Stay with Me (Lorraine Ellison song)

Critical reception

In their November 11, 1966 issue, New Musical Express published, 'It's almost impossible to convey the depth of feeling, emotion and sensitivity expressed by Lorraine Ellison in the dramatic ballad "Stay With Me" (Warner).'

In their September 17, 1966 issue, Cashbox reported:{{cite magazine

'Al Jefferson, Dr. Fat Daddy and the entire staff at WCHB, Detroit, say that the new Lorraine Ellison on WB, "Stay With Me," is the "R & B record of the year." Al Jefferson of WWIN says, "This is a new concept and a new dimension in SOUL. It is an entirely new direction. I congratulate producer and writer Jerry Ragavoy. I didn't think he could top his creativity with Garnet Mimms, the Enchanters and Howard Tate, but this is the ultimate!" Al said he hasn't heard anything this good in three years'

In the December 16, 1967 issue of New Musical Express, Alan Smith described being introduced to the song by Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees:

'The first time I met Maurice he was carrying an old single by Lorraine Ellison, “Stay With Me Baby”, which he thrust on to the record player with urgency and delight. Seconds later I was listening to a full-blooded, screaming, beautiful, agonised, ecstatic, sobbing, sexual, soaring performance of a song that prickled the hairs at the nape of the neck. It was one of the most incredible records I've ever heard, and I raved, Maurice raved, even the man there from the BBC World Service raved. When I heard that Cilla and Lulu were also raving, that was it. My mind was made up. I asked Warner Brothers to rush me a copy as soon as they could, and I raced home and also thrust it on to the record player with urgency and delight.'

The song was ranked number 935 among the greatest singles ever made in Dave Marsh's book The Heart of Rock & Soul (1989).

Cover versions

"Stay With Me" has been covered by numerous musicians, including Bette Midler, in the film The Rose.

Other versions include those by The Walker Brothers, David Essex, Ruby Turner, Rebecca Wheatley, Charity Brown, Janis Joplin, Bobby Hatfield, Robin Lee, Genya Ravan, Terry Reid, The Marmalade, Steve Marriott, Long John Baldry, Sharon Tandy, Les Fleur de Lys, Natalie Cole, Jimmy Witherspoon, Dan McCafferty, Kiki Dee, Shirley Brown, Samantha Rose, Sam Brown, Phil Seymour, Trine Rein, Whitesnake, Ronnie Montrose, Duffy, Mary J. Blige, Melissa Etheridge, La'Porsha Renae, Thunder ft. Jade Smythe and Chris Cornell. The versions by the first four artists named in the previous sentence, all reached the UK Singles Chart.{{cite book

Duffy's version was the only newly recorded song on the soundtrack of the 2009 UK comedy film, The Boat That Rocked. Although it was the original version that appeared in the film, Duffy's version featured in the closing credits.

It was also performed by Karise Eden on June 17, 2012, for her finale performance on The Voice Australia, reaching No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart{{cite web | access-date = 2016-04-10}} and by La'Porsha Renae on March 31, 2016 on the final season of American Idol.{{cite news | access-date = 2016-04-10}}

Alisan Porter covered the song on The Voice, season 10.

Charts

References

Notes

References

1. "Stay With Me – Lorraine Ellison | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic.
2. [[Joel Whitburn]], ''[[Billboard (magazine). Billboard]] Top Pop Singles 1955–2002'', 2003, {{ISBN. 0-89820-155-1
3. [[David Nathan (music writer). (1974). "LORRAINE ELLISON: Classic Soul 1974 Interview". soulmusic.com.
4. "Lorraine Ellison – Stay With Me". Prince.org.
5. Dave Marsh, Kevin Stein. (1981). "The Book of Rock Lists". [[Dell Publishing Company]].
6. Hogan, Ed. (2003). "'Lorraine Ellison' biography". Backbeat Books.
7. Ed Hogan. "Lorraine Ellison | Awards". AllMusic.
8. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Sister Love: The Warner Bros. Recordings – Lorraine Ellison | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic.
9. (November 11, 1966). "SHOP WINDOW".
10. Smith, Alan. (December 16, 1967). "MEET A BEE GEE: Maurice Gibb to Alan Smith".
11. Marsh, Dave. (1989). "The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made". [[New American Library]].
12. "Stay With Me – Sharon Tandy | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic.
13. "Finders Keepers " Rockipedia". Rockipedia.no.
14. "Chris Cornell "Stay with Me Baby" (Official Audio)". YouTube.
15. "Search - Official Charts". [[Official Charts Company]].
16. (February 25, 1967). "BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES".
17. (November 5, 1966). "Cash Box TOP 100". [[Cashbox (magazine).
18. (November 19, 1966). "Cash Box TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS". [[Cashbox (magazine).
19. (November 19, 1966). "Top 50 R&B". [[Record World]].
20. (February 8, 1969). "BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES".
21. (September 13, 1975). "Star Breakers".
22. (October 18, 1975). "UK SOUL TOP 20".