"Bring It On Home to Me" is a song by the American soul singer Sam Cooke, released on May 8, 1962, by RCA Victor. Produced by Hugo & Luigi, and arranged and conducted by René Hall, the song was the B-side to "Having a Party". The song peaked at number two on Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart, and also charted at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has become a pop standard, covered by numerous artists of different genres. It is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Background "Bring It On Home to Me", like its A-side, "Having a Party", was written while Cooke was on tour for Henry Wynn. The song was initially offered to fellow singer Dee Clark, who turned it down. While in Atlanta, Cooke called co-producer Luigi Creatore and pitched both numbers; Creatore liked the songs, and booked a recording session in Los Angeles, scheduled for two weeks later. The session's mood "matched the title" of the song, according to biographer Peter Guralnick, as many friends had been invited. "It was a very happy session," recalled engineer Al Schmitt. "Everybody was just having a ball. We were getting people out there [on the floor], and some of the outtakes were hilarious, there was so much ad lib that went on." René Hall assembled an eighteen-piece backing group, "composed of six violins, two violas, two cellos, and a sax, plus a seven-piece rhythm section that included two percussionists, two bassists, two guitars, and a piano."
The song is a significant reworking of the 1959 single "I Want to Go Home" by Charles Brown and Amos Milburn, and it retains the gospel flavor and call-and-response format; the song differs significantly in that its refrain ("Bring it to me, bring your sweet lovin', bring it on home to me") is overtly secular. The song was the first serious nod to his gospel roots ("[He] felt that he needed more weight, that that light shit wouldn't sustain him," said J.W. Alexander). The song was aiming for a sound similar to Cooke's former group, the Soul Stirrers. The original, unreleased first take includes vocals from Lou Rawls, J.W. Alexander, Fred Smith (former assistant A&R rep at Keen Records), and "probably" the Sims Twins. A second, final take leaves Lou Rawls as the only echoing voice.
Personnel "Bring It On Home to Me" was recorded on April 26, 1962, at RCA Studio 1 in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California. The engineer present was Al Schmitt, and the session was conducted and arranged by René Hall. The musicians also recorded "Having a Party" the same day. Credits adapted from the liner notes to the 2003 compilation Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964.
Sam Cooke – vocals Lou Rawls – backing vocals Clifton White – guitar Tommy Tedesco – guitar René Hall – guitar Adolphus Asbrook – bass guitar Ray Pohlman – bass guitar Ernie Freeman – piano Frank Capp – drums, percussion William Green – saxophone
Cecil Figelski – cello Armand Kaproff – cello Wilbert Nuttycombe – viola Irving Weinper – viola Myron Sandler – violin Joseph Saxon – violin Ralph Schaeffer – violin Marshall Sosson – violin Elliot Fisher – violin Marvin Limonick – violin
Later versions
The most significant later versions of the song include recordings by: The Animals in 1965 as a single, recorded in tribute to the then-recently killed Cooke. It was their last single to include original organist Alan Price. Their version reached number 7 in the UK and number 32 on the US Hot 100. Cash Box said it is performed in "an effective funky, emotion-packed style." Record World said that "British clan gives tough treatment to the terrific Sam Cooke song. They pound out that beat with increasing intensity." Mickey Gilley hit number 1 on the country chart in 1976 with his recording taken from his 1976 album Gilley's Smokin. He also reached number 101 on the Billboard Pop chart.Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004 The Chicks (originally known as the Dixie Chicks) stripped the song down to vocals, finger snaps and plucked bass fiddle in 1990 on the album Thank Heavens for Dale Evans. Their version, less than two minutes long, revealed their blues-style harmonies. Aaradhna covered the song on her 2008 album Sweet Soul Music. The recording was certified Gold by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ) in 2023.
Charts and certifications Original version Chart (1962)PeakpositionUS Billboard Hot 10013US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard)2
The Animals version Year Chart Position 1965 Pop Singles Chart 32 1965 UK Singles Chart 7 1965 Canada 7 1965 Finland 19 1965 Netherlands 3 1965 Sweden 1
Eddie Floyd version Year Chart Position 1968 Black Singles Chart 4 1968 Pop Singles Chart 17 1968 Canada 24
Lou Rawls version Year Chart Position 1970 Black Singles Chart 45 1970 Pop Singles Chart 96
Mickey Gilley version Chart (1976)PeakpositionCanadian RPM Country Tracks1
Year-end charts Chart (1976)PositionUS Hot Country Songs (Billboard)31
Legacy Smokey Robinson was inspired by the slow-burning pace and close harmony of "Bring It On Home to Me" to write "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" for his group The Miracles. In acknowledgment of the inspiration, when performing "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" live the Miracles often incorporated an excerpt of "Bring It On Home to Me", one instance of which is captured on The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage.
Green Day lifted the song's melody for the verses of their song "Brutal Love".
In popular culture The song is featured in the second to last scene of 1987 movie Adventures in Babysitting. The song appears in the opening scene of the 2017 film Gerald's Game The song is featured in the 2017 film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The song is featured in Episode 5 of the 2016 American science fiction thriller miniseries 11.22.63. The song is featured in a 2018 Walmart Christmas commercial about a teddy bear that wanders the store's aisles at night until he is brought home to a little girl for Christmas. The TV show Ozark featured the song in episode 1 of season 4, during the pool scene with Ruth, Jonah and Wyatt at the Lazy-O. The song also appeared in season 4 episode 14, "A Hard Way to Go". The song is used briefly in Season 1 Episode 5 of the American sports comedy Ted Lasso. Michael Bublé performed the song during Canada's opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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