| "Come Softly to Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Fleetwoods | ||||
| from the album Mr. Blue | ||||
| B-side | "I Care So Much" | |||
| Released | February 16, 1959 (Dolphin) April, 1959 (Liberty) | |||
| Recorded | Fall 1958 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:25 | |||
| Label | Dolphin Records, Liberty Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis and Gary Troxel | |||
| Producer(s) | Bob Reisdorff | |||
| The Fleetwoods singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song recorded by The Fleetwoods, composed of Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel, the three of whom also wrote it.[1] The original title was "Come Softly", but was changed en route to its becoming a hit. Bob Reisdorf, the owner of Dolphin Records, which in 1960 changed to Dolton Records, was responsible for the title change. He thought that "Come Softly" might be too obvious and considered risqué, so he had it changed to "Come Softly to Me." The title phrase never appears in the song's lyrics.
Recording the song at home, the group sang it a cappella with the rhythmic shaking of Troxel's car keys. The tape was then sent to Los Angeles where the sparse instrumental accompaniment was added, including an acoustic guitar played by Bonnie Guitar, herself a successful singer-songwriter ("Dark Moon") and Reisdorf's in-house record producer. Released in 1959, the single reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in April.[2]
Chart positions
Cover versions
The song has been covered by other artists, including Sandy Salisbury, Henri Salvador "Tout doux, tout doucement" (1959); Paul & Paula (1963); Four Jacks and a Jill (1965);[5] The Serendipity Singers on United Artists in 1968; Bob Welch (with Christine McVie on backing vocals); Frankie Vaughan with The Kaye Sisters, who had a chart hit in the United Kingdom with it; Jane Olivor; Mercy; Mercy released a version of the song on their 1969 album, Love Can Make You Happy[6] and The New Seekers, whose version reached #95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the UK charts in 1972-73.[7] Brenton Wood titled his 1977 album, Come Softly, after the song.[8] A cover version performed by The Roches is repeated several times on the soundtrack of the film Crossing Delancey.[9] Buck Dharma of Blue Öyster Cult covered the song on his 1982 solo album, Flat Out.[10]
Popular culture
- The song was featured in the film and soundtrack of Stand by Me.
- This song is used in the opening scene of the movie Dead Silence's trailer.[11]
- It is included in the closing credits of the BBC2 sitcom Roger and Val Have Just Got In.
- The song was also featured in the soundtrack of Mafia II.
Samples
- Most recently, Eliza Doolittle sampled it for the song "Missing" on her debut album.
See also
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1959 (U.S.)
References
- ^ http://www.45cat.com/artist/the-fleetwoods
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 230.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 208.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Four Jacks and a Jill, Jimmy Come Lately Retrieved May 13, 2015
- ^ Mercy, Love Can Make You Happy Retrieved May 7, 2015
- ^ The New Seekers charting singles Retrieved 09-23-11
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/Brenton-Wood-Come-Softly/release/1244909
- ^ Crossing Delancey - Original Soundtrack Retrieved 09-23-11
- ^ Buck Dharma, Flat Out Retrieved 09-23-11
- ^ Dead Silence's trailer on YouTube Retrieved September 29, 2011