Stand by Me (Ben E. King song)
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"Stand by Me" is the title of a song performed by Ben E. King and written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The song is based on a 1955 Gospel song of the same name by The Staples Singers. Leiber and Stoller gave it a more contemporary sound. Since its release, there have been many cover versions of the song, though none have achieved the fame of the original.
Song information
According to the documentary History of Rock 'n' Roll, King had no intention of recording the song himself when he wrote it.[1] King had written the song for The Drifters, who passed on the chance to record it. It wasn't until after the Spanish Harlem recording session that he had some studio time left over. The producer asked if he had any more songs and King played "Stand by Me" on the piano for him. The producer liked it and called all the studio musicians back in to record it. If King hadn't finished recording his other songs early, "Stand by Me" may never have been recorded.
The song was not released on an album until it had been out as a single for two years. After those two years the song appeared as track seven on King's Don't Play That Song.
King's version was a Top Ten hit on the U.S. charts twice—in its original release in 1961, and a 1986 rerelease coinciding with its use as the theme song for the movie of the same name following its appearance in the film and also in an advertisement for Levi Jeans. It reached #8 in the United World Chart. It also reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1987 after its re-release, mostly due to the jeans spot, originally reaching #27 on its first release.
"Stand by Me" was ranked number 121 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1999, BMI named it as the fourth most-performed song of the 20th century, with about 7 million performances.
Structure
The song uses a version of the common chord progression now called the 50s progression.
John Lennon cover version
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John Lennon recorded his version of the song for his 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll. Lennon's cover of "Stand by Me" was his last hit prior to his five-year retirement from the music industry. This version of the song had a more rock sound than R&B[citation needed]. The beginning of this version sounds like the beginning of Ringo Starr's "Only You (And You Alone)". The B-side of the single was "Move Over Ms. L", a rare and raucous track also covered by The Who drummer Keith Moon.
Chart run
03/05/1975: 48-37-32-30-32-34-42 (UK)
15/03/1975: 78-67-52-36-30-24-20-20-49 (US)
Other cover versions
- Muhammed Ali recorded it in 1964 with a song called "I Am The Greatest" as the flip side. Ali was the heavyweight boxing champion at the time. The song is included on the second volume of the comedy compilation Golden Throats.
- The Kingsmen have covered versions of this song and sung it in various concert performances.
- Punk band Pennywise have also covered the song on their 1989 EP Wildcard.
- Jonny And The Cranbrookers covered it whilst supporting John Mayer at Royal Albert Hall
- Otis Redding also covered the song once.
- It has been covered by Marvin Gaye.
- Adriano Celentano, one of the most famous Italian singers, covered the song as Pregherò (I will pray)
- A cover of the song was also recorded by The Fugees
- One of the best covers of the song was recorded by British Group The Searchers although it never appeared as a single
- The song was also a featured song in the hit movie Urban Cowboy where it was performed by Mickey Gilley.
- Sam Cooke recorded a cover of the song.
- Ry Cooder covers the song in Chicken Skin Music
- London based beatboxer "Faith SFX" covered the song.
- Boston punkrock band The Ducky Boys covered this song on their 2005 album Three Chords And The Truth.
- In 2007 the Spanish group D'NASH included a cover of "Stand by Me" in the reissue of their first album Capaz de todo (under the title Capaz de todo - Mision Eurovision).
- It is also featured on the rare bootleg A Toot and a Snore in '74.
- Ray Brown, Jr. recorded a jazz-style version on his 2007 album of the same name, Stand by Me.
- Rockapella performed a cover of this song.
- Former Earth Wind & Fire singer Maurice White also covered this song.
- In 2007, The former band The Wynchwood Brothers also covered this song and played it at numerous charitable concerts, including a concert in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Live performances, references, appearances in other media, etc.
- Jimmy & David Ruffin recorded a live cover in 1970, released as a single on the Soul (Motown) label.
- U2 performed the song frequently during that group's Joshua Tree and Zoo TV tours between 1987 and 1993, notably in one performance in Philadelphia where Bruce Springsteen joined the band on stage for the song. During U2's 1997-1998 PopMart Tour, the band often played snippets of "Stand by Me" after "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".
- Jim Byrnes performed an acoustic version of "Stand By Me" in one of the series finales of the television program "Highlander".
- The song has been performed live by punk rock group Green Day, who often used elements of the song during a medley with The Isley Brothers' "Shout" during their 2005 American Idiot tour.
- In July, 2007 Incubus covered "Stand by Me" in Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Philadelphia in August 2007, Cleveland and New Hampshire, and in September 2007, Chula Vista.
- The song was used for a 1995 short film starring The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa that was released as a bonus feature with the Disney film starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Tom and Huck. This odd 3-minute short features Timon singing the song, while Pumbaa is constantly hit by objects every time Timon says "stand by me". The short can be found amongst the trailers and previews at the head of the original The Best of Roger Rabbit VHS tape released in 1996 (it's being used to advertise the Timon and Pumbaa television series).
- In 2001, Banyo Queen, a rap song by Philippine rapper Andrew E., sampled the song to the point that the tune uses the first line of the song ("When the night has come").
- "Beautiful Girls", a 2007 single by Sean Kingston, samples the famous bass riff and chord progression as well as a melody that closely resembles parts of the violin solo from the original song.
- The song is one of three mentioned by name in Eric Carmen's song Make Me Lose Control.
- Bedouin Soundclash played a cover of 'Stand by me' as an intro to their track When the night feels my song at a 2007 gig in Sheffield
- Stand by me was used in the BBC's 'The choir - Boys don't sing' as the choirs final song when they performed in the Royal Albert Hall, conducted by choirmaster Gareth Malone.
References
- ^ "Good Rockin' Tonight." The History of Rock 'n' Roll. (c) 1995 Time-Life Video.