A Song for You
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"A Song for You" is a 1970 song written and originally performed by rock singer-songwriter Leon Russell. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness from an estranged lover, the tune is one of Russell's best-known songs.
Donny Hathaway's 1971 recording is today considered one of his signature songs, even though the song was a cover and the single never made the Billboard charts.
One of the few versions of the song that did make the charts was by Andy Williams, whose single peaked at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.
"A Song for You" is also the title of the third track of Gram Parsons' album, GP. This is not the same song written by Leon Russell.
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[edit] Other versions
- Angela Aki: Track 3 on her indies mini-album One. Her Japanese lyrics do not correspond to Leon Russell's.
- Carmen McRae performed this song on her Great American Songbook suite.
- The Carpenters: not released as a single, it served as the title song for the duo's 1972 album A Song for You
- Aretha Franklin: From the Let Me In Your Life Album released in 1974
- Cher: From the 1972 album "Foxy Lady."
- Dusty Springfield
- The Temptations: also used as a title song, on their 1975 album A Song for You.
- Ray Charles: He recorded a very sentimental version of the song on his 1993 album "My World." Released as a single, it reached #4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles. Charles also performed the song at New York's Beacon Theatre on April 9, 2003, as part of Willie Nelson's 70th birthday tribute (released on DVD as "Willie Nelson and Friends: Live & Kickin'"). Nelson, who stood nearby during Charles' performance, was moved to tears.
- Peggy Lee: on her final album for Capitol Records, Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota (1972)
- Elliott Yamin: performed the song in both his audition for American Idol and in one of his final performances. It was also named number three in Entertainment Weekly's, 10 all-time best American Idol performances. The song is also on Yamin's debut album.
- Ben Barnett, of the band Kind of Like Spitting recorded a cover in 2005.
- Michael Bublé: on his album It's Time.
- Marc Broussard: recorded a live version of this song during a concert tour.
- Willie Nelson: on his 1973 album Shotgun Willie. He also performed it in the movie Honeysuckle Rose, and it appears on the movie's soundtrack.
- Natalie Cole: on the 1999 album Snowfall on the Sahara; Michelle Kwan skated to it during exhibitions.
- City High: on the 2001 self titled album.
- Herbie Hancock: released in 2005 with vocals by Christina Aguilera; it received airplay on U.S. smooth jazz radio and was also nominated for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" in 2006.
- Whitney Houston: performed for the troops and their families returning from the Gulf War on March 31, 1991. The performance can be seen on "Welcome Home Heroes With Whitney Houston (1991)".
- Simply Red: on the 2005 album Simplified and released as part of a double A-side single in January 2006.
- Tony Lewis: recorded the song as the opener of his 2001 CD "Naked".
- Kate Ceberano: performed as part of her concerts with the Adelaide and Western Australian Symphony Orchestras, appearing on the 2006 CD and DVD release, "Kate Ceberano live with the WASO".
- Jakob Sveistrup: this Danish performer's self-titled debut album included a cover version of the song.
- Gavin DeGraw: did a performance of the song for StrippedMusic.com.
- Nolwenn Leroy: has included a performance of the song within her 2006-2007 Histoires Naturelles tour.
- Chris Richardson: performed the song in his auditions for American Idol in Season 6.
- Gerald Levert: performed by the late Gerald Levert on the 1998 New York Undercover : A Night at Natalie's soundtrack.
- Betty Wright: performed it live and it's featured on her release "Betty Wright Live" in 1978.
- Elton John: sang it as an intro to a medley of his own songs "Blue Eyes" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" on his 1986 tour. He did not play piano during these performances; rather, he deferred the instrumental duties to keyboardist Fred Mandel.
- Bizzy Bone: on the 2008 album of the same name; produced a modern take on the song with fellow rapper DMX and vocalist singer Chris Notez
- Sylvester James: on his 1979 Live album: Living Proof (double LP) did a six minute medley containing this song.
- Risie Mayo: on the Eleventh Gala Night of Pinoy Dream Academy: Little Dreamers.
- Leon Jackson: on his first album Right Now
- Jaye P. Morgan: the 50s chanteuse had her final Billboard chart song in 1971 with this tune ("Bubbling Under #105)
- Ricky Braddy: performed it on the eighth season of American Idol during the semi-finals
- Matt Goss: provided his own version of the song as a free download on his Website.
- Petula Clark: Recorded in concert at the Royal Albert Hall, 1974. Recently released on the compilation Open Your Heart
- Sanne Salomonsen: recorded a cover version for her 1998 album In a New York Minute.
- Donna Summer: often sang this as the encore during tours from 1977 to 1979, and again in 1983. Several clips are on You Tube.
- Kris Allen: performed it in his first audition on the eighth season of American Idol
[edit] Herbie Hancock featuring Christina Aguilera
| "A Song for You" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Herbie Hancock featuring Christina Aguilera | |||||
| from the album Possibilities | |||||
| Released | August 2005 (United States) | ||||
| Genre | Jazz | ||||
| Length | 7:05 | ||||
| Label | Vector | ||||
| Writer(s) | Leon Russell | ||||
| Producer | Herbie Hancock, Jessica Hancock, John Alagía, Bob Brockman, Yaron Fuchs, Bryce Goggin, Steven "Steven J." Jordan, Rob Lucas, Alan Mintz, Greg Phillinganes, Paul Simon | ||||
| Christina Aguilera singles chronology | |||||
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This version performed by Herbie Hancock features pop singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera. Released in August 2005, from Hancocks' forty-fifth studio album Possibilities. The song is classic cover. Aguilera and Hancock were nominated for the 47th Grammy Awards in category "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals".
[edit] Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | U.S. Smooth Jazz | 19 |
[edit] Bizzy Bone featuring DMX & Chris Notez
| "A Song For You" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Bizzy Bone featuring DMX & Chris Notez | |||||
| from the album A Song For You | |||||
| Released | March 18, 2008 |
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| Format | CD single, digital download | ||||
| Recorded | 2007 | ||||
| Genre | Rap, Hip-hop | ||||
| Length | 3:58 | ||||
| Label | Virgin/After Platinum | ||||
| Writer(s) | Hathaway, D/ McCane, B/ Simmons, E | ||||
| Certification | TBA | ||||
| Bizzy Bone featuring DMX & Chris Notez singles chronology | |||||
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A Song For You which features DMX and Chris Notez is the first official single of rapper, Bizzy Bone's album of the same name. It is sampled from Donny Hathaway's 1971 composition.
[edit] Music video
The music video for a song for you included Bizzy Bone, DMX and Chris Notez the music video includes Chris Notez playing a grand piano in front of a big manor singing his words in the chorus, Bizzy Bone, DMX and sometimes Chris Notez singing in a dimly lit big room with Bizzy Bone wearing a bright red jacket and DMX wearing a copper brown jacket. Lastly Bizzy Bone is often seen a suit singing the song in front of a christian cross with the words Eazy E wrote on it.
[edit] Charts
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 61 |
