I Say a Little Prayer

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I Say a Little Prayer (Bacharach & David) — The song was introduced as the first track of Dionne Warwick’s 1967 album Windows of the World. However, it had been recorded in April 1966 during sessions for her 1966 LP Here Where There is Love.

The hit single was issued in October 1967, on the Scepter SCE-12203, b/w “(Theme From) Valley of the Dolls” (André Previn, Dory Previn). It peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 singles chart. For the UK and Canada releases, the B-side was “Window Wishing” (Bacharach & David), a track from Warwick’s 1965 LP Here I Am.

Dionne Warwick — 1967

The video below evidently contains the take which became the single, but includes a couple of unedited false starts.

Bud Shank — final track of the LP Magical Mystery (World Pacific, WP 1873), recorded in Los Angeles, CA, 3 & 8 November 1967 — Chet Baker, Gary Barone (flh) Bud Shank (as, fl) Dennis Budimir, Herb Ellis (g) Robert West (b) John Guerin (d) Victor Feldman (per), mixed chorus

Burt Bacharach — instrumental from the Bacharach 1967 LP Reach Out; album produced, arranged, and conducted by Burt Bacharach.

Cal Tjader — from the LP Sounds Out Burt Bacharach (Skye Sk-6), released 1968

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas — from the album Ridin’ High, released 29 April 1968. The provider misleads by describing it as a “cover of the Aretha classic,” since this version was released several weeks before Franklin’s.

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Aretha Franklin

The following cut originally appeared as the second track of the LP Aretha Now, released 14 June 1968. A shorter version by Franklin was issued as the Atlantic single 45-2546, b/w “The House That Jack Built” (Lance, Robins), in August 1968.

Two live performances for television:

1. Unknown show

2. Aretha Franklin and the Sweethearts Of Soul(?) — for The Cliff Richard Show, a TV special, originally broadcast on Monday, 31 August 1970

https://www.bilibili.com/video/av54253906/

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Julius Wechter and The Baja Marimba Band — 1968

Eija Merilä and the Olli Heikkilän Orkesteri — Finnish lyric version, titled “Iät Ja Ajat,” issued in 1972

Susan Cadogan — from the album Doing It Her Way, 1975

Pandora, a female Mexican vocal trio — Spanish lyric version, titled “Rezo una oración por tí,” with words by Graciela Carballo, from Pandora’s 1992 LP Ilegal

Glee — Britney, Santana & Quinn — from Season One, Episode 2 “Showmance,” which premiered on 9 September 2009

Glee Wiki says:

“I Say a Little Prayer” by Dionne Warwick [sic] is featured in Showmance, the second episode of Season One. It is sung by Quinn Fabray with Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez singing back-up as their audition song for the New Directions. They audition so that Quinn can see what happens between Finn and Rachel and to be spies for coach Sue Sylvester. [read more]