Tell It Like It Is (song)

Last updated
"Tell It Like It Is"
Tell it like it is by aaron neville us vinyl side a.png
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by Aaron Neville
from the album Tell It Like It Is
B-side "Why Worry"
ReleasedNovember 9, 1966
Recorded1966
Genre R&B, pop
Length2:40
Label Par-Lo
Songwriter(s)
  • George Davis
  • Lee Diamond
Producer(s) Unbeatable
Aaron Neville singles chronology
"Over You"
(1960)
"Tell It Like It Is"
(1966)
"She Took You for a Ride"
(1968)

"Tell It Like It Is" is a song written by George Davis and Lee Diamond and originally recorded and released in 1966 by Aaron Neville. In 2010, the song was ranked No. 391 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [1]

Contents

Aaron Neville version

In 1966, Aaron Neville recorded and released the original version of "Tell It Like It Is" on his album also entitled Tell It Like It Is (Par-Lo Records). In November 1966, the track was issued as a single which peaked in early 1967 at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (behind "I'm a Believer" by the Monkees) and No. 1 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [2] The personnel on the original recording included George Davis arranging and playing baritone saxophone, Emory Humphrey-Thompson (Umar Shariff) on trumpet, Deacon John on guitar, Alvin "Red" Tyler on tenor saxophone, Willie Tee on piano and June Gardner on drums.

In 2015, the version of the song recorded in 1966 by Aaron Neville was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [3]

Weekly charts for the Aaron Neville version
Chart (1966–1967)Peak
position
Canadian RPM Top Singles [4] 8
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks2
US Billboard Hot 100 [5] 2
US Billboard Rhythm & Blues Singles1
Year-end charts for the Aaron Neville version
Chart (1967)Rank
Canada [6] 35
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] 76

Andy Williams version

His 1975 version touched the top 50 in the Canadian country charts, [8] and was #16 in the AC charts. [9]

John Wesley Ryles version

"Tell It Like It Is"
Single by John Wesley Ryles
from the album John Wesley Ryles
B-side
  • "Run Right Back"
  • Same song (Promotional releases only)
ReleasedJanuary 1976
Genre Country
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • George Davis
  • Lee Diamond
Producer(s) Johnny Morris
John Wesley Ryles singles chronology
"Reconsider Me"
(1971)
"Tell It Like It Is"
(1976)
"When a Man Loves a Woman"
(1976)

In 1976, American Country singer John Wesley Ryles covered the song for his 1977 self-titled album, which also included a cover of When a Man Loves a Woman. Ryles's version became a minor hit, reaching Number 83 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. [10]

Chart (1976)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs [10] 83

Heart version

"Tell It Like It Is"
Tell It Like It Is - Heart.jpg
Single by Heart
from the album Greatest Hits Live
B-side "Strange Euphoria"
ReleasedNovember 1980
RecordedSeptember 1980
Genre Blues rock
Length3:49 (Single Version)
4:30 (Album Version)
Label Epic
Songwriter(s)
  • George Davis
  • Lee Diamond
Producer(s) Heart
Heart singles chronology
"Bebe le Strange"
(1980)
"Tell It Like It Is"
(1980)
"Unchained Melody"
(1981)

Heart covered "Tell It Like It Is" in 1980. It was a studio recording included on their Greatest Hits/Live album. It was the first of two singles released from the album, the other one a live recording but both of them cover hits. The song peaked at Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the winter of 1981 and became their highest-charting single in the United States to that point. It had higher success in Canada, reaching Number 4. [11]

Record World commented that Ann Wilson's "sensitive vocal" gives the song "a woman's point of view" and that Nancy Wilson "adds hot guitar passion." [12]

Weekly charts for the Heart version
Chart (1980–1981)Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles [11] 4
New Zealand (RIANZ) [13] 4
US Billboard Hot 100 8
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 43
US Cash Box Top 10014
Year-end charts for the Heart version
Chart (1981)Rank
Canada [14] 45
US Billboard Hot 100 [15] 87

Billy Joe Royal version

"Tell It Like It Is"
Tellitlikeitisbillyjoeroyal.jpg
Single by Billy Joe Royal
from the album Tell It Like It Is
B-side "I Was Losing You"
ReleasedJanuary 1989
RecordedOctober 1988
Genre Country
Length3:00
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
  • George Davis
  • Lee Diamond
Producer(s) Nelson Larkin
Billy Joe Royal singles chronology
"It Keeps Right On Hurtin'"
(1988)
"Tell It Like It Is"
(1989)
"Love Has No Right"
(1989)

In 1988, American country soul [16] singer Billy Joe Royal recorded a cover for His seventh studio album of the same name. Royal's version was released in January 1989 and reached Number 2 both on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Canada Country charts respectively. [10]

Weekly charts for the Billy Joe Royal version
Chart (1989)Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [17] 2
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 2
Year-end charts for the Billy Joe Royal version
Chart (1989)Rank
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [19] 36
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [20] 33
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [21] 51

Don Johnson version

"Tell It Like It Is"
Tellitlikeitisdonjohnson.jpg
Single by Don Johnson
from the album Let It Roll
B-side "Angel City"
ReleasedJune 1989 [22]
Genre Pop
Length4:30
Label Epic
Songwriter(s)
  • George Davis
  • Lee Diamond
Producer(s) Keith Diamond
Don Johnson singles chronology
"Till I Loved You"
(1988)
"Tell It Like It Is"
(1989)
"Other People's Lives"
(1989)

Also in 1989, American actor and singer Don Johnson covered the song for his second studio album Let It Roll . Johnson's version was successful in Europe, especially in Germany, reaching Number 2 there. [23]

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [24] 13
France (Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique) [25] 6
Germany (GfK Entertainment charts) [26] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Charts) [22] 6
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade) [27] 6
UK Singles Chart [28] 84

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP) [29] Silver200,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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  22. 1 2 "Don Johnson - Tell It Like It is".
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  25. Steffen Hung. "Don Johnson - Tell It Like It Is". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  26. "German Charts (Singles) > Don Johnson" (in German). charts.de Media Control Charts . Retrieved October 2, 2021.[ dead link ]
  27. "Don Johnson - Tell It Like It is".
  28. "Tell it like it is | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts .
  29. "French single certifications – Don Johnson – Tell it Like it Is" (in French). InfoDisc.Select DON JOHNSON and click OK.