Bring It On Home To Me

Song facts

From Wikipedia:

“Bring It On Home to Me” is a 1962 soul song, written and recorded by R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke. The song, about infidelity, was a hit for Cooke and has become a pop standard covered by numerous artists of different genres. It is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Cooke’s recorded version has Lou Rawls singing responses as an uncredited background singer.

“Bring It On Home to Me” backed with “Having a Party” was released in the U.S. on RCA Victor (cat.#8036) in May 1962. The latter track charted first, peaking at #17 early in the summer of 1962 before the lead track climbed the chart, reaching #13 later that summer. Lou Rawls featured as a backing vocalist on both tracks.

Paul McCartney recorded “Bring It On Home to Me” in 1987 for inclusion on his Choba B CCCP album. From the liner notes of Choba B CCCP:

One can never underestimate the continued importance of the late Sam Cooke: stylistically, not only did he exert a direct influence on Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and Al Green, but he also made a significant impression on ’60s British Beat Groups. It wasn’t just that Rod Stewart modeled his entire style on Cooke, but that acts such as Herman’s Hermits and The Rolling Stones secured worldwide hits with Sam’s songs.

Bring It On Home To Me was the most frequently covered, with The Animals’ version the most acceptable. It says much for this pleading Gospel Blues that both John Lennon and now Paul McCartney shortlisted it for their respective from-the-heart rock ‘n’ roll compilations.

In 2006, Paul McCartney contributed to a version of “Bring It On Home to Me” which appeared on an album by George Benson & Al Jarreau. From NPR Music, October 27, 2006:

CHIDEYA: […] And you also got Paul McCartney involved.

Mr. JARREAU: Paul McCartney, that’s a special one. Nobody called him…

Mr. BENSON: Well, he heard that we were on the complex, on the grounds. And he heard that I was doing a record with Al, that he and I we’re doing record together. So he had never met Al, but he liked Al, and so did his wife.

He said that Al was his wife’s favorite artist. So he had to meet him. So he came by to see me to pay his respects and to meet Al. And he stumbled into the studio out of the clear blue sky, we looked around, I said, man, that looks like – it is Paul.

(Soundbite of laughter)

(Soundbite of song “Bring it on Home to Me”)

Mr. BENSON: We were in middle of the song.

CHIDEYA: Right.

Mr. BENSON: It was playing on the speakers, and it suddenly dawned on me that -Paul, you know this song? Because I know he did. He said, yeah, yeah, I know it. How about you’re doing this song here? You want to sing something on this with us? What did he say, Al?

Mr. JARREAU: Bloody hell, can you believe the cheek of this guy. I’m here doing me own record, he asks me to sing on his record.

Mr. BENSON: He kept his promise. He said, well, I’m doing my own thing. He said but if I get some time off, I’ll come back. He did it because he loved me and Al. He said, George, I can do one take. And boy, did he tear that thing up. I said not only did he know the song, I mean he was deep inside it, you know.

Mr. JARREAU: Yeah.

Mr. BENSON: His interpretation was really off the cuff, real different. It was almost like a miracle that happened.

Last updated on September 2, 2016

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