Come Softly to Me
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| "Come Softly to Me" | |
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"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song originally written as "Come Softly" by Gretchen Christopher, published in 1959, and performed by The Fleetwoods, consisting of Christopher, Gary Troxel and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records label, as No. 1. This may be the first time that a record label's first issue became a number one hit.[citation needed]
The original title was "Come Softly," but was changed en route to its becoming a hit. Recorded at home, they 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: an acoustic guitar played by Bonnie Guitar.
Bob Reisdorf, the owner of Dolphin Records (changed in 1960 to Dolton Records), was responsible for the title change. He thought that "Come Softly" might be misunderstood and considered risqué, so he had it changed to "Come Softly to Me". Indeed the title phrase never appears in the song's lyrics. Released in 1959, the single reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in April.[1]
The song has been covered by other artists, including Sandy Salisbury, 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, and The Seekers, whose version reached #95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the UK charts in 1972-73. A cover version, performed by The Roches, is repeated several times on the soundtrack of the movie Crossing Delancey. It is included in the closing credits of the BBC2 sitcom Roger and Val have Just Got In. It's rhythmic structure is used by Eliza Doolittle on the 7th song of her debut album Eliza Doolittle (album) and also includes some of the song at the beginning.
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 230.