Tell Him - Single Version

Bert Berns, using the pseudonym Bert Russell, wrote this song as "Tell Her." Versions by Johnny Thunder and Ed Townsend were released in 1962, but they both stiffed. When the production team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller left Atlantic Records to work for United Artists, they produced a new version by The Exciters, a New York quartet featuring three female vocalists. Released later in 1962 as "Tell Him," it became a big hit, reaching its chart peak on January 19, 1963. The Exciters followed with "He's Got The Power" (#57), and a "Tell Him" clone called "Get Him" (#76). They also recorded the original version of "Do-Wah-Diddy." Bert Berns, who died of a heart attack at age 38 in 1967, wrote several hits of the '60s, including "Twist And Shout," "Piece Of My Heart" and "Hang On Sloopy"

In the UK, this was a #10 hit for the female singer Billie Davis in 1963. A version by the Glam Rock band Hello reached #6 there in 1974 (also as "Tell Him," with the context changed so a guy is imploring a girl to go after another guy). The female duo Quentin & Ash took it to #25 UK in 1996. In America, the song charted two more times as "Tell Her" when it was recorded by Dean Parrish (#97, 1966) and Kenny Loggins (#76, 1989).

This was used for the soundtracks of the films The Big Chill (1983) and My Best Friend's Wedding (1997).