Come Softly to Me
Encyclopedia
"Come Softly to Me" is a popular
song
written by Gretchen Christopher that was published in 1959 and was performed by The Fleetwoods
, composed of Christopher, Gary Troxel, and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records
label.
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 understood 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
. Released in 1959, the single reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
in April.
The song has been covered
by other artists, including Sandy Salisbury, Bob Welch
(with Christine McVie
on backing vocals), Frankie Vaughan
with The Kaye Sisters
, who had a chart hit in the United Kingdom
with it, and The New Seekers
, whose version reached #95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the UK charts in 1972-73. A cover version performed by The Roches
is repeated several times on the soundtrack of the film Crossing Delancey
. It is included in the closing credits of the BBC2 sitcom Roger and Val Have Just Got In. Buck Dharma
of Blue Oyster Cult
covered the song on his 1989 solo album, Flat Out. Most recently, Eliza Doolittle
samples it for the song "Missing" on her debut album
.
This song is used in the opening scene of the movie Dead Silence
's trailer.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written by Gretchen Christopher that was published in 1959 and was performed by The Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods were a singing trio from Olympia, Washington, United States; formed in the late 1950s. They were responsible for eleven hit songs, beginning with "Come Softly to Me"...
, composed of Christopher, Gary Troxel, and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records
Dolton Records
Dolton Records was a record label based in Seattle that was originally known as Dolphin Records. It was owned by Bob Reisdorf and Bonnie Guitar. Success for the label came early with "Come Softly to Me" by The Fleetwoods, the first single to be released on that label...
label.
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 understood 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
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
with the rhythmic shaking of Troxel's car keys. The tape was then sent to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where the sparse instrumental accompaniment was added, including an acoustic guitar played by Bonnie Guitar
Bonnie Guitar
Bonnie Guitar is an American Country-Pop Singer. She is best remembered for her 1957 Country-Pop crossover hit "Dark Moon"...
. Released in 1959, the single reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in April.
The song has been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by other artists, including Sandy Salisbury, Bob Welch
Bob Welch (musician)
Robert Lawrence "Bob" Welch, Jr. is a former member of Fleetwood Mac, who had a briefly successful solo career in the late 1970s. His singles included "Hot Love, Cold World", "Ebony Eyes", "Precious Love", and "Sentimental Lady"....
(with Christine McVie
Christine McVie
Christine McVie is an English rock singer, keyboardist, and songwriter. Her primary fame came as a member of the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac, though she has also released three solo albums...
on backing vocals), Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan, CBE, DL was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.-Life and career:...
with The Kaye Sisters
The Kaye Sisters
The Kaye Sisters were a trio of British pop singers, who scored several hits on the UK Singles Chart in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Career:...
, who had a chart hit in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with it, and The New Seekers
The New Seekers
The New Seekers are a British-based pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music had rock as well as folk influences...
, whose version reached #95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the UK charts in 1972-73. A cover version performed by The Roches
The Roches
The Roches are a female vocal group of three songwriting Irish-American sisters from Park Ridge, New Jersey, known for their "unusual" and "rich" harmonies, quirky lyrics, and casually comedic stage performances.The Roches have been active as performers and recording artists since the mid-1970s,...
is repeated several times on the soundtrack of the film Crossing Delancey
Crossing Delancey
Crossing Delancey is a romantic comedy film starring Amy Irving and Peter Riegert released in 1988. It is directed by Joan Micklin Silver and based on a play by Susan Sandler, who also wrote the screenplay...
. It is included in the closing credits of the BBC2 sitcom Roger and Val Have Just Got In. Buck Dharma
Buck Dharma
Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being a member of Blue Öyster Cult since the group's formation in 1967...
of Blue Oyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
covered the song on his 1989 solo album, Flat Out. Most recently, Eliza Doolittle
Eliza Doolittle
Eliza Sophie Caird , better known by her stage name Eliza Doolittle, is an English singer–songwriter from London, who signed to the Parlophone record label in October 2008. Her debut self-titled album, Eliza Doolittle was released on 12 July 2010, where it debuted at number 3 in the UK...
samples it for the song "Missing" on her debut album
Eliza Doolittle (album)
Eliza Doolittle is the eponymous debut album by British singer-songwriter Eliza Doolittle. It was released on 12 July 2010 by Parlophone Records. The first single "Skinny Genes" was released on 11 April 2010. The second single, "Pack Up", was released on 5 July 2010. On 7 January 2011 it was...
.
This song is used in the opening scene of the movie Dead Silence
Dead Silence
Dead Silence is a 2007 horror film, directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, the creators of Saw...
's trailer.