: Pressed by music executive Bob Shad for a follow-up to the group's previous hit, "Only You (And You Alone)," Ram bluffed that he already had a better song ready and spontaneously gave it the title "The Great Pretender" before he had actually written it. Musical Impact and Legacy
"The Great Pretender" is celebrated for its distinctive "Tin Pan Alley" sound—a hybrid of traditional pop songcraft and burgeoning rock and roll energy. The Platters Greatest Pretender
: It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 and was ranked 360th on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. : Pressed by music executive Bob Shad for
: The song's success made The Platters the first Black group to reach #1 on the national pop charts. : The song's success made The Platters the
: The track features the powerful lead tenor of Tony Williams , supported by the group's signature harmonies, including the soaring high registers of Zola Taylor.
: While many have covered it, Freddie Mercury’s 1987 version is the most famous, reaching #4 on the UK charts. Interestingly, Sam Cooke’s cover is believed to have inspired Chrissie Hynde to name her band The Pretenders .