Try A Little Tenderness

by

Otis Redding

Album: Otis Redding's Dictionary Of Soul      Released: 1967

US Chart: 25     UK Chart: 46

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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This song is a standard recorded by many artists, including crooners Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Bing Crosby. Redding did a very soulful version that was a completely different take on the song.

Redding did not want to record this, but Stax Records executives and his friends wore him down with a constant barrage of requests. When he finally recorded it, he did it in a way that he was "sure" that it would not be released. The ploy didn't work. Redding's version of "Try a Little Tenderness" became his signature song and the biggest selling of the records released before his death.

Sam Cooke's version of this was a big influence on Redding. It was never released as a single but was one of high points of his live "Sam Cooke at the Copa" LP (1964) as part of a medley that started with "Tenderness" (followed by "Sentimental Reasons" and "You Send Me"). Redding idolized the man, particularly after Cooke's death, but he did not want to record "Tenderness." He caved in after tremendous pressure from his friends and (according to one source) a family member -- but he didn't want to record it LIKE Cooke (in fact, he considered his version a "joke" to quiet the people who wanted him to record it). The rest is history.

For the group Three Dog Night, this was a staple of their live shows through the 1980's. They would often stretch the song to the 15-20 minute mark.

Three Dog Night recorded this as a tribute to the late Otis Redding. Their version became their first Top 40 hit in 1968. Their first Top 10 hit, "One," written and originally recorded by Harry Nilsson, soon followed. (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 4)

In the movie Bull Durham, erratic young pitcher Nuke LaLoosh, played by Tim Robbins, sings this on the team bus but butchers the lyrics, much to the dismay of Crash Davis, the veteran catcher played by Kevin Costner. Instead of "Young girls they do get wearied" he sang "Young girls they do get wooly."

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Comments:

This is a great song. It was covered in the motion picture The Commitments.
- Hugh Laurie, Cambridge, United Kingdom

I just saw the Movie Duet, two actors were singing the song at a bar. I really like the song, so I did some research and saw it Otis Redding. Sound Good.
- Dasha, Atlanta, GA

The song was written in the 1911-15 period by three dudes and has been performed and recorded by a variety of artists. The version by Otis is the most complex and musically entertaining of all the versions I have heard.
- roman, barrie, ON

Has anyone heard Rod Stewart singing this song?That's my favorite version.
- Melissa, Brent, AL

I just saw THIS CHRISTMAS and Chris Brown song this song. I never heard this song before then, but I loved it This song is AWESOME!
- Brittney, Milwaukee, WI

can't believe Andrew Strong was only 16 singing this in the Commitments. that blows my mind!
- joe, dublin

The best version of this song is on the "Live at Monterey" recording which also featured Jimi Hendrix's live performance on the flip side. Otis really tears them up and leaves them weak!
- Dennis, New York, NY

This was also song by Paul Giamati in the film "Duets", and quite amzaingly too!
- Joanne, Minneapolis, MN

Has anyone besides me noticed that when you buy and download the Otis Redding: Live in Europe album from iTunes, the version of Try a Little Tenderness is a totally different version from that which was on the original album? Major disappointment, I'd already bought the Otis Redding Greatest Hits album but downloaded the original Live In Europe album because I wanted the version I had on the LP.
- Kent, Palm Springs, CA

This song was THE BEST track from the movie The Commitments. Andrew Strong, the lead singer is the blackest white man I've ever heard! Great song and great movie!
- Curtis, Cornwall on Hudson , NY

Try A Little Tenderness (not by Otis Redding..an instrumental version) is featured in the opening credits of Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove.
- Alisha, Peabody, MA

I can't believe this hasn't been listed, but Redding's version of this song was featured in the movie, "Pretty in Pink" with Jon Cryer and Molly Ringwald, the queen of The Brat Pack. In this sequence, Jon Cryer's character, Duckie, sings along with this song in the record store where Molly Ringwald's character, Andie, works. It is an amazing scene and probably the most memorable of the movie. Jon Cryer is unusually hot while singing along with Otis Redding and this is how I first heard of the song. I can't believe this isn't listed!
- Katie, Neenah, WI

This was covered by "Dragnet" star JACK WEBB on and is included on the first "Golden Throats" compilation of horrible recordings of hits by actors/celebrities. Webb's versions is a slow, spoken word piece done over a lush string section. Not one word is sung. All of it is spoken as if it could be an episode of "Dragnet" where Joe Friday is giving love advice to a hippie stoner.
- john, seattle, WA

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