country charts and won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Sammi Smith's recording (made in May 1970) reached number-one on the U.S. They were controversial in 1970/1971 when the song was first covered by a woman, Sammi Smith in that case: "I don't care what's right or wrong, and I won't try to understand / Let the devil take tomorrow Lord tonight, I need a friend." Chart performance Sammi Smith Kris Kristofferson's original lyrics speak of a man's yearning for sexual intimacy. Later on, West said that not recording "Help Me Make It Through The Night" when Kristofferson originally offered it to her was one of the greatest regrets of her career though her version charted in 1971, it was not as successful as Smith's version had been. However, by then, several others had recorded and released versions of it, some garnering great success. Eventually, she would record it before the year was out, and it is included on her album Careless Hands. When he offered Dottie West the song, she originally claimed it was "too suggestive" for her. When asked what he believed in, Frank replied, "Booze, broads, or a bible.whatever helps me make it through the night."ĭuring his time as a struggling songwriter, Kris Kristofferson wrote and composed the song while staying with Dottie West and her husband, Bill, at their home on Shy's Hill Road in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood. Kris Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from an Esquire Magazine interview with Frank Sinatra. The Michael Bublé version features American singer Loren Allred. Other artists who have recorded charting versions of the song include Gladys Knight & the Pips, John Holt, and (in French) Claude Valade. Inspired by Smith's success with the song, numerous other artists covered it soon thereafter, including Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Dottie West, Joan Baez, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Mariah Carey, Ray Stevens, Willie Nelson, Ken Parker, Olivia Newton-John, Engelbert Humperdinck, Scott Matthew, Lena Zavaroni and Kelly Jones. "Help Me Make It Through The Night" also became Smith's signature song. It topped the country singles chart, and was also a crossover hit, reaching number eight on the U.S. Her recording ranks among the most successful country singles of all time in terms of sales, popularity, and radio airplay. Smith's recording of the song (in May 1970) remains the most commercially successful, and best-known, version in the United States. JSTOR ( May 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: "Help Me Make It Through the Night" – news Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. While you can still hear some of the good music from 1971 during commercials or in the department and grocery store, other hit singles from this year are waiting for you to push play, sit back, and enjoy classic tunes from the iconic year.This section does not cite any sources. Whether you're into rock, Motown, singer-songwriter, folk, or glam, 1971 had some of the best songs released during a year of change for the country. And even if you haven't heard it, you'll be dancing and strutting around in about three seconds.īecause it was written as a theme for a movie about a Harlem detective working to find a mob boss's daughter, the lyrics reflect that, making sure you know everything you need to know about Shaft's character, namely he's sexy and don't mess with him. However, this is an iconic song of the 70s, and if you think you haven't heard it, put it on. If you don't know the “Theme From Shaft,” you might think a movie's theme song would be a weird choice to end a list of good music from 1971.
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