Try a Little Tenderness
{{Short description|1932 song by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and Harry M. Woods}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Try a Little Tenderness
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
|artist=Ray Noble Orchestra| written =
| published = {{Start date|1932|11|4}} Campbell, Connelly & Co., Ltd.{{Cite book|last=Library of Congress. Copyright Office.|url=http://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig273libr|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries 1932 Musical Compositions New Series Vol 27 Pt 3 For the Year 1932|date=1932|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Off.|others=United States Copyright Office|language=English}}
|recorded=December 8, 1932| writer = Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Henry Woods
| composer =
| lyricist =
}}
"Try a Little Tenderness" is a song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and Harry M. Woods.
Early versions
It was first recorded on December 8, 1932, by the Ray Noble Orchestra, with vocals by Val Rosing. Another version, also recorded in 1932, was made by Charlie Palloy & his Orchestra.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/1932-USA-Archives-1932-09-00-Charlie-Palloy-Orch-Try-A-Litle-Tenderness|title=Charlie Palloy Orch Try A Litle Tenderness|date=May 30, 1932|access-date=May 30, 2021|via=Internet Archive}} Ted Lewis (Columbia 2748 D) and Ruth Etting (Melotone 12625) had hits with it in 1933.{{cite book|last1=Whitburn|first1=Joel|title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954|date=1986|publisher=Record Research Inc|location=Wisconsin, USA|isbn=0-89820-083-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/599 599]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/599}} Bing Crosby also recorded it on January 9, 1933, for Brunswick Records.{{cite web|title=A Bing Crosby Discography|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/crosby1a.html|website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|access-date=September 3, 2017}} A version by Bob and Alf Pearson was also released in 1933. The song appeared on Frank Sinatra's debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946{{cite book |last1=Leigh |first1=Spencer |title=Frank Sinatra: An Extraordinary Life |date=2015 |publisher=McNidder and Grace Limited |isbn=9780857160881 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BBm6CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT100 |access-date=March 9, 2022}} and on the 1960 album Nice 'n' Easy.
Otis Redding version
{{Infobox song
| name = Try a Little Tenderness
| cover = Try a Little Tenderness Otis Redding picture sleeve.jpg
| caption = West German picture sleeve
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Otis Redding
| album = Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
| B-side = I'm Sick Y'all
| released = 1966
| recorded = 1966
| studio = Stax, Memphis, Tennessee
| venue =
| genre = Soul{{cite book|title= The Alternative Jukebox|first=Larry|last=Bradley|date= November 4, 2014|chapter= The 1960s: Otis Redding - "Try a Little Tenderness|page= 22|publisher=Cassell|isbn=978-1-84403-789-6|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/BBC_Radio_6_Music_s_Alternative_Jukebox.html?id=w_phoAEACAAJ}}
| length = 3:51 (Album version)
3:20 (Single version)
| producer = Jim Stewart, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.'s
| prev_title = Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)
| prev_year = 1966
| next_title = I Love You More Than Words Can Say
| next_year = 1967
}}
{{Listen
| filename = Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding.ogg
| title = Try a Little Tenderness
| description = Sample of "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding
}}
A popular version in an entirely new form was recorded by soul artist Otis Redding in 1966. Redding was backed on his version by Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and Stax staff producer Isaac Hayes worked on the arrangement.Bowman, Rob (1997). Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records. New York: Schirmer Trade. {{ISBN|0-8256-7284-8}}. Pg. 105-1072 Redding's recording features a slow, soulful opening that eventually builds into a frenetic R&B conclusion, incorporating elements from the Duke 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 the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine|title=Otis Redding Chart History (Hot 100)|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/otis-redding/chart-history|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 16, 2017}} It has been named on a number of "best songs of all time" lists, including those from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is in the 136th position on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time as of the list's 2021 update.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/otis-redding-try-a-little-tenderness-2-1225202/|title=500 Best Songs of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 15, 2021|access-date=March 10, 2022}} A live version performed in 1967 at the Monterey International Pop Festival was also recorded.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=title&placement=Try+a+Little+Tenderness |title=Try A Luttle Tenderness |work=Irish Charts }}
In 2015, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists|website=Grammy.com}}
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1967) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|23|artist=Otis Redding|song=Try a Little Tenderness |chartid=10038}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|46|artist=Otis Redding|song=Try a Little Tenderness |artistid=12105}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|4|artist=Otis Redding}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|25|artist=Otis Redding}} |
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Otis Redding|title=Try a Little Tenderness|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1966|access-date=December 25, 2024|certyear=2024|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Otis Redding|title=Try a Little Tenderness|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2019|access-date=November 4, 2021|id=15955-1496-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Otis Redding|title=Try a Little Tenderness|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1966|certyear=2018|access-date=November 30, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true | nosales=true | noshipments=true}}
Three Dog Night version
Three Dog Night released a version of the song, which peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Top 100 in 1969, and number 19 in Canada.{{cite web|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Try+a+Little+Tenderness+by+Three+Dog+Night&id=45991 |title=Try a Little Tenderness (song by Three Dog Night) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts |website=Musicvf.com |access-date=July 26, 2016}} It borrows stylistically from Redding's interpretation of the song, including the coda that was added in Redding's version.
''Dr. Strangelove''
An instrumental version of the song is played during the opening credits of the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove over authentic footage of in-flight refueling of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Otis Redding (navbox)}}
{{Aretha Franklin}}
{{Three Dog Night}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Harry M. Woods
Category:Songs written by Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly
Category:Aretha Franklin songs