DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

* Metastatic at diagnosis or persistent, metastatic, or recurrent after surgery and/or radiotherapy
* Relapse after prior induction or adjuvant therapy allowed
* No newly diagnosed nonmetastatic disease
* Measurable or nonmeasurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Not specified

Hepatic:

* Not specified

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No grade 2 or greater sensory neuropathy
* No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or stage I or II cancer in complete remission

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 6 months since prior carboplatin or cisplatin induction or adjuvant chemotherapy
* No more than 1 prior induction or adjuvant chemotherapy regimen
* No prior chemotherapy for recurrent or newly diagnosed metastatic disease
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 28 days since prior surgery and recovered