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Let It Be Me (The Everly Brothers song)

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"Let It Be Me" is a 1960 single by The Everly Brothers. The song is an English-language cover of "Je t'appartiens", which had been released as a single in France by Gilbert Bécaud in 1955. The song was a top ten hit for The Everly Brothers in the United States and spawned many additional cover versions.

"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)

Background and release

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"Let It Be Me" is based on "Je t'appartiens", which was written in by Gilbert Bécaud and his frequent collaborator, lyricist Pierre Delanoë.[1] Delanoë reportedly wrote the lyrics for Bécaud as an apology for missing one of the singer's performances at the Olympia in Paris.[2] The song, sung by Bécaud, was released as a single by His Master's Voice in 1955.[3]

The Everley Brothers recorded their version of "Let It Be Me" after the song was recommended to them by producer Archie Bleyer. They recorded the song in December 1959 in New York with guitarists Howard Collins, Barry Galbraith, and Mundell Lowe; bassist Lloyd Trotman, pianist Hank Rowland, and drummer Jerry Allison. The song was released by Cadence Records as a single in 1960, with "Since You Broke My Heart" as the B-side.[4]

Charts

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Peak chart positions for "Let It Be Me" by The Everly Brothers
Chart (1960) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 24
Canada (CHUM)[5] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 7

Notable cover versions

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Jill Corey

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"Let It Be Me" was first adapted into English by Manny Curtis, and performed in 1957 by American singer Jill Corey on an episode of the anthology television series Climax!. Corey's version of "Let It Be Me" was released as a single by Columbia Records and reached number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8]

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler

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American singers Betty Everett and Jerry Butler released their version of "Let It Be Me" on Vee-Jay Records in 1964.[8] The song peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100[9] and number 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart.[10]

Johnny Young & Kompany

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Australian singer Johnny Young, with his backing band Kompany, released "Let It Be Me" as a single on Clarion in 1966.[11] It reached number 4 on the Kent Music Report chart, and was the 18th highest charting single of the year in Australia.[12]

The Sweet Inspirations

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American R&B group The Sweet Inspirations released their version of "Let It Be Me" as a single (with the B-side "When Something is Wrong With My Baby") on Atlantic Records in 1967.[13] It reached number 94 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Hot R&B Singles chart.[14]

Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry

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American country singers Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry recorded "Let It Be Me" for their 1968 duet album Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell. The single, released the following year, peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100.[15]

Charts

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Peak chart positions for "Let It Be Me" by Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry
Chart (1969) Peak
position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[16] 15
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[17] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] 85
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 36
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[21] 14

Willie Nelson

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Charts

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Peak chart positions for "Let It Be Me" by Willie Nelson
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 1
Canada Country Tracks (RPM) 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[22] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 40
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[24] 2

References

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  1. ^ Bouvet, Elisabeth (December 27, 2006). "Salut le copain". Radio France Internationale (in French). Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Toesca, Marc (September 4, 2018). "Comme l'argile, je t'appartiens". France Bleu (in French). Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "Gilbert Bécaud - Je t'appartiens". Ultratop (in French). Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Ribowsky, Mark (2024). Crying in the Rain: The Perfect Harmony and Imperfect Lives of the Everly Brothers. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 89–91. ISBN 9781493077793.
  5. ^ "Chart Number 144". CHUM. February 1, 1960. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Everly Brothers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  7. ^ "The Everly Brothers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. ^ a b Leszczak, Bob (2014). Who Did It First? Great Pop Cover Songs and Their Original Artists. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 122–123. ISBN 9781442230682.
  9. ^ "Betty Everett Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "Betty Everett Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Johnny Young & Kompany - Let It Be Me". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  12. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book (1940-1969). Australian Chart Book. ISBN 9780646444390.
  13. ^ Clemente, John (2000). Girl Groups: Fabulous Females Who Rocked the World. Krause. p. 484. ISBN 9780873418164.
  14. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  15. ^ Leszczak, Bob (2016). Dynamic Duets: The Best Pop Collaborations from 1955 to 1999. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 17–18. ISBN 9781442271500.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 5978." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 5956." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5904." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  19. ^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Glen Campbell Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  23. ^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  24. ^ "Willie Nelson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
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