Let It Be Me (The Everly Brothers song)

"Je t'appartiens"
Single by Gilbert Bécaud
Released1955
GenrePop
Songwriter(s)Pierre Delanoë (lyrics)
Gilbert Bécaud (music)
"Let It Be Me"
Single by The Everly Brothers
B-side"Since You Broke My Heart"
Released1960
RecordedDecember 1959
GenrePop
Length2:33
LabelCadence
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)
"Let It Be Me"
Single by Betty Everett and Jerry Butler
B-side"Ain't That Loving You Baby"
Released1964
Recorded1964
GenreR&B
Length2:44
LabelVee-Jay
Songwriter(s)Gilbert Bécaud, Manny Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
Betty Everett and Jerry Butler singles chronology
"Everett: I Can't Hear You"
(1964) 		"Let It Be Me"
(1964) 		"Everett: Getting Mighty Crowded"
(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 recorded by Gilbert Bécaud in 1955, with music by Bécaud and lyrics in French by Pierre Delanoë. It became a hit for Bécaud and in 1956 was re-recorded 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 1959 rendition of "Let It Be Me" which reached number 7 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

In 1964, Betty Everett and Jerry Butler released their version of the song. Their version peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the Cashbox Soul/R&B charts for three weeks.[2]

Notable cover versions

  • 1966 – Australian pop star Johnny Young, with his backing band Kompany, released this song on an EP. It was the fourth highest selling single in Australia in 1967 on the Kent Music Report.
  • 1967 – The Sweet Inspirations released their version as a single. The song reached Billboard's R&B chart[vague] and also became a minor Hot 100 hit.[3]
  • 1969 – Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry had a top forty Hot 100 hit[vague] duet with their version of the song. It also charted on Billboard's country chart.[vague]

The Everly Brothers

Chart (1960) Peak
position
Australia 24
Canada 8
UK[4] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 7

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler

Chart (1964) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 5

The Sweet Inspirations

Chart (1967) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[3] 94
US Billboard R&B 13

Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry

Chart (1969) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 36
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[9] 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)[10] 2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 40
US Cashbox Top 100 47

References

  1. ^ Trager, Oliver (1997). The American Book of the Dead: The Definitive Grateful Dead Encyclopedia. New York City: 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. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  4. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. February 1, 1960. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "The Everly Brothers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Betty Everett Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.