Try a Little Tenderness
In the early 1930s, the song Try a Little Tenderness was written by Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly. It quickly became one of the most popular songs of all time, reaching no. 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been voted one of the best songs of all time, and ranked at number 204 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. While all the versions are great in their own right, the Otis Redding version still holds the top spot.
“Try a Little Tenderness” was not about Otis Redding. It was actually written by Reg Connolly, Harry M. Woods, and Jimmy Campbell. British orchestras recorded the song in 1932, and it later became a classic of the era. The song is a waltz, and its lyrics are a celebration of romantic love. It’s about finding your own self, and finding your own happiness.
The song was a hit for both Redding and Bing Crosby, and it remains a perennial favourite today. Its lyrics are about loving a woman and being more tender, both in good times and bad. However, Redding’s original version is more popular in the US than in the UK, where it is often played on dance halls. The tune has a rich history, and many versions have been covered by the world’s top artists.