Let It Be Me (The Everly Brothers song)

"Je t'appartiens"
Single by Gilbert Bécaud
Released 1955
Genre Pop
Songwriter(s) Pierre Delanoë (lyrics)
Gilbert Bécaud (music)
"Let It Be Me"
Single by The Everly Brothers
B-side "Since You Broke My Heart"
Released 1960
Format 7" single
Recorded December 15, 1959, New York
Genre Pop
Length 2:33
Label Cadence
Songwriter(s) Gilbert Bécaud, Manny Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
Producer(s) Archie Bleyer
The Everly Brothers singles chronology
"(Till) I Kissed You"
(1959)
"Let It Be Me"
(1960)
"Cathy's Clown"
(1960)

"(Till) I Kissed You"
(1959)
"Let It Be Me"
(1960)
"Cathy's Clown"
(1960)
"Let It Be Me"
Single by Betty Everett and Jerry Butler
B-side "Ain't That Loving You Baby"
Released 1964
Format 7" single
Recorded 1964
Genre R&B
Length 2:44
Label Vee-Jay
Songwriter(s) Gilbert Bécaud, Manny Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
Betty Everett and Jerry Butler singles chronology
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"Let It Be Me"
(1964)
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Everett: I Can't Hear You (1964)
----
Butler: I Stand Accused (1964)
"Let It Be Me"
(1964)
Everett: Getting Mighty Crowded (1964)
----
Butler: Smile (with Betty Everett) (1964)

"Let It Be Me" is a popular song originally published in French in 1955 as "Je t'appartiens" interpreted by Gilbert Bécaud. It became popular worldwide with an English version by The Everly Brothers and later with the duet by Betty Everett and Jerry Butler.

"Je t'appartiens"

"Je t'appartiens" was a French hit in 1955. The score was written and first recorded by Gilbert Bécaud. The lyrics were penned in French by Pierre Delanoë. In 1955 it was a hit for Bécaud and in 1956 was rerecorded by Les Compagnons de la chanson.

First English version by Jill Corey

The English language version used lyrics by Manny Curtis and was performed in 1957 by Jill Corey in the television series Climax!. Corey's version, with orchestration by Jimmy Carroll, was released as a single and was moderately successful.

The Everly Brothers version

The Everly Brothers helped to further popularize the song with their 1960 rendition of "Let It Be Me" which reached 7th position on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] The harmony arrangement of this version was often emulated in subsequent remakes. This was the first Everly Brothers single to be recorded in New York, and not in Nashville. The musicians that backed up the brothers on the record included Howard Collins, Barry Galbraith and Mundell Lowe on guitar, Lloyd Trotman on bass, Jerry Allison on drums and Hank Rowland on piano.

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler version

The song enjoyed its most success in 1964 when Betty Everett and Jerry Butler released their wistful version of the popular song. Their soulful duet was a bona fide hit which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well as topped the Cashbox Soul/R&B charts for 3 weeks (the Billboard R&B chart wasn't tabulated at all in 1964 so could not be used for reference).[2]

Chronology: Je t'appartiens

Chronology: Let It Be Me

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

  • 1980 – Greek singer Aleka Kanellidoy recorded a version of the song in Greek titled "Panta Konta sou", on her album Empisteftika.
  • 1980 − Japanese singer Goro Noguchi recorded this song on his 10th anniversary album Uta Soshite Ai.
  • 1982 – Willie Nelson had success with a rendition that went to #2 on the Billboard Country charts. It was also #1 on Adult Contemporary and Country charts in Canada.
  • 1982 – Orleans covered this song on their album One of a Kind.
  • 1985 – David Hasselhoff covered the song on his debut album Night Rocker.
  • 1985 – Idoli recorded a Serbian language version of the song "Samo Me Gledaj I Budi Tu" for their soundtrack album Šest Dana Juna.
  • 1985 – Martin Simpson covered this song on the album Sad or High Kicking.
  • 1988 – Bruce Springsteen covered the song during soundchecks on his Tunnel of Love Express Tour.

1990s

2000s

2010s

  • 2010 – Canadian singer-songwriter Reid Jamieson covered the song on CBC Radio's The Vinyl Cafe.
  • 2010 – American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond covered the song on his album Dreams.
  • 2011 – A version of the song recorded by George Harrison (before his death in 2001 though exact date is unknown) appears on bonus CD of the George Harrison: Living in the Material World (Deluxe DVD/Blu-ray edition), and Early Takes: Volume 1.
  • 2011 – Anggun recorded a version of the song, which appears on a compilation CD BECAUD: Et Maintenant.
  • 2011 – Emma Hamilton recorded a jazz version of this song on her album La Musique with both French and English lyrics.
  • 2012 – Christopher Owens (former Girl's lead vocalist and guitarist) covered this song on his Lysandre Tour and it was included on his 2013 album Lysandre.
  • 2012 – Marcus Miller recorded an instrumental version of the song, his bass guitar taking the melody line, on the album "Renaissance".
  • 2014 – Megan Washington and Kate Miller-Heidke performed a duet of the song for (Australian) ABC TV's show, The Truth About Us.[5]
  • 2014 – Herb Alpert re-recorded an instrumental version of the song and released it on the album In the Mood.
  • 2014 – Joey + Rory recorded a country/bluegrass version of the song and released it on the album Country Classics: A Tapestry of Our Musical Heritage.
  • 2014 – Michael Ball and The Overtones covered the song on the album If Everyone Was Listening.
  • 2014 – Morten Harket (lead singer of a-ha) performed the song at the end of his solo performances that year, as a tribute to Phil Everly after his death. He played the song on one of the custom guitars Everly had given to him and the other two members of a-ha in 1987.
  • 2015 – Angelo Seretti recorded a disco version of this song which featured George Aaron.
  • 2015 – Joel Alme and Jill Johnson made a live version of the song in the Swedish television show Jills Veranda.

The Everly Brothers

Chart (1960) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 7

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler

Chart (1964) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 5

Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry

Chart (1969) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 36
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] 7
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 1
Canadian RPM Top Singles 85
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks 15

Willie Nelson

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 1
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[12] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 40
U.S. Cashbox Top 100 47

– on 2015 the version of Angelo Seretti & George Aaron stayed 5 weeks on Italian Radio Chart (M.E.I)

References

  1. Trager, Oliver (1997). The American Book of the Dead: The Definitive Grateful Dead Encyclopedia. New York: Fireside Books. pp. [unknown/unpaginated]. ISBN 978-0-684-81402-5. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 95.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 95.
  4. "The Walkers - 40 Års Jubilæumsbox". Allmusic. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  5. "Kate and Megan on The Truth About Us". Angela Pulvirenti. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  6. "The Everly Brothers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. "Betty Everett Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  9. "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. "Glen Campbell Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  11. "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  12. "Willie Nelson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  13. "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
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