Let Me Be There

"Let Me Be There" is a popular song written by John Rostill. It was first recorded by Olivia Newton-John and released in September 1973 as the second single from her studio album of the same name. The country-influenced song was Newton-John's first Top 10 single in the US, peaking at No. 6, and also won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocalist. Mike Sammes sings a bass vocal harmony on the song.^[1]

"Let Me Be There"
Single by Olivia Newton-John
from the album Let Me Be There
B-side	"Maybe Then I'll Think of You" (most of the world) "If Not for You" (Japan)
Released	September 1973
Recorded	August 8 1973
Genre	Country, pop
Length	3:02
Label	Festival
Songwriter(s)	John Rostill
Producer(s)	Bruce Welch, John Farrar
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" (1973) "Let Me Be There" (1973) "Long Live Love" (1974)

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1973–1974) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 11 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3] 5 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[4] 3 Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5] 11 New Zealand (Listener)[6] 11 US Cashbox[7] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 6 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[9] 3 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10] 7 Chart (2022) Peak position Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11] 30 U.S. Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[12] 31

Year-end charts Chart (1974) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] 53 Canada Top Singles[14] 71 US Cashbox[15] 22 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 26

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17]	Platinum	150,000^
United States (RIAA)[18]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

• "Let Me Be There" was recorded live by Elvis Presley, and sung at many concerts until his death in 1977. Probably the most noted Elvis rendition was recorded on 20 March 1974 live at a concert in Memphis, Tennessee. Most of that concert was released on 7 July 1974 as the album Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis. The cover of "Let Me Be There" from that show was also released as track 5 on the Moody Blue album on 19 July 1977.
• Ike & Tina Turner for their 1974 album Sweet Rhode Island Red.
• Tanya Tucker for her gold album Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone) in 1974 and included on several greatest hits compilations.
• Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn on their 1975 LP Feelins'.
• Melinda Schneider and Beccy Cole on their album Great Women of Country (2014).
• Delta Goodrem in the mini-series Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You, and the accompanying soundtrack album, I Honestly Love You where she did "Let Me Be There" with Newton-John herself.

References

1. Morse, Ann; Keely, John (1 March 1976). Olivia Newton-John. Creative Education. ISBN 9780871914750.
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 217. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4966." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
4. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4967." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
5. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 4965." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
6. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
7. Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
8. "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
9. "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
10. "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
11. "Canadian Digital Song Sales: Week of August 20, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
12. "CU.S Digital Song Sales: Week of August 20, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
13. "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. 30 December 1974. Retrieved 15 January 2022 – via Imgur.
14. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
15. "The CashBox Year End Charts:1974". Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
16. "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
17. "Canadian single certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Let Me Be There". Music Canada. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
18. "American single certifications – Olivia Newton-John – Let Me Be There". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 April 2012.