Tell It Like It Is ( song ) - wikipedia Tell It Like It Is ( song ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( October 2015 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' Single by Aaron Neville B - side `` Why Worry '' Released November 9, 1966 Format 7 '' single Recorded 1966 Genre R&B, pop Length 2 : 40 Label Par - Lo Records Songwriter ( s ) George Davis Lee Diamond Aaron Neville singles chronology `` Over You '' ( 1960 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' ( 1966 ) `` She Took You for a Ride '' ( 1968 ) `` Over You '' ( 1960 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' ( 1966 ) `` She Took You for a Ride '' ( 1968 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' Single by Heart from the album Greatest Hits Live B - side `` Strange Euphoria '' Released November 1980 Format 7 '' single Recorded September 1980 Genre Blues rock Length 3 : 48 Label Epic Songwriter ( s ) George Davis Lee Diamond Producer ( s ) Heart Heart singles chronology `` Bebe le Strange '' ( 1980 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' ( 1980 ) `` Unchained Melody '' ( 1981 ) `` Bebe le Strange '' ( 1980 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' ( 1980 ) `` Unchained Melody '' ( 1981 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' Single by Billy Joe Royal from the album Tell It Like It Is B - side `` I Was Losing You '' Released January 1989 Format 7 '' Recorded October 1988 Genre Country Length 3 : 00 Label Atlantic 45301 Songwriter ( s ) George Davis and Lee Diamond Producer ( s ) Nelson Larkin Billy Joe Royal singles chronology `` It Keeps Right On Hurtin ' '' ( 1988 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' ( 1989 ) `` Love Has No Right '' ( 1989 ) `` It Keeps Right On Hurtin ' '' ( 1988 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' ( 1989 ) `` Love Has No Right '' ( 1989 ) `` Tell It Like It Is '' is a song written by George Davis and Lee Diamond and originally recorded and released in 1966 by Aaron Neville. In 2010, the song was ranked No. 391 on Rolling Stone magazine 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Contents 1 Original version 2 Heart cover 3 Chart performance 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Aaron Neville 3.3 Heart 3.4 Billy Joe Royal 3.5 Year - end charts 4 References 5 External links Original version In 1966, Aaron Neville recorded and released the original version of `` Tell It Like It Is '' on his album also entitled Tell It Like It Is ( Par - Lo Records ). In November 1966, the track was issued as a single which peaked in early 1967 at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 ( behind `` I 'm a Believer '' by the Monkees ) and No. 1 on the US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs chart. the personnel on the original recording included George Davis arranging and playing Baritone Sax, Emory Thomas on trumpet, Deacon John on guitar, Alvin Red Tyler on tenor sax, Willie Tee on piano and June Gardner on drums. Heart cover Heart covered `` Tell It Like It Is '' in 1980. It was a studio recording, however, it was included on their Greatest Hits / Live LP. It was the first of two singles released from the LP, the other one a live recording but both of them cover hits. The song peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 during the winter of 1981 and became their highest - charting single in the United States to that point. It did better in Canada, reaching number four. Chart performance Weekly charts Aaron Neville Chart ( 1966 - 67 ) Peak position Canadian RPM Top Singles 96 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Rhythm & Blues Singles Heart Chart ( 1980 - 81 ) Peak position Canada RPM New Zealand US Billboard Hot 100 8 US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 43 US Cash Box Top 100 14 Billy Joe Royal Chart ( 1989 ) Peak position Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) Year - end charts Chart ( 1967 ) Rank Canada 35 US Billboard Hot 100 76 Chart ( 1981 ) Rank Canada 45 US Billboard Hot 100 87 Chart ( 1989 ) Rank Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) 36 US Country Songs ( Billboard ) 51 References Jump up ^ `` The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time ''. RollingStone.com. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 10. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 426. Jump up ^ http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0293&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0293.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0293 Jump up ^ `` Aaron Neville Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0293&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0293.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0293 Jump up ^ `` NZ Top 40 Singles Chart The Official New Zealand Music Chart ''. Nztop40.co.nz. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Country Tracks : Issue 6336. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 1, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Billy Joe Royal Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1967 / Top 100 Songs of 1967 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1981 / Top 100 Songs of 1981 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 29. Jump up ^ `` RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989 ''. RPM. December 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Best of 1989 : Country Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013. External links Hannusch, Jeff ( 2010 - 11 - 01 ). `` Classic Songs of Louisiana : Aaron Neville 's `` Tell It Like It Is '' - OffBeat Magazine ``. Offbeat.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 29. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Aaron Neville Studio albums Warm Your Heart Singles `` Tell It Like It Is '' `` Everybody Plays the Fool '' `` Do n't Know Much '' `` All My Life '' `` When Something Is Wrong with My Baby '' `` The Grand Tour '' `` That 's What My Love Is For '' Heart Ann Wilson Nancy Wilson Ben Smith Craig Bartock Dan Rothchild Chris Joyner Roger Fisher Howard Leese Denny Carmassi Mark Andes Fernando Saunders Scott Olson Mike Inez Darian Sahanaja Gilby Clarke Studio albums Dreamboat Annie Little Queen Magazine Dog & Butterfly Bébé le Strange Private Audition Passionworks Heart Bad Animals Brigade Desire Walks On Heart Presents a Lovemongers ' Christmas Jupiters Darling Red Velvet Car Fanatic Beautiful Broken Live albums Greatest Hits / Live Rock the House Live ! The Road Home Alive in Seattle Dreamboat Annie Live Compilations Greatest Hits / Live These Dreams : Greatest Hits Greatest Hits Greatest Hits : 1985 - 1995 The Essential Heart Love Alive Love Songs Playlist : The Very Best of Heart Strange Euphoria Singles `` Crazy on You '' `` Magic Man '' `` Dreamboat Annie '' `` Barracuda '' `` Little Queen '' `` Kick It Out '' `` Heartless '' `` Straight On '' `` Dog & Butterfly '' `` Without You '' `` Even It Up '' `` Bebe le Strange '' `` Tell It Like It Is '' `` Unchained Melody '' `` This Man Is Mine '' `` How Can I Refuse ? '' `` Allies '' `` What About Love '' `` Never '' `` These Dreams '' `` Nothin ' at All '' `` If Looks Could Kill '' `` Alone '' `` Who Will You Run To '' `` There 's the Girl '' `` I Want You So Bad '' `` All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You '' `` Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger '' `` I Did n't Want to Need You '' `` Stranded '' `` Secret '' `` You 're the Voice '' `` Will You Be There ( In the Morning ) '' Related articles Discography List of band members Whirlygig Hope & Glory Book Billy Joe Royal Studio albums Down in the Boondocks Cherry Hill Park Looking Ahead The Royal Treatment Tell It Like It Is Out of the Shadows Other albums Greatest Hits Singles `` Down in the Boondocks '' `` I Knew You When '' `` I 've Got to Be Somebody '' `` Yo - Yo '' `` Hush '' `` Cherry Hill Park '' `` Every Night '' `` Under the Boardwalk '' `` Burned Like a Rocket '' `` I Miss You Already '' `` Old Bridges Burn Slow '' `` I 'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow '' `` Out of Sight and on My Mind '' `` It Keeps Right On Hurtin ' '' `` Tell It Like It Is '' `` Love Has No Right '' `` Till I Ca n't Take It Anymore '' `` Searchin ' for Some Kind of Clue '' `` If the Jukebox Took Teardrops '' B - Sides `` Oh, What a Night '' Cover Songs `` Amanda '' `` Bring It On Home to Me '' `` Child of Mine '' `` Crying '' `` Funny How Time Slips Away '' `` I 'm Sorry '' `` Kiss and Say Goodbye '' `` Making Believe '' `` Save the Last Dance for Me '' `` Solitary Man '' `` Spanish Harlem '' `` Stand by Me '' `` To Love Somebody '' Related articles Discography Andy Williams Studio albums Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein Two Time Winners To You Sweetheart, Aloha Lonely Street The Village of St. Bernadette Under Paris Skies Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes Warm and Willing Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests The Andy Williams Christmas Album The Wonderful World of Andy Williams The Academy Award - Winning `` Call Me Irresponsible '' and Other Hit Songs from the Movies The Great Songs from `` My Fair Lady '' and Other Broadway Hits Andy Williams ' Dear Heart Merry Christmas The Shadow of Your Smile In the Arms of Love Born Free Love, Andy Honey Happy Heart Get Together with Andy Williams Raindrops Keep Fallin ' on My Head The Andy Williams Show Love Story You 've Got a Friend Love Theme from `` The Godfather '' Alone Again ( Naturally ) Solitaire The Way We Were Christmas Present You Lay So Easy on My Mind The Other Side of Me Andy Let 's Love While We Can Greatest Love Classics Close Enough for Love I Still Believe in Santa Claus Nashville We Need a Little Christmas I Do n't Remember Ever Growing Up Compilations Andy Williams Andy Williams ' Best Million Seller Songs Canadian Sunset Andy Williams ' Newest Hits May Each Day The Andy Williams Sound of Music Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits The Impossible Dream Love Story Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 ( CBS ) Andy Williams ' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Reflections The Best of Andy Williams ( 1992 ) Personal Christmas Collection 16 Most Requested Songs : Encore ! The Best of Andy Williams ( 1996 ) The Love Songs In the Lounge with... The Very Best of Andy Williams ( 2000 ) Andy The Essential Andy Williams B Sides and Rarities Music to Watch Girls By : The Very Best of Andy Williams Moon River : The Very Best of Andy Williams The Very Best of Andy Williams ( 2009 ) The Classic Christmas Album Live albums Greatest Hits The New Andy Williams Christmas Album Singles `` Walk Hand in Hand '' `` Canadian Sunset '' `` Butterfly '' `` I Like Your Kind of Love '' `` Lips of Wine '' `` Are You Sincere ? '' `` Promise Me, Love '' `` The Hawaiian Wedding Song '' `` Lonely Street '' `` The Village of St. Bernadette '' `` Danny Boy '' `` Fly by Night '' `` Stranger on the Shore '' `` Do n't You Believe It '' `` Twilight Time '' `` Ca n't Get Used to Losing You '' `` Days of Wine and Roses '' `` Hopeless '' `` A Fool Never Learns '' `` Charade '' `` Wrong for Each Other '' `` On the Street Where You Live '' `` Almost There '' `` Dear Heart '' ``... and Roses and Roses '' `` Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars ( Corcovado ) '' `` May Each Day '' `` You 're Gonna Hear from Me '' `` Bye Bye Blues '' `` How Can I Tell Her It 's Over '' `` In the Arms of Love '' `` Music to Watch Girls By '' `` Holly '' `` Ca n't Take My Eyes Off You '' `` Sweet Memories '' `` Battle Hymn of the Republic '' `` Happy Heart '' `` Live and Learn '' `` A Woman 's Way '' `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' `` One Day of Your Life '' `` It 's So Easy '' `` Home Lovin ' Man '' `` ( Where Do I Begin ? ) Love Story '' `` A Song for You '' `` You 've Got a Friend '' `` Speak Softly Love ( Love Theme from The Godfather ) '' `` MacArthur Park '' `` Solitaire '' `` Love 's Theme '' `` Another Lonely Song '' `` Cry Softly '' `` Sad Eyes '' `` The Other Side of Me '' `` Tell It Like It Is '' `` It 's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year '' B - Sides `` I 'm So Lonesome I Could Cry '' `` I Want to Be Wanted '' `` Summertime '' `` So Rare '' `` Emily '' `` Red Roses for a Blue Lady '' `` I 'll Remember You '' `` Something '' `` My Love '' `` They Long to Be Close to You '' `` I Love My Friend '' Related articles Discography The Williams Brothers Carla Thomas Albums King & Queen Singles `` Night Time Is the Right Time '' `` Tramp '' `` Knock on Wood '' `` Lovey Dovey '' Songs `` Tell It Like It Is '' `` When Something Is Wrong with My Baby '' `` It Takes Two '' `` Bring It On Home to Me '' Related articles Rufus and Carla Rufus Thomas Marvell Thomas Otis Redding Stax Records Book : Carla Thomas Don Johnson Studio albums Heartbeat Let It Roll Compilation albums The Essential Singles `` Heartbeat '' `` Tell It Like It Is '' `` Till I Loved You '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tell_It_Like_It_Is_(song)&oldid=814411668 '' Categories : 1966 singles 1976 singles 1980 singles 1989 singles Aaron Neville songs Otis Redding songs Percy Sledge songs Nina Simone songs Freddy Fender songs John Wesley Ryles songs Andy Williams songs Heart ( band ) songs Billy Joe Royal songs Gene Summers songs Epic Records singles Atlantic Records singles 1965 songs Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from October 2015 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Canadacountry Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français Edit links This page was last edited on 8 December 2017, at 17 : 39. 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Question: who wrote the song tell it like it is
Answer: George Davis