Tell the Truth (The "5" Royales song)
| "Tell the Truth" | |
|---|---|
| Single by The "5" Royales | |
| A-side | "Double or Nothing" |
| Released | June 1958 |
| Format | 7" single |
| Genre | Rhythm and blues |
| Length | 2:15 |
| Label | King 5141 |
| Songwriter(s) | Lowman Pauling |
Listen to the song Tell the Truth (The "5" Royales song) or Buy it on amazon
| "Tell the Truth" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Ray Charles | |
| from the album Ray Charles in Person | |
| Released | July 1960 |
| Format | 7" single |
| Recorded | May 28, 1959 |
| Genre | Rhythm and blues |
| Length | 3:08 |
| Label | Atlantic Records 2068 |
| Songwriter(s) | Lowman Pauling |
Listen to the song Tell the Truth (The "5" Royales song) or Buy it on amazon
"Tell the Truth" is a rhythm and blues song written by Lowman Pauling[1] and originally recorded by his group The "5" Royales. King Records released the song as the B-side of "Double or Nothing" for a 1958 single.
The song had its greatest impact as an influence on later soul, blues, and rock artists, recognized when the "5" Royales were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.[2]
Ray Charles version[edit]
A live version by Ray Charles, a duet with Raelette Margie Hendrix, was recorded February 18, 1959, and first released on the July 1960 album Ray Charles in Person.
As the B-side of a single in August 1960, the song climbed to #13 on the R&B charts and #72 pop according to Cash Box.[3]
Highlighted by Hendrix's raw, soulful belting -- "one of her most beloved impassioned singing performances ever" -- the concert performance was recorded by a local radio station to be used in a promotion for the next night's show. This chance recording became "a rare and invaluable glimpse into Ray Charles and his band’s live prowess at the top of their game, and when they didn’t even realize they were being recorded."[4]
Other cover versions[edit]
The song has been recorded by many other artists, most significantly:[5]
- Ike & Tina Turner released a live version on the February 1965 album Live! The Ike & Tina Turner Show
- A 1969 studio recording and a 1970 live recording by Johnny Winter were released as bonus tracks for the 2004 re-issue of his 1969 album Second Winter
- A version by Otis Redding was released on the posthumous July 1970 album Tell the Truth
References[edit]
- ↑ Hogan, Ed. "Lowman Pauling Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ↑ "The "5" Royales". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ↑ Sullivan, Steve (May 17, 2017). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Volume 3. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 332. ISBN 1442254491. Search this book on
- ↑ ""Tell the Truth" Ray Charles Song Review". It's All About Ray Charles. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ↑ "Cover versions of Tell the Truth by The "5" Royales". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
New page for influential original recording of "Tell the Truth"[edit]
References improved, details added to "Tell the Truth" song page[edit]
This article "Tell the Truth (The "5" Royales song)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Tell the Truth (The "5" Royales song). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
