Singing the Blues
Encyclopedia
"Singing the Blues" is a popular
song written by Melvin Endsley
and published in 1956
. (It is not related to the song "Singin' the Blues," written by Sam M. Lewis
, Joe Young, Con Conrad
and J. Russel Robinson and recorded by Frank Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke
in 1927.)
The best-known recording was released in October 1956 by Guy Mitchell
and spent nine weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboard chart from December 8, 1956 to February 2, 1957
. Mitchell's version was also number 1 in the U.K. for three (non-consecutive) weeks in early 1957.
Two other charting versions of the song were released almost simultaneously with Mitchell's, one by U.K. cover specialist Tommy Steele
(with the Steelmen) and the other by U.S. country singer Marty Robbins
.
Tommy Steele's version of "Singing The Blues" made #1 in the UK Singles Chart
for one week on 11 January 1957, sandwiched by two of the weeks that Guy Mitchell's version of the same song topped the charts. Steele's recording of the song was not a chart success in the US.
The Marty Robbins version made it to number one on the Billboard C&W Best Sellers chart
for 13 weeks in late 1956 and early 1957 and peaked at number seventeen on the U.S. pop charts. In 1983, Gail Davies
recorded a cover version, taking her version into the top 20 of the Hot Country Singles chart in the spring of 1983.
The song is often revived, and on three occasions new recordings of "Singing The Blues" have become U.K. Top 40 hits. These latter-day hit versions were by Dave Edmunds
(1980), Daniel O'Donnell (1994), and Cliff Richard
& the Shadows
(2009).
, a 1963
version by Dean Martin
, and a 1971
version by Black Oak Arkansas
. It was recorded by Marie Osmond
for her 1975 album In My Little Corner of the World
, by Gene Summers
on his 1981 French album Gene Summers in Nashville
, and by The Kentucky Headhunters
for their album Stompin' Grounds
(1997). A version by Bert Jansch
appears on his 2000 release Crimson Moon
.
"Singing the Blues" was performed live by Paul McCartney
on the MTV show Unplugged in 1991 and included on the subsequent soundtrack, Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
.
The tune was also sung by Vivian Vance
and William Frawley
(Ethel and Fred of I Love Lucy
fame) for a Ford Motor Company television commercial promoting the Edsel.
The first line of this song is famously the last line of "London Calling" by the Clash, cut short and echoed in the final mix of the song (I never felt so much a-like, a-like, a-like...).
Birmingham City-supporting radio presenters Tom Ross and Ian Danter released a version to celebrate Birmingham's
promotion to the Premier League.
Everton fans sing a version of this song; "I've never felt more like singing the blues, when Everton win and Liverpool lose, oh Everton you've got me singing the blues."
Also this song is commonly used at Manchester City F.C.
football matches, where the fans sing
This song has also famously been used by Sheffield Wednesday fans. Their lyrics are:
"Boxing Day" is added onto the end in reference to the 'Boxing Day Massacre,' on 26 December 1979, where the Owls beat their fierce rivals, Sheffield United, 4-0. One of the Wednesday scorers on that day, Terry Curran
, even recorded a version of the song and it is still used at Hillsborough
to this day.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song written by Melvin Endsley
Melvin Endsley
Melvin Endsley was a musician, singer, and songwriter best known for writing the song "Singing the Blues", along with over 400 songs recorded by hundreds of artists since 1956. Some of the artists that have recorded his songs include Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Andy Williams, Paul McCartney,...
and published in 1956
1956 in music
-Events:*January 26 – Buddy Holly's first recording sessions for Decca Records take place in Nashville, Tennessee*Roy Orbison signs with Sun Records*January 27 – Elvis Presley's single "Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" is released...
. (It is not related to the song "Singin' the Blues," written by Sam M. Lewis
Sam M. Lewis
Sam M. Lewis was a Jewish-American singer and lyricist, born in New York City, New York as Samuel Levine-Biography:...
, Joe Young, Con Conrad
Con Conrad
Con Conrad was an American songwriter and producer.-Biography:Con Conrad was born Conrad K. Dober in New York City. He published his first song, "Down in Dear Old New Orleans", in 1912. Conrad produced the Broadway show The Honeymoon Express, starring Al Jolson, in 1913...
and J. Russel Robinson and recorded by Frank Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
in 1927.)
The best-known recording was released in October 1956 by Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell, born Albert George Cernik, was an American pop singer, successful in his homeland, the U.K. and Australia...
and spent nine weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboard chart from December 8, 1956 to February 2, 1957
1957 in music
-Events:*January 5 – Renato Carosone and his band start their American tour in Cuba.*January 6 – Elvis Presley makes his final appearance on the The Ed Sullivan Show.*January 16 – The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool, UK....
. Mitchell's version was also number 1 in the U.K. for three (non-consecutive) weeks in early 1957.
Two other charting versions of the song were released almost simultaneously with Mitchell's, one by U.K. cover specialist Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele OBE , is an English entertainer. Steele is widely regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.-Singer:...
(with the Steelmen) and the other by U.S. country singer Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
.
Tommy Steele's version of "Singing The Blues" made #1 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
for one week on 11 January 1957, sandwiched by two of the weeks that Guy Mitchell's version of the same song topped the charts. Steele's recording of the song was not a chart success in the US.
The Marty Robbins version made it to number one on the Billboard C&W Best Sellers chart
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
for 13 weeks in late 1956 and early 1957 and peaked at number seventeen on the U.S. pop charts. In 1983, Gail Davies
Gail Davies
Gail Davies is an American country music singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of country singer Tex Dickerson....
recorded a cover version, taking her version into the top 20 of the Hot Country Singles chart in the spring of 1983.
The song is often revived, and on three occasions new recordings of "Singing The Blues" have become U.K. Top 40 hits. These latter-day hit versions were by Dave Edmunds
Dave Edmunds
David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
(1980), Daniel O'Donnell (1994), and Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
& the Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
(2009).
Charting versions
| Release date | Title | Chart Positions | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. C&W | CAN Country | |||
| 1956 | Guy Mitchell Guy Mitchell Guy Mitchell, born Albert George Cernik, was an American pop singer, successful in his homeland, the U.K. and Australia... |
1 | 1 | — | — | Reached number 1 in the UK in early 1957 |
| 1956 | Marty Robbins Marty Robbins Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist... |
— | 17 | 1 | — | — |
| 1956 | Tommy Steele Tommy Steele Tommy Steele OBE , is an English entertainer. Steele is widely regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.-Singer:... & the Steelmen |
1 | — | — | — | Reached number 1 in the UK in early 1957 |
| 1980 | Dave Edmunds Dave Edmunds David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first... |
28 | — | — | — | — |
| 1983 | Gail Davies Gail Davies Gail Davies is an American country music singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of country singer Tex Dickerson.... |
— | — | 17 | 19 | — |
| 1994 | Daniel O'Donnell | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... & the Shadows The Shadows The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'... |
40 | — | — | — | — |
Other cover versions
Other notable cover versions include a 1960 recording by Bill Haley & his CometsBill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
, a 1963
1963 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles start a 5-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do".*January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on juke boxes....
version by Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, and a 1971
1971 in music
-Events:*February 1 – after months of feuding in the press, Ginger Baker and Elvin Jones hold a "drum battle" at The Lyceum.*February 8 – Bob Dylan's hour-long documentary film, Eat the Document, is premièred at New York's Academy of Music...
version by Black Oak Arkansas
Black Oak Arkansas
Black Oak Arkansas is an American Southern rock band named after the band's hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas. The band reached the height of its fame in the 1970s with ten charting albums released in that decade...
. It was recorded by Marie Osmond
Marie Osmond
Olive Marie Osmond is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
for her 1975 album In My Little Corner of the World
In My Little Corner of the World
-Chart positions:Album – Billboard Singles - Billboard...
, by Gene Summers
Gene Summers
Gene Summers is an American rock/rockabilly singer and entertainer. Some of his classic recordings include "School of Rock 'n Roll", "Straight Skirt", "Nervous", "Gotta Lotta That", "Twixteen", "Alabama Shake" and his biggest-selling single "Big Blue Diamonds"...
on his 1981 French album Gene Summers in Nashville
Gene Summers in Nashville
-External Links:*...
, and by The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock band. They were founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which comprised brothers Richard Young and Fred Young along with Greg Martin and Anthony Kenney...
for their album Stompin' Grounds
Stompin' Grounds
-The Kentucky Headhunters:*Greg Martin - electric guitar, slide guitar*Doug Phelps - lead vocals, harmony vocals, rhythm guitar*Fred Young - drums, percussion*Richard Young - rhythm guitar*Anthony Kenney – bass guitar, background vocals-Guest musicians:...
(1997). A version by Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Herbert "Bert" Jansch was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s, as an acoustic guitarist, as well as a singer-songwriter...
appears on his 2000 release Crimson Moon
Crimson Moon
- Credits :* Bert Jansch - guitar, vocals* Johnny Marr - guitar, harmonica, backing vocals* Bernard Butler - guitar* Johnny "Guitar" Hodge - guitar, harmonica* Loren Jansch - vocals* Adam Jansch - bass* Makoto Sakamoto - drums, percussion...
.
"Singing the Blues" was performed live by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
on the MTV show Unplugged in 1991 and included on the subsequent soundtrack, Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
- Personnel :*Paul McCartney: Acoustic guitar, drums, vocals.*Linda McCartney: Piano, Indian harmonium, percussion, vocals.*Hamish Stuart: Acoustic bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals.*Robbie McIntosh: Acoustic guitars, piano, dobro, vocals....
.
The tune was also sung by Vivian Vance
Vivian Vance
Vivian Roberta Jones was an American television and theater actress and singer. Often referred to as “TV’s most beloved second banana,” she is best known for her role as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ball on the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, and as Vivian Bagley on The Lucy...
and William Frawley
William Frawley
William Clement "Bill" Frawley was an American stage entertainer, screen and television actor. Although Frawley acted in over 100 films, he achieved his greatest fame playing landlord Fred Mertz for the situation comedy I Love Lucy.-Early life:William was born to Michael A. Frawley and Mary E....
(Ethel and Fred of I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
fame) for a Ford Motor Company television commercial promoting the Edsel.
The first line of this song is famously the last line of "London Calling" by the Clash, cut short and echoed in the final mix of the song (I never felt so much a-like, a-like, a-like...).
Birmingham City-supporting radio presenters Tom Ross and Ian Danter released a version to celebrate Birmingham's
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
promotion to the Premier League.
Everton fans sing a version of this song; "I've never felt more like singing the blues, when Everton win and Liverpool lose, oh Everton you've got me singing the blues."
Also this song is commonly used at Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
football matches, where the fans sing
This song has also famously been used by Sheffield Wednesday fans. Their lyrics are:
"Boxing Day" is added onto the end in reference to the 'Boxing Day Massacre,' on 26 December 1979, where the Owls beat their fierce rivals, Sheffield United, 4-0. One of the Wednesday scorers on that day, Terry Curran
Terry Curran
Edward Terence Curran is a former English professional footballer whose career lasted from 1975 to 1988. Curran was an attacking midfielder, who could also play as a winger, he could also play as an out and out Striker...
, even recorded a version of the song and it is still used at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
to this day.