| "Try a Little Tenderness" | |
|---|---|
| Song byRay Noble Orchestra | |
| Published | November 4, 1932 (1932-11-04)Campbell, Connelly & Co., Ltd.[1] |
| Recorded | December 8, 1932 |
| Songwriters | Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly,Henry Woods |
"Try a Little Tenderness" is a song written byHarry M. Woods (music),Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly (lyrics).
It was first recorded on December 8, 1932, by theRay Noble Orchestra, with vocals byVal Rosing. Another version, also recorded in 1932, was made by Charlie Palloy & his Orchestra.[2]Ted Lewis (Columbia 2748 D) andRuth Etting (Melotone 12625) had hits with it in 1933.[3]Bing Crosby also recorded it on January 9, 1933, for Brunswick Records.[4] A version byBob and Alf Pearson was also released in 1933. The song appeared onFrank Sinatra's debut album,The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946[5] and on the 1960 albumNice 'n' Easy.
| "Try a Little Tenderness" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 West German picture sleeve | ||||
| Single byOtis Redding | ||||
| from the albumComplete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul | ||||
| B-side | "I'm Sick Y'all" | |||
| Released | 1966 | |||
| Recorded | 1966 | |||
| Studio | Stax,Memphis, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Soul[6] | |||
| Length | 3:51 (Album version) 3:20 (Single version) | |||
| Label | Volt/Atco V-141 | |||
| Producers | Jim Stewart,Isaac Hayes,Booker T. & the M.G.'s | |||
| Otis Redding singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
A popular version in an entirely new form was recorded by soul artistOtis Redding in 1966. Redding was backed on his version byBooker T. & the M.G.'s, and Stax staff producerIsaac Hayes worked on the arrangement.[7] Redding's recording features a slow, soulful opening that eventually builds into a frenetic R&B conclusion, incorporating elements from theDuke Ellington–Lee Gaines song "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)" as well as the words "sock it to me." In early 1967, it peaked at number 25 on theBillboard Hot 100.[8] It has been named on a number of "best songs of all time" lists, including those from theRock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is in the 136th position onRolling Stone'slist of the 500 greatest songs of all time as of the list's 2021 update.[9] A live version performed in 1967 at theMonterey International Pop Festival was also recorded.[citation needed]
In the 1991 Irish film,The Commitments, the band performs the song in the style of Otis Redding. The version by The Commitments reached No. 13 in the Irish chart.[10]Eddie Murphy as the characterDonkey sang a line of the song in Redding's style in the 2001 animated filmShrek.[11]
In 2015, the song was inducted into theGrammy Hall of Fame.[12]
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] | 23 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[14] | 46 |
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] | 4 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[16] | 25 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[17] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[19] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Rock bandThree Dog Night released a version of the song, which peaked at number 29 on the USBillboard Top 100 in 1969, and number 19 in Canada.[20] It borrows stylistically from Redding's interpretation of the song, including the coda that was added in Redding's version.
An instrumental version of the song is played during the opening credits of the 1964 filmDr. Strangelove over authentic footage of in-flight refueling of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber. In theStage Adaptation, it is used as the opening to the show.
