Try a Little Tenderness and Related Topics

Printer working an early Gutenberg letterpress from the 15th century. (1877 engraving)

Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly

Jimmy Campbell (born James Alexander Campbell-Tyrie; 5 April 1903–19 August 1967) and Reg Connelly (born Reginald John Connelly; 22 October 1895–23 September 1963) were English songwriters and music publishers.

One of their most successful songs, "Try a Little Tenderness", was written with Harry M. Woods in 1932.

These buildings (47–55 West 28th Street) and others on West 28th Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway in Manhattan housed the sheet-music publishers that were the center of American popular music in the early 20th century. The buildings shown were designated as historic landmarks in 2019.

Harry M. Woods

Tin Pan Alley songwriter and pianist, he was a composer of numerous film scores.

Alone, or with his collaborators, he wrote "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover", "I'm Goin' South", "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By", "Just a Butterfly that’s Caught in the Rain", "Side by Side", "My Old Man", "A Little Kiss Each Morning", "Heigh-Ho, Everybody, Heigh-Ho", "Man From the South", "River Stay 'way from My Door", "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain", "We Just Couldn’t Say Goodbye", "Just an Echo in the Valley", "A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet", "You Ought to See Sally on Sunday", "Hustlin' and Bustlin' for Baby", "What a Little Moonlight Can Do", "Try a Little Tenderness", "I'll Never Say 'Never Again' Again", "Over My Shoulder", "Tinkle Tinkle Tinkle", "When You've Got a Little Springtime in Your Heart", "Midnight, the Stars and You", and "I Nearly Let Love Go Slipping Through My Fingers".

Three Dog Night

American rock band formed in 1967, with founding members consisting of vocalists Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, and Chuck Negron.

The album Three Dog Night was a success with its hit songs "Nobody", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "One" and helped the band gain recognition and become one of the top-drawing concert acts of their time.

Booker T. & the M.G.'s

American instrumental R&B/funk band that was influential in shaping the sound of Southern soul and Memphis soul.

Booker T. & the M.G.'s in Tunica, Mississippi, 2002

They played on hundreds of records, including classics like "Walking the Dog", "Hold On, I'm Comin'" (on which the multi-instrumentalist Jones played tuba over Donald "Duck" Dunn's bass line), "Soul Man", "Who's Making Love", "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)", and "Try a Little Tenderness", among others.

Ruth Etting

American singer and actress of the 1920s and 1930s, who had over 60 hit recordings and worked in stage, radio, and film.

Etting in a photo for her CBS radio program sponsored by Oldsmobile.

Etting on the cover of the June 1935 edition of Radio Mirror.

(1933) "Try a Little Tenderness" (U.S. chart position 16) Melotone Records

British dance band leader Jack Hylton, c. 1930

Val Rosing

British dance band singer best known as the vocalist with the BBC in the BBC Dance Orchestra directed by Henry Hall.

He also sang on the Ray Noble Orchestra's version of "Try a Little Tenderness", the first recording of this well-covered song.

Pretty in Pink

1986 American teen romantic comedy-drama film about love and social cliques in American high schools in the 1980s.

The film also includes Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness", to which Duckie lip-synchs in the film, the Association's "Cherish" and Talk Back's "Rudy".