Tell It Like It Is (song)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"If you want something to play with go and find yourself a toy." --"Tell It Like It Is" (1966) by Davis and Diamond |
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"Tell It Like It Is" is a song written by George Davis and Lee Diamond and recorded several times by different artists, to varying degrees of success.
It was first recorded by Aaron Neville, who released the song as a solo single in 1966. It was issued at the end of the year on the obscure 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, tt was ranked #381 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Cover versions
In 1980 "Tell It Like It Is" was covered by American rock band Heart. The song was included on the band's greatest hits/live compilation album Greatest Hits Live and became a top-ten hit in the U.S., peaking at number eight (becoming Heart's highest-charting single at the time).
Pop singer Andy Williams has also recorded a version of "Tell It Like It Is", bringing the song to number seventy-two in 1976. Actor Don Johnson also recorded a version of the song, which was released as a single in 1989 in the UK and on the European mainland. That same year, Billy Joe Royal recorded a version of the song as a country single and reaching #2 on the country charts with the song.
It was also covered by Richard "Dimples" Fields in 1987, by Nina Simone on the album The Very Best of Nina Simone, 1967-1972: Sugar in My Bowl, and by Percy Sledge.
