"The Great Pretender" is celebrated for its distinctive "Tin Pan Alley" sound—a hybrid of traditional pop songcraft and burgeoning rock and roll energy.
: 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 Platters Greatest Pretender
: Ram reportedly drafted the lyrics in a washroom at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. "The Great Pretender" is celebrated for its distinctive
: The song's success made The Platters the first Black group to reach #1 on the national pop charts. "Only You (And You Alone)
