Put a Little Love in Your Heart

"Put a Little Love in Your Heart" is a song originally performed in 1969 by Jackie DeShannon, who composed it with her brother Randy Myers and Jimmy Holiday. In the U.S., it was DeShannon's highest-charting hit, reaching number 4 on the Hot 100 in August 1969 and number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[1] In late 1969, the song reached number 1 on South Africa's hit parade. The song rivalled the success of her signature song, "What the World Needs Now Is Love".

"Put a Little Love in Your Heart"
side-A label
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by Jackie DeShannon
from the album Put a Little Love in Your Heart
B-side"Always Together"
ReleasedJune 1969
Recorded1969
GenrePop
Length2:39
LabelImperial Records
Songwriter(s)Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers
Producer(s)VME
Jackie DeShannon singles chronology
"Trust in Me"
(1969)
"Put a Little Love in Your Heart"
(1969)
"Love Will Find a Way"
(1969)
Official audio
"Put A Little Love In Your Heart" on YouTube

In 1988, Annie Lennox and Al Green released a cover version of "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" which reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Charts

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RIAA gold record for "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", by Jackie DeShannon
Chart (1968–69) Peak
position
Australia Kent Music Report[2] 15
Canada RPM Top Singles 12
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 9
South African Singles Chart 1
US Billboard Hot 100 4
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 2

Annie Lennox and Al Green version

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"Put a Little Love in Your Heart"
 
Picture sleeve for US vinyl edition
Single by Annie Lennox and Al Green
from the album Scrooged
B-side"A Great Big Piece of Love" by The Spheres of Celestial Influence
Released1988
Recorded1988
GenrePop
Length3:48
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers
Producer(s)David A. Stewart
Annie Lennox singles chronology
"Put a Little Love in Your Heart"
(1988)
"Why"
(1992)
Al Green singles chronology
"Everything's Gonna Be Alright"
(1987)
"Put a Little Love in Your Heart"
(1988)
"As Long as We're Together"
(1989)
Official audio
"Put A Little Love In Your Heart" on YouTube

In 1988, Annie Lennox and Al Green recorded a version that was released as the ending theme song to the 1988 film Scrooged.[3] The song reached number 9 in the US on the Hot 100 in January 1989 and climbed all the way to number 2 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, as well as becoming a top 40 hit in several countries worldwide, including number 28 in the UK for the festive season of 1988–1989. Although credited to Lennox, the song was produced by her Eurythmics partner David A. Stewart.

The video was directed by Sophie Muller.[4]

Personnel

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  • Annie Lennox – vocals
  • Al Green – vocals
  • Uncredited - background vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1988–89) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart 6
Austrian Singles Chart 4
Canadian Singles Chart 2
German Singles Chart 20
Irish Singles Chart 30
New Zealand Singles Chart 7
UK Singles Chart 28
US Billboard Hot 100 9

Year-end charts

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Chart (1989) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 51

Other versions

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References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 77.
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 84. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ Brennan, Steve (June 11, 2015). "15 Best Songs From '80s Movies (Besides "The Power of Love")". browardpalmbeach.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  4. ^ "Annie Lennox & al Green - Put a Little Love in Your Heart (1988) | BFI".[dead link]
  5. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989". RPM. December 23, 1999. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  6. ^ British Hit Singles, 12th edition, Guinness
  7. ^ "Hollywood Flashback: When Bill Murray Played a Sleazy Lounge Singer on 'Saturday Night Live'". hollywoodreporter.com. August 8, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  8. ^ "The Short, Strange Music Career Of Leonard Nimoy". Stereogum.com. March 2, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  9. ^ "Cinematography III : Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal, by Bright Light Bright Light". Bright Light Bright Light. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  10. ^ "Circle Jerks-Wild in the Streets by Discogs". Discogs. 1982. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
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