976 (12 weeks), RIANZ 17 - Feb 1977 (9 weeks), Holland 28 - Apr 1977 (4 weeks), Belgium 29 - May 1977 (1 week), UK Silver (certified by BPI in Feb 1977)
19 The Drifters There Goes My First Love 1975 UK 3 - Sep 1975 (12 weeks), Belgium 27 - Nov 1975 (1 week), RIANZ 40 - Nov 1975 (1 week), UK Silver (certified by BPI in Oct 1975)
20 The Drifters (If You Cry) True Love, True Love 1959 Canada 12 - Nov 1959 (5 weeks), US Billboard 33 - Nov 1959 (11 weeks), D.Marsh 37 of 1959
21 The Drifters Fools Fall in Love 1957 US Billboard 69 - Feb 1957 (4 weeks), Scrobulate 86 of rhythm & blues, DDD 101 of 1957, RYM 92 of 1957
22 The Drifters I've Got Sand In My Shoes 1964 Keener 21 - Oct 1964 (2 weeks), Record World 29 - 1964, US Billboard 33 - Sep 1964 (7 weeks), Canada 34 - Oct 1964 (5 weeks)
23 The Drifters At the Club 1965 Record World 32 - 1965, UK 35 - Apr 1965 (7 weeks), US Billboard 43 - Jan 1965 (6 weeks), UKMIX 882
24 The Drifters Moonlight Bay 1958 Canada 25 - Jun 1958 (10 weeks), US Billboard 72 - Jun 1958 (5 weeks), RYM 119 of 1958
25 The Drifters Adorable 1955 US CashBox 40 - Nov 1955 (6 weeks), DDD 58 of 1955, RYM 39 of 1955
26 The Drifters I'll Take You Home 1963 Canada 22 - Sep 1963 (5 weeks), US Billboard 25 - Sep 1963 (10 weeks), UK 37 - Oct 1963 (5 weeks)
27 The Drifters Drip Drop 1958 DDD 55 of 1958, US Billboard 58 - Aug 1958 (2 weeks), RYM 119 of 1958
28 The Drifters Come On Over to My Place 1965 Keener 20 - Apr 1965 (4 weeks), UK 40 - May 1965 (5 weeks), US Billboard 60 - Apr 1965 (5 weeks)
29 The Drifters Such a Night 1954 DDD 23 of 1954, RYM 32 of 1954
30 The Drifters The Way I Feel 1953 DDD 92 of 1953, RYM 7 of 1953
31 The Drifters Bip Bam 1954 DDD 39 of 1954, RYM 43 of 1954
32 The Drifters Lucille 1954 DDD 78 of 1954, RYM 32 of 1954
33 The Drifters The Bells of St Mary's 1954 DDD 91 of 1954, RYM 17 of 1954
34 The Drifters Warm Your Heart 1954 DDD 106 of 1954, RYM 13 of 1954
35 The Drifters Down On the Beach Tonight 1974 UK 7 - Oct 1974 (9 weeks), Springbok 19 - Feb 1975 (3 weeks)
36 The Drifters What'cha Gonna Do? 1955 DDD 27 of 1955, RYM 34 of 1955
37 The Drifters Like Sister & Brother 1973 UK 7 - Aug 1973 (12 weeks), Australia Goset 12 - Nov 1973 (27 weeks)
38 The Drifters Steamboat 1955 DDD 52 of 1955, RYM 39 of 1955
39 The Drifters Memories Are Made of This 1966 Canada 20 - Apr 1966 (8 weeks), US Billboard 48 - Mar 1966 (7 weeks)
40 The Drifters Ruby Baby 1956 DDD 70 of 1956, RYM 55 of 1956
41 The Drifters Your Promise to Be Mine 1956 DDD 81 of 1956, RYM 55 of 1956
42 The Drifters Baby What I Mean 1966 UK 49 - Feb 1967 (1 week), US Billboard 62 - Dec 1966 (7 weeks)
43 The Drifters At The Club/Saturday Night At The Movies (1972) 1972 UK 3 - Mar 1972 (20 weeks)
44 The Drifters Hypnotized 1957 US Billboard 79 - Jun 1957 (2 weeks)
45 The Drifters Lonely Winds 1960 US Billboard 54 - May 1960 (9 weeks)
46 The Drifters Room Full Of Tears 1961 US Billboard 72 - Dec 1961 (5 weeks)
47 The Drifters Stranger On the Shore 1962 US Billboard 73 - May 1962 (1 week)
48 The Drifters Rat Race 1963 US Billboard 71 - Jun 1963 (6 weeks)
49 The Drifters Can I Take You Home Little Girl 1975 UK 10 - Nov 1975 (10 weeks)
50 The Drifters Hello Happiness 1976 UK 12 - Mar 1976 (8 weeks)
51 The Drifters Come On Over To My Place (1972) 1972 UK 9 - Aug 1972 (11 weeks)
52 The Drifters Love Games 1975 UK 33 - Feb 1975 (6 weeks)
53 The Drifters Vaya Con Dios (may God Be With You) 1964 US Billboard 43 - Feb 1964 (7 weeks)
54 The Drifters One Way Love 1964 US Billboard 56 - May 1964 (7 weeks)
55 The Drifters Every Night's a Saturday Night With You 1976 UK 29 - Sep 1976 (7 weeks)
56 The Drifters I'll Take You Where The Music's Playing 1965 US Billboard 51 - Aug 1965 (6 weeks)
57 The Drifters Save The Last Dance For Me (1979) 1979 UK 69 - Apr 1979 (2 weeks)
58 The Drifters Chains of Love 1965 US Billboard 90 - Apr 1965 (2 weeks)
59 The Drifters Follow Me 1965 US Billboard 91 - Jul 1965 (3 weeks)
60 The Drifters Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You) 1954 RYM 43 of 1954
61 The Drifters Gone 1955 RYM 34 of 1955
62 The Drifters Hot Ziggety 1955 RYM 48 of 1955
63 The Drifters Everyone's Laughing 1955 RYM 48 of 1955
64 The Drifters I Gotta Get Myself a Woman 1956 RYM 113 of 1956
65 The Drifters Soldier of Fortune 1956 RYM 113 of 1956
66 The Drifters It Was a Tear 1957 RYM 92 of 1957
67 The Drifters Oh My Love 1959 RYM 42 of 1959
68 The Drifters Nobody But Me 1960 RYM 9 of 1960
69 The Drifters Baltimore 1960 RYM 93 of 1960
70 The Drifters Another Night With the Boys 1962 RYM 54 of 1962
71 The Drifters Let the Music Play 1963 RYM 24 of 1963
72 The Drifters I Don't Want to Go On Without You 1964 RYM 37 of 1964
73 The Drifters Spanish Lace 1964 RYM 78 of 1964
74 The Drifters Mit 17 faengt das Leben erst an unknown Germany 46 of the 1960s (peak 2 21 weeks)

Comment on the contents of the 'Song artist 156 - The Drifters' page
Subject: Email to Reply To (optional):  

Previous Comments (newest first)

4 May 2015

Double Listing-(If You Cry)True Love True Love

#26 & #45 are the same.

Data fixed, thanks


14 Nov 2012

sweet caroline/ by the drifters ?

did the drifters release a cover of neil diamond,s " sweet caroline " ?


22 Apr 2011

No 74. The Drifters - Honey Love

Hi, I'm a big fan of your sites, however, may I know why this songs listed does not include the name of Clyde McPhatter. I owned a set of Atlantic Box Set, they have include his name as artist for this song. so, it appears as "Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters". May i know why the difference?

Thank You

The artists credited with this song varied from one market to another, in the Billboard charts the song was listed as abe by "Drifters" (without "The" and certainly with no mention of Clyde McPhatter). If you look at the artist's page you will see that we note some of the complexities.

We, of course, have to consolidate all the entries from around the world, otherwise we won't get a reasonable impression of the total success of a particular song or album.

That's why the artist name listed on a particular "Greatest Hits" album may be different from what is listed here.