‘Help Me Make It Through The Night’ was written by Kris Kristofferson, with credit given to Fred Foster as well. This classic has been recorded by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, to name a few. Kristofferson himself recorded a version of it, but Sammi Smith’s 1971 recording shot to #1 on the Country Singles chart, and pushed the song to nationwide recognition. The NARAS awarded it Best Country Song in 1971.
I never got to see Sammi perform live – I had tickets to see her perform in January 2005 but she cancelled out due to illness and then passed away about a month later
Sammi should have been a superstar, but she never really got the breaks – Columbia never knew what to do with her (and didin’t issue an album until after this song hit it big) .
After she signed with Mega this song came along but unknown to her, Mega was basically formed as a tax writeoff and gave her very little promotional support. Kristofferson is an accomplished songwriter but I always felt that her recording gave the song a prominence it never otherwise would have had. She was one heck of a singer and I would recommend any of her albums persons wanting to investigate her catalogue
I never got to see Sammi perform live – I had tickets to see her perform in January 2005 but she cancelled out due to illness and then passed away about a month later
Sammi should have been a superstar, but she never really got the breaks – Columbia never knew what to do with her (and didin’t issue an album until after this song hit it big) .
After she signed with Mega this song came along but unknown to her, Mega was basically formed as a tax writeoff and gave her very little promotional support. Kristofferson is an accomplished songwriter but I always felt that her recording gave the song a prominence it never otherwise would have had. She was one heck of a singer and I would recommend any of her albums persons wanting to investigate her catalogue