The Letter (The Box Tops song)
The Letter is the title of a program written by Wayne Carson Thompson pop hits of the American band The Box Tops from 1967, which is considered one of the shortest recordings of popular music and became a million-seller.
Genesis
Country musician Wayne Carson left a written by him solo title My Little Noise Maker produce in December 1966 by Chips Moman. The song remained without response, but took studio owner Moman ambitious composer in the studio staff of his American Recording Studios. This paid off quickly, because shortly thereafter, Carson wrote the song The Letter. It is based on an idea of his father, the first line could think of, " Give me a ticket for at airplane " to the Carson built the text. Carson completed the text on a longing for his girlfriend young man who receives from her a wistful letter and therefore the plane distance is not afraid to her, but the trip takes too long in an express train.
The DeVille had a white student group from Memphis, which played since 1966 at parties. In the local scene, she gained some attention, which did not remain unnoticed by the owner of recording studios Chips Moman. The group put the name to The Box Tops during the recording session.
Recording
The group consisted of lead singer Alex Chilton, Gary Talley ( lead guitar ), William Cunningham (bass guitar), John Evans (keyboards) and Daniel Smythe (drums). In addition, also a composer Carson plays during the recording session guitar. The unusual intro consists of rimshot beats on the drums.
Chips Moman was not tangible, so that a studio composer Dan Penn was given the opportunity to work as a producer for the first time. For Carson, the voice of lead singer Alex Chilton was hoarse, but that just was looking for the studio owner Moman. Dan Penn proposed to split the word " aer -o -plane " in three syllables in singing. Dan Penn built violins and a Hammond B3 Orgelriff and added a starting noise of an aircraft in order to clarify the text and acoustically. Violins and brass section were arranged by the session band member Mike Leech. Overall, the song took 33 takes, until Penn was convinced of the product. The title was built on a 12 - track tape, after the studios had been working very long with outdated recording technology. The only 1:58 minutes long song is characteristic of the Blue - Eyed Soul, as he was created in particular American studios. The Chilton's vocals seemed like the shout- blues style of a black performer.
Up on The Letter to subsequent shots of the Box Tops were predominantly or entirely accompanied by the session band in the sound studio, had the major share of the music style of Blue - Eyed Soul.
As Moman returned to the studio, he was not thrilled with the recording incurred in his absence; particularly bothered him the airplane noise. Dan Penn won out and found a record company that was willing to release the song.
Publication
The New York record label Mala Records, actually specializes in "black" music, brought the title The Letter / Happy Times (# 565 ) in June 1967 on the market. The B-side was from Lindon " Spooner " Oldham and Dan Penn. The board came on 12 August 1967 in the Pophitparade where it for four weeks topped occupied from September 23, 1967. It was the first number one in the Pophitparade, who came from Memphis. In four other countries he reached the top position. The title was sold in the United States three million times, outside the United States were a million copies over the counter, so that global sales of four million came about; so it was also the best-selling hit from Momans recording studio. As one of the shortest pop hits history he became the first title for the American studios, which reached the first rank of Pophitparade.
Statistics
The Letter was allegedly Cover Info gecovert 52 times, the original received a BMI Award. Most successful version was that of Joe Cocker from July 1970, composer Carson According to BMI composed 414 titles, including 11 BMI Awards, and is one of the great songwriters. Carson also wrote the follow- Hits Neon Rainbow ( November 1967 ), Soul Deep ( produced by Moman and Cogbill, July 1969 ) for the Box Tops and You Keep Tightening Up On Me ( their last hit; March 1970 ). The hit parade moderate sales and second largest hit Cry Like a Baby ( two million, of the original 827 Thomas Street Band 1967 Bell # 723 ) came from the pen of Dan Penn / Spooner Oldham and reached second place in the pop charts. Dan Penn has composed even 18 title for the Box Tops. The hits of the Box Tops arose solely in the studio by Chips Moman.