"Come Softly to Me" is a popularsong recorded by The Fleetwoods, composed of Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel, who also wrote it.[2] The original title was "Come Softly", but was changed en route to its becoming a hit. Bob Reisdorf, the owner of Dolphin Records, which in 1960 changed to Dolton Records, was responsible for the title change. He thought that "Come Softly" might be too obvious and considered risqué, so he had it changed to "Come Softly to Me." The title phrase never appears in the song's lyrics.
Recording the song at home, the group sang it a cappella with the rhythmic shaking of Troxel's car keys. The tape was then sent to Los Angeles where the sparse instrumental accompaniment was added, including an acoustic guitar played by Bonnie Guitar, herself a successful singer-songwriter ("Dark Moon") and Reisdorf's in-house record producer. Released in 1959, the single reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in April.[3][4]
The New Seekers also recorded the song, and their version reached No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 60 in Canada,[10] and No.20 on the UK charts in 1972-73.[11]
Brenton Wood titled his 1977 album, Come Softly, after the song.[12]
Mercy released a version of the song on their 1969 album, Love Can Make You Happy;[13]
Lesley Gore recorded a duet version of the song with Oliver in 1970, on Crewe Records.
A cover version performed by The Roches, from their 1985 album Another World, is repeated several times on the soundtrack of the 1988 film Crossing Delancey.[14][15]
^Rucker, Leland (January 1, 1998). "The Fleetwoods". In Knopper, Steve (ed.). MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 175–176.
