Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - Animals, The (cover-live by Bill Sharkey)

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Animals, The, 1965; Santa Esmeralda, 1977; Nina Simone, 1964). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-10-12. "Keeping the Oldies Alive"

"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" was the Animals' 3rd top 40 hit rising to #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1965, Santa Esmeralda's only top 40 hit also hitting the #15 position in 1977 (Whitburn, 2013). Nina Simone recorded the song; however, her did not crack the top 100, bubbling under at #131 in 1964 (Whitburn, 2013). The song was written by Horace Ott, Bennie Benjamin and Sol Marcus; Ott has stated that he began writing the song after having a heated argument with his soon-to-be wife and "expressed in song how he was well intentioned, but misunderstood" by her (songfacts.com, 2021). Interesting that Ott's name is not listed on the record as a writer of the song. Instead, because, at the time, BMI writers were not permitted to collaborate with ASCAP writers (Benjamin & Marcus), Ott listed his girlfriend's name in the credits instead (Gloria Caldwell) (wikipedia.com, 2021).

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