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| "Help Me Make It Through the Night" | |
|---|---|
| Song byKris Kristofferson | |
| from the albumKristofferson | |
| B-side | "Blame it on the Stones" |
| Released | 1970 |
| Recorded | 1969 |
| Studio | Monument Recording, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 2:24 |
| Label | Monument |
| Songwriter | Kris Kristofferson |
| Producer | Fred Foster |
| Audio | |
| "Help Me Make It Through the Night" on YouTube | |
| "Help Me Make It Through The Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single bySammi Smith | ||||
| from the albumHelp Me Make It Through the Night | ||||
| B-side | "When Michael Calls" | |||
| Released | November 1970 | |||
| Recorded | May 6, 1970 | |||
| Studio | Monument Recording, Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Label | Mega Records | |||
| Songwriter | Kris Kristofferson | |||
| Producer | Jim Malloy | |||
| Sammi Smith singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Help Me Make It Through the Night" is acountryballad written and composed byKris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 albumKristofferson. It was covered later in 1970 bySammi Smith, on the albumHelp Me Make It Through the Night. In 1982, Kris did a re-recording withBrenda Lee for the compilation albumThe Winning Hand. It has been covered since by many other artists fromTammy Wynette andJohnny Cash toElvis Presley,Joan Baez,Bryan Ferry,Mark Eitzel,Tyler Childers andEngelbert Humperdinck also as a duet betweenMichael Bublé andLoren Allred.
Smith's recording of the song (in May 1970) remains the most commercially successful, and best-known, version in the United States. Her recording ranks among the most successful country singles of all time in terms of sales, popularity, and radio airplay.[1] It topped the country singles chart, and was also a crossover hit, reaching number eight on the U.S. pop singles chart. "Help Me Make It Through The Night" also became Smith's signature song.[2]
In May 2024,Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 71 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.[3]
Kris Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from anEsquire Magazine interview withFrank Sinatra. When asked what he believed in, Sinatra replied, "Booze, broads, or a bible...whatever helps me make it through the night."[4]
During his time as a struggling songwriter, Kris Kristofferson wrote and composed the song while staying withDottie West and her husband, Bill, at their home on Shy's Hill Road in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood. When he offered Dottie West the song, she originally claimed it was "too suggestive" for her. Eventually, she would record it before the year was out, and it is included on her albumCareless Hands. However, by then, several others had recorded and released versions of it, some garnering great success. Later on, West said that not recording "Help Me Make It Through The Night" when Kristofferson originally offered it to her was one of the greatest regrets of her career.[citation needed]
In August 2010, eighteen years after comfortingSinéad O'Connor when she was booed at theBob Dylan: 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, Kristofferson performed "Help Me Make It Through the Night" with her on the Irish talk showSaturday Night with Miriam.[5]
Sammi Smith's recording (made in May 1970) reached number-one on the U.S. country charts and won theGrammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. On February 20, 1971, it reached number 8 onBillboard's U.S.pop singles chart, and also enjoyed success inCanada. Adult-Contemporary stations took to the song, and it peaked at number 3 onBillboard's Easy Listening chart. Additionally, it spent three weeks at number 1 on the Country chart.[6] The song became agold record.[citation needed]
In 1998, the 1970 release of "Help Me Make It Through the Night" bySammi Smith on Mega Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[7]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
In 1980,Willie Nelson covered the song. His rendition became a hit on the country music charts of both the U.S. and Canada.
| Chart (1979–1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USHot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] | 4 |
| CanadianRPM Country Tracks | 1 |
In 1971,Joe Simon hit #69 on the Hot 100 and #13 on theHot Soul Singles chart.[citation needed]
In 1972, a version byGladys Knight & the Pips reached number 33 on theBillboard Hot 100 and number 13 on theHot Soul Singles chart, and was a Top 10 pop hit in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]
In 1974,John Holt included the song on his album1000 Volts of Holt. That year, his recording of the song made it into the UK Top Ten.[citation needed]
In 1975, the French Canadian singer Claude Valade recorded a French version of the song, "Aide-moi à passer la nuit," produced and distributed by London Deram Records. The French-language lyrics were written by Canadian singer-songwriterChristine Charbonneau. The recording was a success and was on the charts (peaking at number 3) for more than six months.[18]
In 2007, it was recorded for a second time in French, with Annie Blanchard recording it on the Musicor Records label, and the song made the Top 20 for 26 weeks, reaching a high of #6.[19]
In 2013,American Idol contestantKree Harrison sang this song during season 12 on "Songs They Wish They Had Written" week.[20]
In 1995,Ray Stevens recorded a comedy version of the song for his album20 Comedy Hits.[21]
