"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song originally written as
"Come Softly" by Gretchen Christopher, published in 1959, and
performed by The Fleetwoods, consisting of Christopher, Gary
Troxel and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new
Dolphin Records label, as No. 1. This may be the first time
that a record label's first issue became a number one hit.
The original title was "Come Softly," but was changed en
route to its becoming a hit. Recorded at home, they sang it a
cappella with the rhythmic shaking of Troxel's car keys. The
tape was then sent to Los Angeles where the sparse instrumental
accompaniment was added: an acoustic guitar played by Bonnie
Guitar.
Bob Reisdorf, the owner of Dolphin Records (changed in 1960
to Dolton Records), was responsible for the title change. He
thought that "Come Softly" might be misunderstood and
considered risqué, so he had it changed to "Come Softly to Me".
Released in 1959, the single reached number one on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100 in April.
The song has been covered by other artists, including Sandy
Salisbury, Bob Welch (with Christine McVie on backing vocals),
Frankie Vaughan with The Kaye Sisters, who had a chart hit in
the United Kingdom with it, and The Seekers, whose version
reached #95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the UK charts
in 1972-73. A cover version, performed by The Roches, is
repeated several times on the soundtrack of the movie
Crossing Delancey.