Stay with Me (Lorraine Ellison song) explained

Stay with Me
Cover:Stay with Me (Lorraine Ellison song).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Lorraine Ellison
Album:Heart & Soul
B-Side:I Got My Baby Back
Released:October 1966
Recorded:1966
Genre:Soul
Length:3:29
Producer:Jerry Ragovoy

"Stay with Me" (often credited as "Stay with Me Baby") is a soul song co-written by Jerry Ragovoy and George David Weiss.[1] It was first recorded in 1966 by Lorraine Ellison,[2] and produced by Ragovoy.

Ellison recorded "Stay with Me" at a last-minute booking, following a studio cancellation by Frank Sinatra.[3] With a 46-piece orchestra already hired, Warner Bros. Records asked Ragovoy, with two days' notice, to take over the session at no cost. Ragovoy and arranger Garry Sherman worked up an orchestral arrangement of the song, and called Ellison into the studio to record it live with the orchestra. The recording was engineered by Phil Ramone.[4] Described as 'possibly the best female vocal ever',[5] "Stay with Me" is recognized for Ellison's impassioned vocals, which rise to a sonic and emotional crescendo with each chorus.

"Stay with Me" was issued as a single on the Warner record label. It entered the U.S. Billboard R&B chart on October 15, 1966, and reached No. 11; and peaked at No. 64 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It would become her signature song.[6] Her follow-up single was "Heart Be Still", a minor hit in 1967.[7]

The track has appeared on numerous compilation albums over the years, but 2006's Sister Love: The Warner Bros. Recordings contains all Ellison's songs.[8]

Critical reception

In their November 11, 1966 issue, New Musical Express published, 'It's almost impossible to convey the depth of feeling, emotion and sensitivity expressed by Lorraine Ellison in the dramatic ballad "Stay With Me" (Warner).'[9]

In their September 17, 1966 issue, Cashbox reported:[10]

'Al Jefferson, Dr. Fat Daddy and the entire staff at WCHB, Detroit, say that the new Lorraine Ellison on WB, "Stay With Me," is the "R & B record of the year." Al Jefferson of WWIN says, "This is a new concept and a new dimension in SOUL. It is an entirely new direction. I congratulate producer and writer Jerry Ragavoy. I didn't think he could top his creativity with Garnet Mimms, the Enchanters and Howard Tate, but this is the ultimate!" Al said he hasn't heard anything this good in three years'

In the December 16, 1967 issue of New Musical Express, Alan Smith described being introduced to the song by Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees:[11]

'The first time I met Maurice he was carrying an old single by Lorraine Ellison, “Stay With Me Baby”, which he thrust on to the record player with urgency and delight. Seconds later I was listening to a full-blooded, screaming, beautiful, agonised, ecstatic, sobbing, sexual, soaring performance of a song that prickled the hairs at the nape of the neck. It was one of the most incredible records I've ever heard, and I raved, Maurice raved, even the man there from the BBC World Service raved. When I heard that Cilla and Lulu were also raving, that was it. My mind was made up. I asked Warner Brothers to rush me a copy as soon as they could, and I raced home and also thrust it on to the record player with urgency and delight.'

Cover versions

"Stay With Me" has been covered by numerous musicians, including Bette Midler, in the film The Rose.

Other versions include those by The Walker Brothers, Charity Brown, David Essex, Ruby Turner, Rebecca Wheatley, Janis Joplin, Bobby Hatfield, Robin Lee, Genya Ravan, Terry Reid, Steve Marriott, Long John Baldry, Sharon Tandy,[12] Les Fleur de Lys, Natalie Cole, Jimmy Witherspoon, Dan McCafferty, Kiki Dee, Shirley Brown, Samantha Rose, Sam Brown, Phil Seymour, Trine Rein,[13] Whitesnake, Ronnie Montrose, Duffy, Mary J. Blige, Melissa Etheridge, La'Porsha Renae and Chris Cornell.[14] The versions by the first four artists named in the previous sentence, all reached the UK Singles Chart.[15]

Duffy's version was the only newly recorded song on the soundtrack of the 2009 UK comedy film, The Boat That Rocked. Although it was the original version that appeared in the film, Duffy's version featured in the closing credits.

It was also performed by Karise Eden on June 17, 2012, for her finale performance on The Voice Australia, reaching No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart[16] and by La'Porsha Renae on March 31, 2016 on the final season of American Idol.[17]

Alisan Porter covered the song on The Voice, season 10.

Charts

Chart (1966-67)Peak
position
scope="row"
UK R&B (Record Mirror)[18] 6
scope="row"
scope="row"
US Cashbox Top 100[19] 66
US Cashbox R&B<ref>Web site: Cash Box TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS. Cashbox. 44. November 19, 1966. 10 January 2022. 16
US Record World R&B<ref>Web site: Top 50 R&B. Record World. 43. November 19, 1966. 10 January 2022. 9
Chart (1969)Peak
position
UK R&B (Record Mirror)[20] 14
Chart (1975)Peak
position
UK Singles (Record Mirror)[21] 56
UK R&B (Record Mirror)[22] 15
Chart (1995)Peak
position
scope="row"

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stay With Me – Lorraine Ellison | Listen, Appearances, Song Review . AllMusic . 2013-10-22.
  2. [Joel Whitburn]
  3. Web site: Stay With Me by Lorraine Ellison Songfacts . Songfacts.com . 2013-10-22.
  4. Web site: Lorraine Ellison – Stay With Me . Prince.org . 2013-10-22.
  5. Book: Dave Marsh, Kevin Stein . 1981 . The Book of Rock Lists . . 216 . 9780440575801 .
  6. Encyclopedia: Ed . Hogan . 2003 . 'Lorraine Ellison' biography . All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul . Vladimir Bogdanov . John Bush . Chris Woodstra . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . Backbeat Books . San Francisco . 223 . 0-87930-744-7 . 2003052270 .
  7. Web site: Ed Hogan . Lorraine Ellison | Awards . AllMusic . 2013-10-22.
  8. Web site: Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Sister Love: The Warner Bros. Recordings – Lorraine Ellison | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards . AllMusic . 2013-10-22.
  9. SHOP WINDOW. New Musical Express. 12. November 11, 1966. worldradiohistory.com. 10 January 2022.
  10. R&B BEAT: WHERE IT'S AT: Lorraine's 'Stay' Tops for Year?. Cashbox. 30. September 17, 1966. 10 January 2022. worldradiohistory.com.
  11. MEET A BEE GEE: Maurice Gibb to Alan Smith. Alan. Smith. New Musical Express. 2. December 16, 1967. worldradiohistory.com. 10 January 2022.
  12. Web site: Stay With Me – Sharon Tandy | Listen, Appearances, Song Review . AllMusic . 2013-10-22.
  13. Web site: Finders Keepers " Rockipedia . Rockipedia.no . 2013-10-22.
  14. Web site: Chris Cornell "Stay with Me Baby" (Official Audio) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/pVTNT_g27G4 . 2021-12-15 . live. YouTube . 2016-04-14.
  15. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 697.
  16. Web site: 2012 ARIA No #1 Awards. ARIA Singles Chart. 2016-04-10.
  17. News: Marc. Silver. Thanks to La'Porsha Renae, 'American Idol' is ending on a high note. Washington Post. 2016-04-04. 2016-04-10.
  18. BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES. Record Mirror. 11. February 25, 1967. worldradiohistory.com. January 28, 2022.
  19. Web site: Cash Box TOP 100. Cashbox. November 5, 1966. 10 January 2022.
  20. BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES. Record Mirror. 11. February 8, 1969. worldradiohistory.com. October 31, 2021.
  21. Star Breakers. Record Mirror. September 13, 1975. worldradiohistory.com. October 31, 2021.
  22. UK SOUL TOP 20. Record Mirror. October 18, 1975. worldradiohistory.com. January 2, 2022.