"Let It Be Me" is a popular song originally published in French in 1955 as "Je t'appartiens" interpreted by

Gilbert Bécaud Gilbert Bécaud (, 24 October 1927 – 18 December 2001) was a French singer, composer, pianist and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are " Nathalie" and "Et maintenant", a 1961 release ...

. It became popular worldwide with an English version by the Everly Brothers and later with the duet by

Betty Everett Betty Jean Everett (November 23, 1939 – August 19, 2001) was an American soul singer and pianist, best known for her biggest hit single, the million-selling " Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)", and her duet " Let It Be Me" with Jerry Butle ...

and

Jerry Butler Jerry Butler Jr. (born December 8, 1939) is an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and retired politician. He was the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame i ...

"Je t'appartiens"

"Je t'appartiens" was recorded by

in 1955, with music by Bécaud and lyrics in French by

Pierre Delanoë Pierre Delanoë (16 December 1918 – 27 December 2006), born Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer in Paris, France, was a French lyricist who wrote thousands of songs for dozens of singers, including Dalida, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Pet ...

. It became a hit for Bécaud and in 1956 was re-recorded by

Les Compagnons de la chanson Les Compagnons de la chanson were a French harmony vocal group from Lyon, France, founded in 1946. Their best known song was " Les trois cloches" recorded with Edith Piaf in 1946. They were a nine-member group, and they were popular in France with ...

First English version by Jill Corey

The English language version used lyrics by Manny Curtis and was performed in 1957 by

Jill Corey Jill Corey (born Norma Jean Speranza; September 30, 1935 – April 3, 2021) was an American popular standards singer. She was discovered and signed on one day when she was 17. She went on to have her own radio shows and to star in a feature film ...

in the television series ''

Climax! ''Climax!'' (later known as ''Climax Mystery Theater'') is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS progra ...

'' Corey's version, with orchestration by

Jimmy Carroll Jimmy Carroll (born 26 July 1957 in Hospital, County Limerick) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Hospital-Herbertstown and was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s. Car ...

, was released as a single and was moderately successful.

The Everly Brothers version

The Everly Brothers helped to further popularize the song with their 1959 rendition of "Let It Be Me" which reached number 7 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The harmony arrangement of this version was often emulated in subsequent remakes. This was the first Everly Brothers single to be recorded in New York, and not in Nashville. The musicians that backed up the brothers on the record included Howard Collins, Barry Galbraith and Mundell Lowe on guitar, Lloyd Trotman on bass, Jerry Allison on drums and Hank Rowland on piano.

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler version

In 1964, Betty Everett and Jerry Butler released their version of the song. Their version peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the Cashbox Soul/R&B charts for three weeks.

Cover versions

*1960 – Andy Williams recorded the song for his seventh album, '' Under Paris Skies.'' *1965 – The Shadows recorded the song for their fourth album, '' The Sound of The Shadows''. *1965 –

Sonny & Cher Sonny & Cher were an American pop and entertainment duo in the 1960s and 1970s, made up of husband and wife Sonny Bono and Cher. The couple started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector. The pair f ...

recorded the song for their debut album, ''

Look at Us ''Look at Us'' is the debut album by American pop duo Sonny & Cher, released in 1965 by Atco Records. The album reached number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was certified gold. Album information Shortly after their single "I Got You Babe" ...

''. *1965 –

Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis (born Mary Frances Penick; December 30, 1931September 19, 2004) was an American country music singer and songwriter who sang crossover pop music songs including 1962's " The End of the World". She started out as part of the Davis S ...

and Bobby Bare included a recording of the song on their duets album ''Tunes for Two'' *1966 – Australian pop star

Johnny Young Johnny Young (born Johnny Benjamin de Jong; 12 March 1947) is a Dutch Australian singer, composer, record producer, disc jockey, television producer and host. Originally from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, his family settled in Perth in the early ...

, with his backing band Kompany, released this song on an EP. It was a top 10 hit record in Australia. *1966 –

Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer and actress. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato), and is best known for her 1966 signature hit " These Boots Are Made for Walkin'. Nancy Sinatr ...

included it on her album '' How Does That Grab You?'' *1966 - Manfred Mann on EP ''Just Like a Woman'' *1967 –

The Sweet Inspirations The Sweet Inspirations were an American R&B girl group mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other R&B and rock artists. A founding member of the group was Dionne Warwick, who was later replaced by her aunt, Ciss ...

released their version as a single. The song reached Billboard's R&B chart and also became a minor Hot 100 hit.''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' – *1968 –

Françoise Hardy Françoise Madeleine Hardy (; born 17 January 1944) is a French former singer and songwriter. Mainly known for singing melancholic sentimental ballads, Hardy has been an important figure in French pop music since her debut, spanning a career o ...

recorded a version for her album '' En anglais'' *1969 –

Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor and television host. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting '' The Glen Campbell Good ...

and

Bobbie Gentry Bobbie Gentry (born Roberta Lee Streeter; July 27, 1942) is a retired American singer-songwriter, who was one of the first female artists in America to compose and produce her own material. Gentry rose to international fame in 1967 with her Sou ...

had a top forty Hot 100 hit duet with their version of the song. It also charted on Billboard's country chart. *1969 –

Petula Clark Petula Sally Olwen Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932) is an English singer, actress, and composer. She has one of the longest serving careers of a British singer, spanning more than seven decades. Clark's professional career began during the ...

included it on her UK album ''Portrait of Petula''. *1969 –

The 5th Dimension The 5th Dimension is an American popular music vocal group, whose repertoire includes pop, R&B, soul, jazz, light opera, and Broadway. Formed as the Versatiles in late 1965, the group changed its name to "the 5th Dimension" by 1966. Betwe ...

covered it on their hit album '' The Age of Aquarius''. The song featured lead vocals from Billy Davis Jr."Let it Be Me," The 5th Dimension, ''YouTube'', uploaded April 20, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g8X1cXyiRA *1969 – Tom Jones included it on his cover album ''This is Tom Jones''. *1970 –

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

performed a live version on his album '' On Stage''. It later appeared on his compilation album with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016. The album was titled after the Presley hit, ''

The Wonder of You "The Wonder of You" is a song written by Baker Knight. It was originally recorded by Vince Edwards in 1958, but this recording has never been released. In an interview with a DJ from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ray Peterson told the story of how Bak ...

''. *1970 –

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

covered the song on his double album ''Self Portrait''. *1970 –

Roberta Flack Roberta Cleopatra Flack (born February 10, 1937) is a retired American singer. She topped the ''Billboard'' charts with the No. 1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", " Feel Like Makin' Love", "Wher ...

made a version for her second album ''Chapter Two''. *1972 –

Nina Simone Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone (), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blu ...

released a version on the 1974 album ''It Is Finished''. *1973 –

Mary McCaslin Mary McCaslin (December 22, 1946 – October 2, 2022) was an American folk singer who wrote, recorded, and performed contemporary folk music. Early life McCaslin was born in Indianapolis on December 22, 1946, and was raised in Southern Californ ...

covered it on her sophomore album ''Way Out West''. *1976 –

New Trolls New Trolls are an Italian progressive rock band, known for their fusion of rock and classical music. In a way not too dissimilar from fellow prog-rock band Yes, their history is filled with line-up changes, spin-off projects and personal struggl ...

released a version on the 1976 album ''Concerto Grosso n.2''. *1980 – Kenny Rogers and Dottie West released a version on the 1980 album ''Sweet Harmony''. *1982 -

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (1 ...

recorded the song for his album '' Always On My Mind'' and released it as a single. *1994 – Julio Iglesias recorded a version with

Art Garfunkel Arthur Ira Garfunkel (born November 5, 1941) is an American singer, poet, and actor. He is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Highlights of Garfunkel's solo music career include one top-10 h ...

for his album '' Crazy''. *2009 – Rod Stewart recorded a version with

Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. Throughout her career, she has received various accolades for her works in recorded music, film, televisio ...

for his album '' Soulbook''. *2012 – George Harrison's old demo cover of the song was included in the compilation album, '' Early Takes: Volume 1''. *2014 –

Bryan Adams Bryan Guy Adams (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and mor ...

included his version on the Japanese edition of his album '' Tracks of My Years''.

The Everly Brothers

Betty Everett and Jerry Butler

The Sweet Inspirations

Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry

Willie Nelson

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Let It Be Me (Song) 1955 songs 1957 singles 1959 singles 1964 singles 1969 singles 1982 singles Songs with lyrics by Manny Curtis Songs with music by Gilbert Bécaud Songs written by Pierre Delanoë The Everly Brothers songs Betty Everett songs Jerry Butler songs Sonny & Cher songs Nancy Sinatra songs Glen Campbell songs Bobbie Gentry songs The 5th Dimension songs Bob Dylan songs Jay and the Americans songs Roberta Flack songs Elvis Presley songs Willie Nelson songs Rod Stewart songs Neil Diamond songs Andy Williams songs Sweet Inspirations songs Nancy Wilson (jazz singer) songs Male vocal duets Columbia Records singles Cadence Records singles Vee-Jay Records singles