View source for A Song for You

{{short description|Original song written and composed by Leon Russell}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = A Song for You
| cover         = A Song for You.jpg
|caption=1972 Japanese re-release
| alt           = 
| type          = 
| artist        = [[Leon Russell]]
| album         = [[Leon Russell (album)|Leon Russell]]
| B-side        = 
| released      = May 1970
| recorded      = 
| studio        = 
| genre         = [[Blue-eyed soul]]
| length        = {{Duration|m=4|s=08}}
| label         = [[Shelter Records]](US)<br> [[A&M Records]](UK)
| writer        = Leon Russell
| producer      = Leon Russell
| prev_title    = 
| prev_year     = 
| next_title    = 
| next_year     = 
}}

{{Infobox song
| name          = A Song for You
| cover         = 
| alt           = 
| type          = single
| artist        = [[Andy Williams]]
| album         = [[You've Got a Friend (Andy Williams album)|You've Got a Friend]]
| B-side        = [[You've Got a Friend]]
| released      = [[1971 in music|August 1971]]
| recorded      = 
| studio        = 
| genre         = [[Blue-eyed soul]]
| length        = {{Duration|m=3|s=12}}
| label         = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] {{small|45434}}
| writer        = [[Leon Russell]]
| producer      = [[Dick Glasser]]
| prev_title    = [[(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story|(Where Do I Begin) Love Story]]
| prev_year     = 1971
| next_title    = Love Is All
| next_year     = 1971
}}

"'''A Song for You'''" is a song written and originally recorded by [[Rock music|rock]] singer and pianist [[Leon Russell]] for his first solo album ''[[Leon Russell (album)|Leon Russell]]'', which was released in 1970 on [[Shelter Records]]. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover, the tune is one of Russell's best-known compositions. Russell sang, played piano, and played [[tenor horn]] on the recording. It has been performed and recorded by over 200 artists, spanning many musical genres. ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music'' wrote in 2012: "In 1970 Russell released his self-titled debut solo album, including such enduring songs as "[[Delta Lady]]" and "A Song for You", both written for versatile vocalist [[Rita Coolidge]].

One of the first versions of the song that brought it broader attention was by [[Andy Williams]], whose single peaked at number 29 on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|adult contemporary chart]] and number 82 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3159|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Billboard'' Singles|publisher=[[All Media Guide]] / [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=March 1, 2010}}</ref> [[Ray Charles]] recorded a version that earned him the [[36th Annual Grammy Awards|1994 Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]]. Other notable versions were recorded by [[the Carpenters]] in 1972 and [[Herbie Hancock]] in 2005.

On January 17, 2018, "A Song for You" was added to [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>Nathan Poppe, [https://newsok.com/article/5579892/leon-russells-a-song-for-you-added-to-grammy-hall-of-fame "Leon Russell's 'A Song For You' added to Grammy Hall Of Fame"], ''The Oklahoman'', January 17, 2018.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/pop-culture-leon-russell-song-selected-for-grammy-hall-of-fame/article_a4b06b88-3f54-5543-9295-cfa69c92c655.html|title=Pop culture: Leon Russell song selected for Grammy Hall of Fame|first=Jimmie Tramel Tulsa|last=World|website=Tulsa World|date=January 18, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>

==Notable cover versions==
"A Song for You" has been covered many times since its release. The most notable versions include the following:
*1971 – [[Dusty Springfield]] recorded the song for her 1972 album, ''[[See All Her Faces]]''. It was an outtake and unreleased until ''Dusty in London'' was issued by Rhino Records in February 1999.
*1971 – [[Andy Williams]] recorded the song for his covers album, ''[[You've Got a Friend (Andy Williams album)|You've Got a Friend]]''. His version rose to number 29 on the Easy Listening chart (today's [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]]) in September 1971.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/andy-williams/chart-history/asi/|title = Andy Williams| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref> At the same time it hit number 82 on the main [[Billboard Hot 100|pop singles]] chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/andy-williams/chart-history/hsi/|title = Andy Williams| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>
*1971 – [[Donny Hathaway]] recorded the song for his second album [[Donny Hathaway (album)|''Donny Hathaway'']], featuring orchestral string and woodwind parts arranged by [[Arif Mardin]]. Hathaway's producer [[Jerry Wexler]] wrote that this version revealed why Mardin was known for the "fastest growing reputation among the new breed of arrangers..."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kzcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35 |pages=34–35 |title=Advertisement |last=Wexler |first=Jerry |authorlink=Jerry Wexler |date=April 22, 1971 |magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]] |volume=40 |number=4 |issn=0021-5996}}</ref> Hathaway's [[gospel music|gospel]]-inflected interpretation has been praised as redefining the song as his own. His live performances were electrifying, evoking a near-religious experience for the audience.<ref>{{cite book |title=Donny Hathaway Live |last=Lordi |first=Emily J. |pages=10–11 |date=2016 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=9781628929812}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=I Am Charlie Wilson |last=Wilson |first=Charlie |authorlink=Charlie Wilson (singer) |page=193 |date=2015 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781476790077}}</ref>
*1972 – [[The Carpenters]] used the song for the name of their hit album ''[[A Song for You (The Carpenters album)|A Song for You]]'', and included it as the first track and the last track (in the form of a [[reprise]]). The Carpenters took Leon Russell's lyrical idea and expanded it to frame their whole album as a [[concept album]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Listen to Pop! Exploring a Musical Genre |last=Perone |first=James E. |date=2018 |page=67 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9781440863776}}</ref> Though the song itself was not released as a single by the Carpenters, they performed it on a [[Bob Hope]] television special that aired on October 5, 1972.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Carpenters|title=A Song for You Live|website=YouTube: Beverwyk|date=February 3, 2013|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VFVmuC7DHfQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/VFVmuC7DHfQ |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bob Hope TV Special on NBC: 10/05/72|website=Rewatch Classic TV|access-date=September 28, 2019|url=https://www.rewatchclassictv.com/products/the-bob-hope-special-nbc-10-5-72}}</ref> Their version is considered a standard of [[adult contemporary music]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter |last=Schmidt |first=Randy |date=2012 |page=118 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=9780857127693}}</ref>
*1972 – [[Peggy Lee]] recorded the song on her 1972 album ''[[Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota]]''.
*1972 – [[Cher]] recorded the song on her 1972 album ''[[Foxy Lady (Cher album)|Foxy Lady]]''.
*1973 – [[Willie Nelson]] sang a solo [[acoustic guitar]] version for his album ''[[Shotgun Willie]]'', using his famous guitar [[Trigger (guitar)|Trigger]]. With this stripped-down arrangement, Nelson brings the greatest degree of intimacy to the song.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Album |last=Perone |first=James E. |date=2012 |page=302 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9780313379062}}</ref> Nelson also performed the song in the 1980 movie ''[[Honeysuckle Rose (film)|Honeysuckle Rose]]'', and it appears on the [[Honeysuckle Rose (album)|movie's soundtrack]]. 
*1974 – [[Aretha Franklin]] recorded a version of the song for her album ''[[Let Me in Your Life]]''. 
*1975 – [[The Temptations]] covered the song on their album ''[[A Song for You (The Temptations album)|A Song for You]]''
*1975 – [[Mina (Italian singer)|Mina]] covered the song on her album ''[[La Mina]]''
*1993 – [[Ray Charles]] recorded a version of the song on his 1993 album ''[[My World (Ray Charles album)|My World]]''. Released as a single, it reached number 104 on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles]], and won him a [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]]. 
*2003 – Willie Nelson, Leon Russell and Ray Charles performed the song at New York's [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]] on April 9, 2003, as part of Willie Nelson's 70th birthday tribute (released on CD and DVD as ''[[Live and Kickin' (Willie Nelson album)|Live and Kickin']]'' credited to "Willie Nelson & Friends"). Leon Russell sang the first verse, Willie Nelson sang the second verse, and Charles sang the remainder of the song in this performance. Nelson, who stood nearby during Charles' performance, was visibly moved.<ref>{{cite book |title=Willie Nelson: The Outlaw |last=Thomson |first=Graeme |date=2012 |page=468 |publisher=Random House |isbn=9781448133413}}</ref>
*2005 – [[Herbie Hancock]] featuring [[Christina Aguilera]]. This version charted at number 11 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Smooth Jazz Airplay]] chart in May 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/christina-aguilera/chart-history/jsi/|title=Chart History: Christina Aguilera – Smooth Jazz Airplay|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=Billboard Media, LLC|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250120170147/https://www.billboard.com/artist/christina-aguilera/chart-history/jsi/|archive-date=January 20, 2025|access-date=January 20, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals|Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals]] at the [[Grammy Awards of 2006|2006 Grammy Awards]]. Hancock and Aguilera performed a live rendition at the ceremony.
*2008 – [[Bizzy Bone]] featuring [[DMX]] & Chris Notez, rose to number 61 on the US ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=bizzy bone|chart=all}} |title=''Billboard'' Chart History|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=March 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>[https://www.billboard.com/artist/bizzy-bone/chart-history/bsi/ "Chart History: Bizzy Bone"], ''Billboard''.</ref>
*2009 – [[Whitney Houston]] recorded an uptempo version of the song for her final studio album ''[[I Look to You]]''. Houston also performed a slowed-down version of the song in 1991 at her [[Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston]] concert. It was reported that Russell was so moved by the performance that he personally wrote her a letter expressing his admiration of her rendition of his song.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knox |first1=Teresa |title=6 Things You Might Not Know About Leon Russell's "A Song For You" - The Church Studio |url=https://thechurchstudio.com/6-things-you-might-not-know-about-leon-russells-a-song-for-you/ |website=thechurchstudio.com/ |date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>
*2011 – [[Amy Winehouse]] recorded a version from her home that was included on the posthumous ''[[Lioness: Hidden Treasures]]'' compilation album. She specifically covered the Donny Hathaway version and references him at the end of the recording.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.covermesongs.com/2011/11/listen-amy-winehouse-weeps-through-final-cover-a-song-for-you%E2%80%9D.html |title = Listen: Amy Winehouse Weeps Through Final Cover "A Song for You" - Cover Me| work=Cover Me | date=November 30, 2011 }}</ref>
*2023 - [[Suzanne Somers]] sang a version of the song in a video clip at her own memorial. She was 76. According to her husband [[Alan Hamel]], he claims that it was "our song" as "there wasn't a dry eye in the room".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.people.com/suzanne-somers-sang-at-her-own-memorial-video-exclusive-8415606 |title = Suzanne Somers was shown singing at her own memorial}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{YouTube|tH-Y8qQ1bpE|"A Song for You (feat. Christina Aguilera)"}}
*{{YouTube|6JqUzwAv7lQ|"A Song for You (feat. Chris Botti)"}}
*{{YouTube|5IUbBb362uY|"Simply Red - A Song For You (Official Video)"}}

{{The Carpenters}}
{{Ray Charles}}
{{Andy Williams}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Song For You}}
[[Category:1970 songs]]
[[Category:1970 singles]]
[[Category:1971 singles]]
[[Category:1972 singles]]
[[Category:2005 singles]]
[[Category:2006 singles]]
[[Category:2008 singles]]
[[Category:1970s ballads]]
[[Category:Leon Russell songs]]
[[Category:Andy Williams songs]]
[[Category:Herbie Hancock songs]]
[[Category:Christina Aguilera songs]]
[[Category:The Carpenters songs]]
[[Category:Ray Charles songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Leon Russell]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Dick Glasser]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[Category:Virgin Records singles]]