Tell It Like It Is
Encyclopedia
"Tell It Like It Is" is a song written by George Davis and Lee Diamond. It was first recorded by Aaron Neville
, who released the song as a single in 1966. It was issued at the end of the year on the Par-Lo label and became a hit, peaking at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
and at number one on the U.S. R&B chart
in early 1967.
In 2004, it was ranked #391 on Rolling Stone
's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
.
Tracy Chapman and Lightnin' Hopkins
composed songs with the same name not to be confused with Davis and Diamond's version discussed here. Little Willie John
also wrote and recorded a different 1958 song of the same name.
and Carla Thomas
performed the song on their 1967 album King & Queen
. Percy Sledge
recorded it that same year for his album The Percy Sledge Way.
John Wesley Ryles
covered the song in 1976, with the single reaching #83 on the U.S. country charts. Pop singer Andy Williams
recorded a version of "Tell It Like It Is", bringing the song to #72 in 1976. Tex-Mex country singer Freddy Fender
recorded the song on his 1978 Swamp Gold
album.
In 1980, "Tell It Like It Is" was covered
by Heart
and became a top-ten hit in the U.S., peaking at #8 (becoming Heart's highest-charting single at the time).
In 1989, Billy Joe Royal
recorded a version of the song as a country single and it reached #2 on the country charts with the song.
It has been covered by Richard "Dimples" Fields in 1987; and by Nina Simone
in 1971 (outtake from Here Comes the Sun
), released 1998 on the compilation album The Very Best of Nina Simone: Sugar in My Bowl 1967–1972. In 1997, saxophonist Michael Lington
covered the song from his self-titled debut album.
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Robert Randolph covered the song on The Dirty Dozen's 2002 album Medicated Magic.
In 2010, Michael McDonald
recorded another version of "Tell It Like It Is" for his 2010 album The Voice of Michael McDonald a compilation of Doobie Brothers, and Michael McDonald hits, with "Tell It Like It Is" as a remake done in the style of Michael McDonald.
recorded a version of the song on his album Let It Roll, which was successful in the Region at Germany. The cover was able to continue in some countries in the success of Johnson's debut single Heartbeat.
12" Single
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
, who released the song as a single in 1966. It was issued at the end of the year on the Par-Lo label and became a hit, peaking at number two 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...
and at number one on the U.S. R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
in early 1967.
In 2004, it was ranked #391 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
.
Tracy Chapman and Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Sam John Hopkins better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas...
composed songs with the same name not to be confused with Davis and Diamond's version discussed here. Little Willie John
Little Willie John
William Edward John was better known by his stage name Little Willie John. Many sources erroneously give his second name as Edgar...
also wrote and recorded a different 1958 song of the same name.
Cover versions
Otis ReddingOtis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
and Carla Thomas
Carla Thomas
Carla Thomas is an American singer, who is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul. She is the daughter of Rufus Thomas.-Childhood:...
performed the song on their 1967 album King & Queen
King & Queen
-Personnel:*Joe Arnold – alto sax*Steve Cropper – guitar*Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass*Isaac Hayes – keyboards*Al Jackson, Jr. – drums*Wayne Jackson – trumpet*Booker T. Jones – keyboards*Andrew Love – tenor sax...
. Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
recorded it that same year for his album The Percy Sledge Way.
John Wesley Ryles
John Wesley Ryles
John Wesley Ryles is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1968 with the single "Kay", a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, and the title track to his debut album for Columbia Records.Ryles later recorded one album, Reconsider Me, for the Plantation label,...
covered the song in 1976, with the single reaching #83 on the U.S. country charts. Pop singer Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
recorded a version of "Tell It Like It Is", bringing the song to #72 in 1976. Tex-Mex country singer Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
recorded the song on his 1978 Swamp Gold
Swamp Gold
-Track listing:#The Clock#She's About a Mover#When It Rains It Really Pours#It's Raining#I'm Leaving It All Up To You#Tell It Like It Is#My Tears Are Falling Tonight Love#Talk To Me#These Arms of Mine#Breaking Up Is Hard...
album.
In 1980, "Tell It Like It Is" was 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 Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
and became a top-ten hit in the U.S., peaking at #8 (becoming Heart's highest-charting single at the time).
In 1989, Billy Joe Royal
Billy Joe Royal
Billy Joe Royal is an American singer.-Biography:Born in Valdosta and raised in Marietta in 1942, Royal became a local star at Savannah, Georgia's Bamboo Ranch in the 1950s and 1960s...
recorded a version of the song as a country single and it reached #2 on the country charts with the song.
It has been covered by Richard "Dimples" Fields in 1987; and by Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
in 1971 (outtake from Here Comes the Sun
Here Comes the Sun (album)
Here Comes the Sun is a cover album by singer-pianist Nina Simone. It features songs recorded in the RCA studios with a full orchestra and backing vocals. Although Simone covers songs by among others Bob Dylan and George Harrison, most of the versions feature alternative arrangements...
), released 1998 on the compilation album The Very Best of Nina Simone: Sugar in My Bowl 1967–1972. In 1997, saxophonist Michael Lington
Michael Lington
Michael Lington is a contemporary jazz saxophonist and recording artist.Lington plays a distinctive contemporary saxophone leaning strongly towards the pop side of jazz. He reaches a younger demographic than traditional jazz listeners and is emerging as a contemporary face of jazz.Born in...
covered the song from his self-titled debut album.
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Robert Randolph covered the song on The Dirty Dozen's 2002 album Medicated Magic.
In 2010, Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
recorded another version of "Tell It Like It Is" for his 2010 album The Voice of Michael McDonald a compilation of Doobie Brothers, and Michael McDonald hits, with "Tell It Like It Is" as a remake done in the style of Michael McDonald.
Don Johnson version
In 1989 actor Don JohnsonDon Johnson
Donnie Wayne "Don" Johnson is an American actor known for his work in television and film. He played the lead role of James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s TV cop series, Miami Vice, which led him to huge success. He also played the lead role in the 1990s cop series, Nash Bridges...
recorded a version of the song on his album Let It Roll, which was successful in the Region at Germany. The cover was able to continue in some countries in the success of Johnson's debut single Heartbeat.
Music video
The Music video plays at a party. At the beginning a woman goes slow down the stairs, then beginns a woman singing and the studio musicians will begin to play. The Rest of the video goes the woman through a room, while Don Johnson and his band perform the song at the party.Track listings
7" Single- Tell It Like It Is 4:30
- Angel City 4:22
12" Single
- Tell It Like It Is 4:30
- Angel City 4:22
- Heartbeat 4:18
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 84 |
| German Singles Chart | 2 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 13 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 6 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 6 |
| French Singles Chart | 6 |