Stay with Me (Lorraine Ellison song)

Last updated

"Stay with Me"
Stay with Me (Lorraine Ellison song).jpg
Single by Lorraine Ellison
from the album Heart & Soul
B-side "I Got My Baby Back"
ReleasedOctober 1966
Recorded1966
Genre Soul
Length3:29
Label Warner Bros. 5850
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jerry Ragovoy

"Stay with Me" (often credited as "Stay with Me Baby") is a soul song co-written by Jerry Ragovoy and George David Weiss. [1] It was first recorded in 1966 by Lorraine Ellison, [2] and produced by Ragovoy.

Contents

Ellison recorded "Stay with Me" at a last-minute booking, following a studio cancellation by Frank Sinatra. [3] With a 46-piece orchestra already hired, Warner Bros. Records asked Ragovoy, with two days' notice, to take over the session at no cost. Ragovoy and arranger Garry Sherman worked up an orchestral arrangement of the song, and called Ellison into the studio to record it live with the orchestra. The recording was engineered by Phil Ramone. [4] Described as 'possibly the best female vocal ever', [5] "Stay with Me" is recognized for Ellison's impassioned vocals, which rise to a sonic and emotional crescendo with each chorus.

"Stay with Me" was issued as a single on the Warner record label. It entered the U.S. Billboard R&B chart on October 15, 1966, and reached No. 11; and peaked at No. 64 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It would become her signature song. [6] Her follow-up single was "Heart Be Still", a minor hit in 1967. [7]

The track has appeared on numerous compilation albums over the years, but 2006's Sister Love: The Warner Bros. Recordings contains all Ellison's songs. [8]

Critical reception

In their November 11, 1966 issue, New Musical Express published, 'It's almost impossible to convey the depth of feeling, emotion and sensitivity expressed by Lorraine Ellison in the dramatic ballad "Stay With Me" (Warner).' [9]

In their September 17, 1966 issue, Cashbox reported: [10]

'Al Jefferson, Dr. Fat Daddy and the entire staff at WCHB, Detroit, say that the new Lorraine Ellison on WB, "Stay With Me," is the "R & B record of the year." Al Jefferson of WWIN says, "This is a new concept and a new dimension in SOUL. It is an entirely new direction. I congratulate producer and writer Jerry Ragavoy. I didn't think he could top his creativity with Garnet Mimms, the Enchanters and Howard Tate, but this is the ultimate!" Al said he hasn't heard anything this good in three years'

In the December 16, 1967 issue of New Musical Express , Alan Smith described being introduced to the song by Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees: [11]

'The first time I met Maurice he was carrying an old single by Lorraine Ellison, “Stay With Me Baby”, which he thrust on to the record player with urgency and delight. Seconds later I was listening to a full-blooded, screaming, beautiful, agonised, ecstatic, sobbing, sexual, soaring performance of a song that prickled the hairs at the nape of the neck. It was one of the most incredible records I've ever heard, and I raved, Maurice raved, even the man there from the BBC World Service raved. When I heard that Cilla and Lulu were also raving, that was it. My mind was made up. I asked Warner Brothers to rush me a copy as soon as they could, and I raced home and also thrust it on to the record player with urgency and delight.'

The song was ranked number 935 among the greatest singles ever made in Dave Marsh's book The Heart of Rock & Soul (1989). [12]

Cover versions

"Stay With Me" has been covered by numerous musicians, including Bette Midler, in the film The Rose .

Other versions include those by The Walker Brothers, Charity Brown, David Essex, Ruby Turner, Rebecca Wheatley, Janis Joplin, Bobby Hatfield, Robin Lee, Genya Ravan, Terry Reid, Steve Marriott, Long John Baldry, Sharon Tandy, [13] Les Fleur de Lys, Natalie Cole, Jimmy Witherspoon, Dan McCafferty, Kiki Dee, Shirley Brown, Samantha Rose, Sam Brown, Phil Seymour, Trine Rein, [14] Whitesnake, Ronnie Montrose, Duffy, Mary J. Blige, Melissa Etheridge, La'Porsha Renae, Thunder ft. Jade Smythe and Chris Cornell. [15] The versions by the first four artists named in the previous sentence, all reached the UK Singles Chart. [16]

Duffy's version was the only newly recorded song on the soundtrack of the 2009 UK comedy film, The Boat That Rocked . Although it was the original version that appeared in the film, Duffy's version featured in the closing credits.

It was also performed by Karise Eden on June 17, 2012, for her finale performance on The Voice Australia , reaching No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart [17] and by La'Porsha Renae on March 31, 2016 on the final season of American Idol . [18]

Alisan Porter covered the song on The Voice , season 10.

Charts

Chart (1966-67)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [19] 58
UK R&B ( Record Mirror ) [20] 6
US Billboard Hot 100 [21] 64
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [22] 11
US Cashbox Top 100 [23] 66
US Cashbox R&B [24] 16
US Record World R&B [25] 9
Chart (1969)Peak
position
UK R&B ( Record Mirror ) [26] 14
Chart (1975)Peak
position
UK Singles ( Record Mirror ) [27] 56
UK R&B ( Record Mirror ) [28] 15
Chart (1995)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [29] 82
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [30] 14

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stop! In the Name of Love</span> 1965 single by the Supremes

"Stop! In the Name of Love" is a 1965 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stoned Love</span> 1970 single by The Supremes

"Stoned Love" is a 1970 hit single recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. It was the last Billboard Pop Top Ten hit for the group, peaking at number seven, and their last Billboard number-one R&B hit as well, although the trio continued to score top ten hits in the UK into 1972. In the UK, it was the post-Ross Supremes' biggest hit, reaching number 3 in the singles chart. The single spent six weeks in the UK top ten and five weeks in the US top ten. The BBC ranked "Stoned Love" at number 99 on The Top 100 Digital Motown Chart, which ranks Motown releases solely on their all time UK downloads and streams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Can't Hurry Love</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"You Can't Hurry Love" is a 1966 song originally recorded by the Supremes on the Motown label. It was released on July 25, 1966 as the second single from their studio album The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Make You Love Me</span> 1968 single by Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations

"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" is a soul song most popularly released as a joint single performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations for the Motown label. This version peaked for two weeks at No. 2 on the Hot 100 in the United States, selling 900,000 copies in its first two weeks, and at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1969.

"It Takes Two" is a hit single recorded in late 1965 by American singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye and American soul singer Kim Weston, released in 1966 on Motown's Tamla label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Up the Ladder to the Roof</span> 1970 single by The Supremes

"Up the Ladder to the Roof" is a 1970 hit single recorded first by The Supremes for the Motown label. It was the first Supremes single to feature new lead singer Jean Terrell in place of Diana Ross, who officially left the group for a solo career two weeks before the recording of this song in January 1970. This song also marks a number of other firsts: it is the first Supremes single since "The Happening" in 1967 to be released under the name "The Supremes" instead of "Diana Ross & The Supremes", the first Supremes single solely produced by Norman Whitfield associate Frank Wilson, and the first Supremes single to make the United Kingdom Top 10 since "Reflections" in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is Here and Now You're Gone</span> 1967 single by the Supremes

"Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" is a 1967 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My World Is Empty Without You</span> 1965 single by the Supremes

"My World Is Empty Without You" is a 1965 song recorded and released as a single by the Supremes for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" is a 1966 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.

Jordan "Jerry" Ragovoy was an American songwriter and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlena Shaw</span> American jazz, blues and soul singer (1939–2024)

Marlina Burgess, professionally known by her stage name Marlena Shaw, was an American singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and continued to perform until her death. Her music has often been sampled in hip hop music, and used in television commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floy Joy (song)</span> 1971 single by The Supremes

"Floy Joy" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and released as a single in December 1971 by popular Motown female singing group The Supremes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorraine Ellison</span> American singer-songwriter

Lorraine Ellison was an American soul singer and songwriter known for her recording of the song "Stay with Me" in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothing but Heartaches</span> 1965 single by the Supremes

"Nothing but Heartaches" is a 1965 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking</span> 1976 single by The Supremes

"I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" is a disco-styled soul single composed by the Holland brothers Eddie and Brian, members of the former Holland–Dozier–Holland team and was released as a single by Motown vocal group The Supremes in 1976 on the Motown label. It was the first single since "Your Heart Belongs to Me" in 1962 to feature four Supremes. It is also notable for being the last top forty single the group would score before they disbanded in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart</span> 1971 single by The Supremes & The Four Tops

“You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart” is a duet single between Motown singing groups The Supremes and the Four Tops, released as a single from their The Return of the Magnificent 7 album in 1971. The single became a modest charter peaking at #55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #41 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles Chart. The single fared better in the UK, where it reached #25 in the official top 50 single chart. Lead vocals were by the groups' respective lead singers Jean Terrell and Levi Stubbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Some Things You Never Get Used To</span> 1968 single by Diana Ross & the Supremes

"Some Things You Never Get Used To" is a song released in 1968 by Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label. The single stalled for three weeks at number 30 on the U.S. Billboard pop chart in July 1968. It became the lowest-charting Supremes single since 1963 and became the catalyst for Berry Gordy to revamp songwriting for The Supremes since the loss of Motown's premier production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, which Gordy had assigned as the group's sole producers after the success of "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes."

Loma Records was an American subsidiary record label of Warner Bros. Records managed by Bob Krasnow, and later by Russ Regan. Its name was derived from Eloma, a cleared copyright Warner owned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love</span> 1972 single by The Supremes

"Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, recorded in October 1966 by Kim Weston. Her recording was not issued at the time as she left the label over a dispute over royalties in 1967. Weston's original version was first released in 2005.

Lou Courtney was an American soul singer and songwriter who had several hit records in the 1960s and 1970s, both as a performer and writer.

References

  1. ↑ "Stay With Me – Lorraine Ellison | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ Joel Whitburn, Billboard Top Pop Singles 1955–2002, 2003, ISBN   0-89820-155-1
  3. ↑ "Stay With Me by Lorraine Ellison Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Lorraine Ellison – Stay With Me". Prince.org. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ Dave Marsh, Kevin Stein (1981). The Book of Rock Lists. Dell Publishing Company. p. 216. ISBN   9780440575801.
  6. ↑ Hogan, Ed (2003). "'Lorraine Ellison' biography". In Vladimir Bogdanov; John Bush; Chris Woodstra; Stephen Thomas Erlewine (eds.). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 223. ISBN   0-87930-744-7. LCCN   2003052270.
  7. ↑ Ed Hogan. "Lorraine Ellison | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Sister Love: The Warner Bros. Recordings – Lorraine Ellison | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ "SHOP WINDOW" (PDF). New Musical Express . November 11, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved January 10, 2022– via worldradiohistory.com.
  10. ↑ "R&B BEAT: WHERE IT'S AT: Lorraine's 'Stay' Tops for Year?" (PDF). Cashbox . September 17, 1966. p. 30. Retrieved January 10, 2022– via worldradiohistory.com.
  11. ↑ Smith, Alan (December 16, 1967). "MEET A BEE GEE: Maurice Gibb to Alan Smith" (PDF). New Musical Express . p. 2. Retrieved January 10, 2022– via worldradiohistory.com.
  12. ↑ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New York: New American Library. pp. 139, 140. ISBN   0-452-26305-0.
  13. ↑ "Stay With Me – Sharon Tandy | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Finders Keepers " Rockipedia". Rockipedia.no. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Chris Cornell "Stay with Me Baby" (Official Audio)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  16. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 697. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  17. ↑ "2012 ARIA No #1 Awards" (PDF). ARIA Singles Chart . Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  18. ↑ Silver, Marc (April 4, 2016). "Thanks to La'Porsha Renae, 'American Idol' is ending on a high note". Washington Post . Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6822." RPM . Library and Archives Canada.
  20. ↑ "BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES" (PDF). Record Mirror . February 25, 1967. p. 11. Retrieved January 28, 2022– via worldradiohistory.com.
  21. ↑ "Lorraine Ellison Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. ↑ "Lorraine Ellison Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  23. ↑ "Cash Box TOP 100" (PDF). Cashbox . November 5, 1966. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Cash Box TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS" (PDF). Cashbox . November 19, 1966. p. 44. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Top 50 R&B" (PDF). Record World . November 19, 1966. p. 43. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  26. ↑ "BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES" (PDF). Record Mirror . February 8, 1969. p. 11. Retrieved October 31, 2021– via worldradiohistory.com.
  27. ↑ "Star Breakers" (PDF). Record Mirror . September 13, 1975. Retrieved October 31, 2021– via worldradiohistory.com.
  28. ↑ "UK SOUL TOP 20" (PDF). Record Mirror . October 18, 1975. Retrieved January 2, 2022– via worldradiohistory.com.
  29. ↑ "Lorraine Ellison: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  30. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.

Notes

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.