"Only the Strong Survive" is a song written by

Jerry Butler Jerry Butler Jr. (born December 8, 1939) is an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and retired politician. He was the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame i ...

Kenny Gamble Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...

and

Leon Huff Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...

and originally sung in 1968 by

, released on his album '' The Ice Man Cometh''. It was the most successful single of his career, reaching #4 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was #1 for two weeks on the ''Billboard'' Black Singles Chart, in March and April 1969, respectively. "Only the Strong Survive" was the first of two singles by Butler which were gold certified by the RIAA, selling over a million copies (the second was "

Ain't Understanding Mellow "Ain't Understanding Mellow" is a song written by Homer Talbert and Herscholt Polk and performed by Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager. The song was arranged by James Mack and produced by Gerald Sims and Jerry Butler. It was featured on Butler's ...

" in 1972).

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

(1969),

Skeeter Davis Skeeter Davis (born Mary Frances Penick; December 30, 1931September 19, 2004) was an American country music singer and songwriter who sang crossover pop music songs including 1962's " The End of the World". She started out as part of the Davis S ...

(1969),

Billy Paul Paul Williams (December 1, 1934 – April 24, 2016), known professionally as Billy Paul, was a Grammy Award-winning American soul singer, known for his 1972 No. 1 single "Me and Mrs. Jones", as well as the 1973 album and single '' War of the Go ...

(1977), Rod Stewart (2009) Larry Carlton (2010) and Bruce Springsteen (on his album of the same name) (2022) also recorded "Only The Strong Survive." Davis's version appeared on her album ''Maryfrances'', released in August 1969, Presley's version on his " From Elvis in Memphis " album released in June 1969. In the UK, Billy Paul's version was released on the

Philadelphia International Philadelphia International Records (PIR) was an American record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1971 by songwriting and production duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff along with their longtime collaborator Thom Bell. ...

label (PIR 5699). It entered the singles chart on November 17, 1977, had a chart life of seven weeks and a peak position of #33. Rod Stewart’s version was released as a bonus track on the UK release of his 25th studio album Soulbook reaching #9 on the UK Albums Chart. Another version of this song was recorded by

The Trammps The Trammps are an American disco and soul band, who were based in Philadelphia and were one of the first disco bands. The band's first major success was their 1972 cover version of " Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", while the first disco t ...

in the Netherlands in 2003 and sounds very similar to Billy Paul's version. The song appears on the compilation album ''Only the Strong Survive'' (Sony), which oddly enough shows the remaining four group members on the cover. There is also an extended club mix of this song on this CD. The club mix was produced by Maas and Van der Weyde.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links

* 1968 songs 1969 singles Jerry Butler songs Songs written by Kenny Gamble Songs written by Leon Huff Songs written by Jerry Butler Mercury Records singles Philadelphia International Records singles {{1960s-single-stub