Try a Little Tenderness



"Try a Little Tenderness" is a song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and Harry M. Woods. It was first recorded on December 8, 1932, by the Ray Noble Orchestra (with vocals by Val Rosing). Ted Lewis (Columbia 2748 D) and Ruth Etting (Melotone 12625) had hits with it in 1933. Bing Crosby also recorded it on January 9, 1933 for Brunswick Records. A version by Bob and Alf Pearson was also released in 1933.

The song appears in Dr. Strangelove (1964) and Pretty in Pink (1986).

Otis Redding version
A popular version in an entirely new form was recorded by soul artist Otis Redding in 1966. Redding was backed on his version by Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and Stax staff producer Isaac Hayes worked on the arrangement. Redding's recording features a slow, soulful opening that eventually builds into a frenetic R&B conclusion, incorporating elements from the Duke Ellington–Lee Gaines song "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)" as well as the words "sock it to me." It peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has been named on a number of "best songs of all time" lists, including those from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is in the 204th position on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. A live version performed in 1967 at the Monterey International Pop Festival was also recorded.

This version was heavily influential in the 1991 Irish movie The Commitments, at one point the band performing the song in the style of Otis Redding. It was also heavily sampled in the song "Otis", recorded by rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West, from their album Watch the Throne.

In DTV, it was set to Cinderella.

The song was sung briefly by Eddie Murphy as Donkey in Shrek.

Three Dog Night version
Three Dog Night released a version of the song, which peaked at #29 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1969. It is a copy of Redding's interpretation of the song, including the coda that was added in Redding's version.