Formed in 1953 as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, the Drifters went through repeated, complete changes in lineup and sound over the following decade, evolving from raw gospel-inflected R&B into the lush, string-draped uptown soul of 'There Goes My Baby' and 'Save the Last Dance for Me.' That evolution alone made them one of the most influential vocal groups of the era, bridging doo-wop and the more orchestrated Motown and soul sounds that followed. Producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller used the group as a laboratory for pairing R&B vocals with orchestral pop arrangements — an idea Motown would soon turn into an industry.

the sound in question

1959

There Goes My BabyThe Drifters