"Bring It on Home to Me", like its B-side, "Having a Party", was written while Cooke was on tour for Henry Wynn. The song was initially offered to fellow singer Dee Clark, who turned it down.[1] While in Atlanta, Cooke called co-producer Luigi Creatore and pitched both numbers; he was sold and booked and immediate recording session in Los Angeles scheduled for two weeks later.[2] The session's mood "matched the title" of the song, according to biographer Peter Guralnick, as many friends had been invited. "It was a very happy session," recalled engineer Al Schmitt. "Everybody was just having a ball. We were getting people out there [on the floor], and some of the outtakes were hilarious, there was so much ad lib that went on."[2]René Hall assembled an eighteen-piece backing group, "composed of six violins, two violas, two cellos, and a sax, plus a seven-piece rhythm section that included two percussionists, two bassists, two guitars, and a piano."
The song is a significant reworking of Charles Brown's 1959 single "I Want to Go Home", and it retains the gospel flavor and call-and-response format; the song differs significantly in that its refrain ("Bring it to me, bring your sweet lovin', bring it on home to me") is overtly secular.[2] The song was the first serious nod to his gospel roots ("[He] felt that he needed more weight, that that light shit wouldn't sustain him," said J.W Alexander).[1]The song was aiming for a sound similar to Cooke’s former group, the Soul Stirrers.[2] The original, unreleased first take includes vocals from Lou Rawls, J.W. Alexander, former Keen assistant A&R rep Fred Smith, and "probably" the Sims Twins. A second, final take leaves Lou Rawls as the only echoing voice.[2]
In 1976, Mickey Gilley hit number one on the country chart with his cover.[3]
Tab Benoit sangs a blues rendition of this song on his album Brother To The Blues.
In the United Kingdom, The Faces released this song as part of a medley with "You Send Me" and charted it on the UK Singles Chart at #7 as a double A-side with "Farewell". Rod Stewart later covered this song as a medley with Cooke's "You Send Me" on his solo album, Smiler.
Dave Mason covered the tune on his 1974 solo album Dave Mason.[7]
Sister Hazel included a version on their debut self-titled album Sister Hazel in 1994 (remastered and re-released in 2005)
M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel of the group She & Him regularly perform a cover of this song live at their concerts, including an in-studio session at KEXP-FM on June 29, 2007.[8]
The New Standards included a version on their 2008 album Rock and Roll.
Rita MacNeil covered the song on her 1992 album Thinking of You. It was released as the album's first single and charted on the RPM pop and country charts.
Delta Spirit cover the song live, as an intro to their song "Trashcan", from their album, Ode to Sunshine.[9]
Grayson Hugh recorded his live version of this song, which he would often close his shows with, during his "Blind To Reason" North American Tour, 1988 - '89.
The Roy Hargrove Quintet included a live version of the song on their album Εarfood (2008).
Darren Criss performs the song at many of his live performances.
