The Letter (song)
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| “The Letter” | ||
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| Single by The Box Tops from the album The Letter/Neon Rainbow |
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| Released | 1967 (U.S.) | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 1:58 | |
| Writer(s) | Wayne Carson Thompson | |
| Producer | Dan Penn | |
| “The Letter” | ||
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| Single by Joe Cocker from the album Mad Dogs and Englishmen |
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| B-side | "Space Captain" | |
| Released | April, 1970 | |
| Format | 7" 45 RPM | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:46 (live album version)
4:11 (studio single version) |
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| Label | A&M | |
| Writer(s) | Wayne Carson Thompson | |
| Producer | Denny Cordell, Leon Russell | |
"The Letter" is a song written by Wayne Carson Thompson and made famous by The Box Tops and their singer, Alex Chilton, released in 1967 on the album of the same name. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the UK singles chart. The song was popular during the Vietnam War and was also included in the computer game Battlefield Vietnam. Rolling Stone ranked it #363 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
[edit] Cover versions
- The Letter has been covered by The Mindbenders, Al Green, Joe Cocker, David Coverdale,The Beach Boys, Brenda Lee, Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Arbors, Blonde on Blonde, Bobby Darin, Dionne Warwick, Del Shannon, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and the Shadows.
- Cocker's version, released as a single in April of 1970, also did very well on the U.S. Pop Singles chart, peaking at number seven. The single version, done live in the studio, can be found on the 2005 deluxe edition of Cocker's 1970 album, "Mad Dogs and Englishmen," while his live in concert take of the song (credited to 'Joe Cocker with Leon Russell and the Shelter People') can be found on both the original and the deluxe edition of the album.
- The Arbors version was also a chart success, peaking at number twenty in 1969.
- Eva Cassidy also covered "The Letter" on her album Time After Time, and it is covered somewhat regularly by the rock/jam band Gov't Mule.
- Chris Daughtry of American Idol covered "The Letter" for his audition with the judges.
- A cover version of "The Letter" by Dynamo 5 was used as the lead song for the film Sonnenallee.
- Bachman-Turner Overdrive recorded this as a demo while still using their early band name, Brave Belt. It can be heard on the B.T.O. Anthology. Randy Bachman also recorded it in 2007 with The Bachman Cummings Band for Jukebox.
- Melanie covered the song on her 1976 album Photograph.
- Carly Smithson and Michael Johns sang a duet cover for the finale of American Idol Season 7 (May 21, 2008).
| Preceded by "Ode to Billie Joe" by Bobbie Gentry |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single September 23, 1967 |
Succeeded by "To Sir, with Love" by Lulu |
| Preceded by "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles |
United World Chart number one single October 7, 1967 - November 11, 1967 |
Succeeded by "Massachusetts" by Bee Gees |
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