How a Record Company’s Struggles Made It Tough for Aaron Neville to Follow Up His Breakthrough Hit

Aaron Neville’s “Tell It Like It Is” reached No. 2 on the pop chart in 1966, but the success did not lead to an immediate run of hits. The independent label formed to release the song could not manage the costs of promoting it and meeting demand, leaving Neville’s career stalled as the company folded.

Songwriters Lee Diamond and George Davis set up Par-Lo Records to keep control of the single and its profits. The label paid radio programmers to promote it, then faced mounting costs to press more copies as demand grew, ultimately losing money. Neville later found success with the Neville Brothers and as a balladeer; the song endured through many covers, including Heart’s version, which reached No. 8 in 1981.