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Come Softly to Me

{{Infobox song

| name = Come Softly to Me

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = The Fleetwoods

| album = Mr. Blue

| B-side = I Care So Much

| released = February 16, 1959 (Dolphin)
April, 1959 (Liberty)

| recorded = Fall 1958

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Pop{{cite book|last= Rucker|first= Leland|chapter= The Fleetwoods|editor-last= Knopper|editor-first=Steve|date=January 1, 1998|title=MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Detroit|pages= 175-176}}

| length = 2:25

| label = Dolphin Records, Liberty Records

| writer = Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis and Gary Troxel

| producer = Bob Reisdorff

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Graduation's Here

| next_year = 1959

}}

"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song recorded by The Fleetwoods, composed of Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel, who also wrote it.{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/artist/the-fleetwoods|title=The Fleetwoods Discography - USA - 45cat|website=45cat.com|access-date=26 April 2021}} The original title was "Come Softly", but was changed en route to its becoming a hit. Bob Reisdorf, the owner of Dolphin Records, which in 1960 changed to Dolton Records, was responsible for the title change. He thought that "Come Softly" might be too obvious and considered risqué, so he had it changed to "Come Softly to Me." The title phrase never appears in the song's lyrics.

Recording the song at home, the group 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, including an acoustic guitar played by Bonnie Guitar, herself a successful singer-songwriter ("Dark Moon") and Reisdorf's in-house record producer. Released in 1959, the single reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in April.{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=230}}The song's success made Gretchen Christopher the only person born on February 29 (1940) ever to write and perform a number-one hit.

Chart positions

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable"

!Chart (1959)

!Peak
position

U.S. Billboard Hot 100

|align="center"|1

Canada{{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/59-04-06-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade - April 6, 1959}}

|align="center"|1

United Kingdom

|align="center"|6

Italy

|align="center"|17

U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Sides{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=208}}

|align="center"|5

{{col-2}}

=All-time charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Chart (1958–2018)

! Position

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|website=Billboard.com|access-date=10 December 2018}}

| style="text-align:center;"|455

{{col-end}}

Cover versions

The song has been covered by other artists, including Sandy Salisbury, Marcel Amont "Tout doux, tout doucement" (1958), Henri Salvador (1959), Paul & Paula (1963), Four Jacks and a Jill (1965),[http://www.rock.co.za/legends/60s/4jacks_albums_one.htm Four Jacks and a Jill, Jimmy Come Lately], Rock.co.za, Retrieved May 13, 2015 The Serendipity Singers on United Artists in 1968, and Bob Welch (with Christine McVie on backing vocals).

  • Frankie Vaughan with The Kaye Sisters had a hit in the United Kingdom with the song, reaching No. 9 in the UK in 1959;{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/894/frankie-vaughan/ |title=Frankie Vaughan |work=The Official Charts Company }}
  • The New Seekers also recorded the song, and their version reached No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 60 in Canada,{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5297.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - March 10, 1973}} and No.20 on the UK charts in 1972-73.[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-new-seekers-p25306/charts-awards/billboard-singles The New Seekers charting singles], AllMusic, Retrieved 09-23-11
  • Brenton Wood titled his 1977 album, Come Softly, after the song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Brenton-Wood-Come-Softly/release/1244909|title=Brenton Wood – Come Softly (1977, Vinyl)|access-date=26 April 2021|website=Discogs.com|year=1977 }}
  • Mercy released a version of the song on their 1969 album, Love Can Make You Happy;[http://www.discogs.com/Mercy-Love-Can-Make-You-Happy/release/3469061 Mercy, Love Can Make You Happy], Discogs.com, Retrieved May 7, 2015
  • Lesley Gore recorded a duet version of the song with Oliver in 1970, on Crewe Records.
  • A cover version performed by The Roches, from their 1985 album Another World, is repeated several times on the soundtrack of the 1988 film Crossing Delancey.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/crossing-delancey-r186539 Crossing Delancey - Original Soundtrack], AllMusic, Retrieved 09-23-11[https://www.allmusic.com/album/another-world-mw0000652810 Another World - The Roches], AllMusic, Retrieved February 23, 2023
  • Buck Dharma of Blue Öyster Cult covered the song on his 1982 solo album, Flat Out.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/flat-out-r35278 Buck Dharma, Flat Out], AllMusic, Retrieved 09-23-11

Popular culture

  • The song was featured in the film Stand by Me, although did not feature on the official soundtrack.
  • This song is used in the opening scene of the movie Dead Silence's trailer.{{YouTube|dLJGEeuA5CI|Dead Silence's trailer}} Retrieved September 29, 2011
  • It is included in the closing credits of the BBC2 sitcom Roger and Val Have Just Got In.
  • The song was also featured in the soundtrack of Mafia II.
  • The French rendition of the song, ‘’Tout Doux Tout Doucement’’, is featured in Ted Lasso, Season 3 Episode 8, playing over the closing credits.
  • The song was also featured in the film The Bikeriders.

Samples

Eliza Doolittle sampled it for the song "Missing" on her debut album.

See also

References

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Category:1958 songs

Category:1959 singles

Category:The Fleetwoods songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Liberty Records singles