"Tell It Like It Is" is a song written by George Davis and Lee Diamond and originally recorded and released in 1966 by Aaron Neville.

[2] The personnel on the original recording included George Davis arranging and playing baritone saxophone, Emory Humphrey-Thompson (Umar Shariff) on trumpet, Deacon John on guitar, Alvin "Red" Tyler on tenor saxophone, Willie Tee on piano and June Gardner on drums.

Ryles's version became a minor hit, reaching Number 83 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

The song peaked at Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the winter of 1981 and became their highest-charting single in the United States to that point.

"[12] In 1988, American country soul[16] singer Billy Joe Royal recorded a cover for His seventh studio album of the same name.