Singing the Blues

"Singing the Blues"
"Singing the Blues"
SinglebyGuy Mitchell
B-side	"Crazy With Love"
Released	October 1956
Studio	Columbia 30th Street Studio,New York City
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	2:31
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Melvin Endsley
Producer(s)	Mitch Miller
Guy Mitchellsingles chronology

"Singing the Blues"is apopularsong composed byMelvin Endsleyand published in 1956. The highest-charting version was byGuy Mitchelland the first recording of the song was byMarty Robbins.It is not related to the 1920 jazz song "Singin' the Blues"recorded byFrank TrumbauerandBix Beiderbeckein 1927.

Guy Mitchell

The best-known recording was released in October 1956 byGuy Mitchelland spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the U.S.Billboardchart from 8 December 1956, to 2 February 1957. It was Mitchell's second and last hit in Italy, on nationalMusica e DischiHit Parade, after "My Heart Cries For You"in 1951. An example of the U.S. recording is on Columbia #40769, dated 1956, with theRay ConniffOrchestra. Mitchell's version was also No. 1 in theUK Singles Chartfor three (non-consecutive) weeks in early 1957,^[1]^[2]one of only four singles to rise to No. 1 on the chart on three separate occasions, with the other three being "I Believe"byFrankie Laine,"Happy"byPharrell Williamsand "What Do You Mean?"byJustin Bieber.^[3]Mitchell's version prominently featureswhistlingin the intro and solo sections.

Marty Robbins and Tommy Steele versions

Two other charting versions of the song were released almost simultaneously with Mitchell's, one by the English singerTommy Steele(with the Steelmen) and the other (recorded before Mitchell covered it)^[4]by US country singerMarty Robbins.^[5]

Tommy Steele's version of "Singing the Blues" made number 1 in theUK Singles Chartfor one week on 11 January 1957, sandwiched by two of the weeks that Guy Mitchell's version of the same song topped the charts.^[6]Steele's recording of the song was not a chart success in the US.

The Marty Robbins version, recorded at theBradley Studiosin Nashville, Tennessee,^[7]made it to number one on theBillboardC&W Best Sellers chartfor 13 weeks in late 1956 and early 1957^[8]and peaked at number seventeen on the US pop chart.^[9]In 1983,Gail Daviesrecorded a cover version, taking her version into the top 20 of the Hot Country Singles chart in the spring of 1983.

Other cover versions

The song is often revived, and on four occasions new recordings of "Singing the Blues" have become UK Top 40 hits. These latter-day hit versions were byDave Edmunds(1980),Gail Davies(1983),Daniel O'Donnell(1994), andCliff Richard&the Shadows(2009).

Charting versions

Release date	Performer	Chart Positions				Notes
Release date	Performer	UK ^[10]	U.S.	U.S. C&W	CAN Country	Notes
1956	Marty Robbins	—	17	1	—	—
1956	Guy Mitchell	1	1	—	—	Reached number 1 in the UK in early 1957
1956	Tommy Steele& the Steelmen	1	—	—	—	Reached number 1 in the UK in early 1957
1964	Connie Francis & Hank Williams Jr.
1980	Dave Edmunds	28	—	—	—	—
1983	Gail Davies	—	—	17	19	—
1994	Daniel O'Donnell	23	—	—	—	—
1997	The Kentucky Headhunters	—	—	70	—	—
2009	Cliff Richard&the Shadows	40	—	—	—	—

More cover versions

Trumpeter Bob Scobey and banjoist/vocalist Clancy Hayes recorded atrad jazzversion in 1958 for the LP "Scobey and Clancy raid the Jukebox" on the Good Time Jazz label. Other notable cover versions include a 1960 recording byBill Haley & His Comets,a 1963 version byDean Martin,and a 1971 version byBlack Oak Arkansas.It was recorded byMarie Osmondfor her 1975 albumIn My Little Corner of the World,byGene Summerson his 1981 French albumGene Summers in Nashville,byRandy Travison his 1989 albumNo Holdin' Back,and byThe Kentucky Headhuntersfor their albumStompin' Grounds(1997). A version byBert Janschappears on his 2000 releaseCrimson Moon.Frank Ifield, Max Bygraves and Slim Whitman also recorded the song.

"Singing the Blues" was performed live byPaul McCartneyon the MTV showUnpluggedin 1991 and included on the subsequent soundtrack,Unplugged (The Official Bootleg).

Hank Snowdid it on his 1969 album on RCA "I Went To Your Wedding".

The song was also performed byAlbert Lee.^[11]

The tune was also sung byVivian VanceandWilliam Frawley(Ethel and Fred ofI Love Lucyfame) for a Ford Motor Company television commercial promoting the Edsel.

The Californian pop punk bandGroovie Ghouliescovered the song on their third albumWorld Contact Dayin 1996.

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..." ).

Hugues Aufrayand his Skiffle Group recorded a French version of the song, "Tout le long du chemin", in 1964.^[12]

Use in English football

Birmingham City-supporting radio presenters Tom Ross and Ian Danter released a version to celebrate the club's promotion to the Premier League. It has been sung since at least the 1969 season by fans of the Midlands club.Blackburn Roversfans have been known to sing a version of the song: "Never felt more like singing the blues, the Rovers win and Burnley lose, oh Rovers, you've got me singing the blues."Evertonfans sing a version of this song; "I've never felt more like singing the blues, when Everton win andLiverpoollose, oh Everton you've got me singing the blues. "Also this song is commonly used atManchester Cityfootball matches, where the fans sing: "Never felt more like singing the blues, City win,Unitedlose. "This song has been used bySheffield Wednesdayfans since the 1960s. Their lyrics are: "Never felt more like singing the blues, When Wednesday win, United lose." Former Wednesday playerTerry Curranrecorded a version of the song in 1980 that sold tens of thousands, that is still used atHillsboroughto this day.Ipswich Townfans also use the song and the club recorded their own version of it, with the chorus being "I've never felt more like singing the Blues, When Ipswich win and Norwich lose, Oh Ipswich you've got me singing the blues".

References

^Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 67–8.ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^Rice, Jo (1982).The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits(1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 28.ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
^Myers, Justin (2 March 2014)."Unstoppable Pharrell scores chart record hat-trick as Happy smashes a".Official Charts Company.Retrieved3 October2014.
^Bronson, Fred (2003).The Billboard Book of Number One Hits – Fred Bronson – Google Books.Billboard Books.ISBN 9780823076772.Retrieved3 April2014.
^Marty Robbinsinterviewed on thePop Chronicles(1969)
^Rice, Jo (1982).The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits(1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 28–9.ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
^"Owen Bradley".Country Music Hall of Fame.1974.Retrieved14 August2024.
^Whitburn, Joel(2004).The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition.Record Research. p. 293.
^Whitburn, Joel(2004).The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition.Record Research. p. 532.
^Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 179.ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^VideoonYouTube
^"Tout le long du chemin",Discogs

[1] Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 67–8.ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[500_Number_One_Hits-2] Rice, Jo (1982).The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits(1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 28.ISBN 0-85112-250-7.

[3] Myers, Justin (2 March 2014)."Unstoppable Pharrell scores chart record hat-trick as Happy smashes a".Official Charts Company.Retrieved3 October2014.

[4] Bronson, Fred (2003).The Billboard Book of Number One Hits – Fred Bronson – Google Books.Billboard Books.ISBN 9780823076772.Retrieved3 April2014.

[pc10-5] Marty Robbinsinterviewed on thePop Chronicles(1969)

[500_Number_One_Hits_2-6] Rice, Jo (1982).The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits(1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 28–9.ISBN 0-85112-250-7.

[CMHoFOB-7] "Owen Bradley".Country Music Hall of Fame.1974.Retrieved14 August2024.

[8] Whitburn, Joel(2004).The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944–2006, Second edition.Record Research. p. 293.

[9] Whitburn, Joel(2004).The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition.Record Research. p. 532.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-10] Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 179.ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[11] VideoonYouTube

[12] "Tout le long du chemin",Discogs

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[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

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[9]

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v t e Marty Robbins
Albums	The Song of Robbins(1957) Song of the Islands(1958) Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs(1959) More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs(1960) Return of the Gunfighter(1963) R.F.D.(1964) The Drifter(1966) Tonight Carmen(1967) I Walk Alone(1968) It's a Sin(1969) My Woman, My Woman, My Wife(1970) Today(1972) This Much a Man(1972) El Paso City(1976) Adios Amigo(1977) The Performer(1979)
Notable singles	"Stairway of Love" "I'll Go On Alone" "I Couldn't Keep from Crying" "That's All Right" "Maybellene" "Singing the Blues" "Knee Deep in the Blues" "A White Sport Coat" "Ain't I Right" "The Story of My Life" "Just Married" "She Was Only Seventeen"* "The Hanging Tree" "El Paso" "Big Iron" "Don't Worry" "Devil Woman" "Ruby Ann" "Begging to You" "Ribbon of Darkness" "Tonight Carmen" "I Walk Alone" "It's a Sin" "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife" "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)" "El Paso City" "Among My Souvenirs" "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" "Return to Me" "Some Memories Just Won't Die" "Tie Your Dream to Mine"
Related articles	Discography Jeanne Pruett

v t e Guy Mitchell
Singles	"My Heart Cries for You" "The Roving Kind" "You're Just in Love" "Sparrow in the Treetop" "My Truly, Truly Fair" "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" "Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po-Po)" "She Wears Red Feathers" "Look at That Girl" "Chicka Boom" "Singing the Blues" "Knee Deep in the Blues" "Rock-a-Billy" "Heartaches by the Number" "The Same Old Me" "Charlie's Shoes" "Alabam"
Songs	"Allegheny Moon" "Charlie Brown" "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle" "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" "Everybody Loves a Lover" "Everybody Loves Somebody" "It's Been a Long, Long Time" "Music! Music! Music!" "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time" "O mein Papa" "Pennies from Heaven" "Side by Side" "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"
Related acts	Rosemary Clooney Mindy Carson

v t e Gail Davies
Notable singles	"Someone Is Looking for Someone Like You" "Blue Heartache" "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)" "It's a Lovely, Lovely World" "Grandma's Song" "Round the Clock Lovin'" "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio" "Singing the Blues" "You're a Hard Dog (To Keep Under the Porch)" "Boys like You" "Jagged Edge of a Broken Heart" "Break Away"
Related articles	Discography Wild Choir "Safe in the Arms of Love" "Tell Me Why"

v t e Randy Travis
Albums Singles
Studio albums	Storms of Life Always & Forever Old 8×10 No Holdin' Back Heroes & Friends High Lonesome Wind in the Wire This Is Me Full Circle You and You Alone A Man Ain't Made of Stone Inspirational Journey Rise and Shine Worship & Faith Passing Through Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise Around the Bend Anniversary Celebration Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits, Volume One Greatest Hits, Volume Two The Very Best of Randy Travis I Told You So: The Ultimate Hits of Randy Travis Three Wooden Crosses: The Inspirational Hits of Randy Travis
Holiday albums	An Old Time Christmas Songs of the Season
Notable singles	"On the Other Hand" "1982" "Diggin' Up Bones" "No Place Like Home" "Forever and Ever, Amen" "I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)" "Too Gone Too Long" "I Told You So" "Honky Tonk Moon" "Deeper Than the Holler" "Is It Still Over?" "Promises" "It's Just a Matter of Time" "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" "He Walked on Water" "A Few Ole Country Boys" "Heroes and Friends" "Point of Light" "Forever Together" "Better Class of Losers" "I'd Surrender All" "If I Didn't Have You" "Look Heart, No Hands" "An Old Pair of Shoes" "Cowboy Boogie" "Before You Kill Us All" "Whisper My Name" "This Is Me" "The Box" "Are We in Trouble Now" "Would I" "King of the Road" "Out of My Bones" "The Hole" "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man" "Stranger in My Mirror" "A Man Ain't Made of Stone" "Baptism" "Three Wooden Crosses" "Where That Came From"
Other songs	"Voices That Care" "Singing the Blues" "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" "She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)"
Related articles	Awards and nominations Filmography

v t e The Kentucky Headhunters
Greg Martin Doug Phelps Fred Young Richard Young James Harrison Anthony Kenney Mark S. Orr Ricky Lee Phelps
Studio albums	Pickin' on Nashville Electric Barnyard Rave On!! That'll Work(withJohnnie Johnson) Stompin' Grounds Songs from the Grass String Ranch Soul Big Boss Man Dixie Lullabies Meet Me in Bluesland(with Johnnie Johnson) On Safari That's a Fact Jack!
Compilation albums	The Best of The Kentucky Headhunters: Still Pickin' Flying Under the Radar Authorized Bootleg: Live – Agara Ballroom – Cleveland, Ohio
Notable singles	"Dumas Walker" "Oh Lonesome Me" "Rock 'n' Roll Angel" "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" "Let's Work Together" "Blue Moon of Kentucky" "Dixie Fried" "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" "Singin' the Blues" "Big Boss Man" "Chug-a-Lug" "Take These Chains from My Heart"
Related articles	Discography Brother Phelps