Singing the Blues - Misplaced Pages

For the B.B. King album, see Singin' the Blues. For the 1920s tune famously recorded by Bix Beiderbecke, see Singin' the Blues (1920 song).

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1956 song performed by Guy Mitchell

"Singing the Blues"

Single by Guy Mitchell

B-side

"Crazy With Love"

Released

October 1956

Studio

Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City

Genre

Rock and roll

Length

2:31

Mitch Miller

Guy Mitchell singles chronology

"Ninety Nine Years"
(1956)

"Singing the Blues"
(1956)

"Crazy with Love"
(1956)

"Singing the Blues" is a popular song composed by Melvin Endsley and published in 1956. The highest-charting version was by Guy Mitchell and the first recording of the song was by Marty Robbins. It is not related to the 1920 jazz song "Singin' the Blues" recorded by Frank Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke in 1927.

Guy Mitchell

The best-known recording was released in October 1956 by Guy Mitchell and spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard chart from 8 December 1956, to 2 February 1957. It was Mitchell's second and last hit in Italy, on national Musica e Dischi Hit Parade, after "My Heart Cries For You" in 1951. An example of the U.S. recording is on Columbia #40769, dated 1956, with the Ray Conniff Orchestra. Mitchell's version was also No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart for three (non-consecutive) weeks in early 1957, one of only four singles to rise to No. 1 on the chart on three separate occasions, with the other three being "I Believe" by Frankie Laine, "Happy" by Pharrell Williams and "What Do You Mean?" by Justin Bieber. Mitchell's version prominently features whistling in 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 singer Tommy Steele (with the Steelmen) and the other (recorded before Mitchell covered it) by US country singer Marty Robbins.

Tommy Steele's version of "Singing the Blues" made number 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, recorded at the Bradley Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, 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 US pop chart. 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.

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 by Dave Edmunds (1980), Gail Davies (1983), Daniel O'Donnell (1994), and Cliff Richard & the Shadows (2009).

Charting versions

Release date	Performer	Chart Positions				Notes
Release date	Performer	UK	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 a trad jazz version 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 by Bill Haley & His Comets, 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, by Randy Travis on his 1989 album No Holdin' Back, and by The Kentucky Headhunters for their album Stompin' Grounds (1997). A version by Bert Jansch appears on his 2000 release Crimson Moon. Frank Ifield, Max Bygraves and Slim Whitman also recorded the song.

"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).

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

The song was also performed by Albert Lee.

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 Californian pop punk band Groovie Ghoulies covered the song on their third album World Contact Day in 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 Aufray and his Skiffle Group recorded a French version of the song, "Tout le long du chemin", in 1964.

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 Rovers fans 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." 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 football matches, where the fans sing: "Never felt more like singing the blues, City win, United lose." This song has been used by Sheffield Wednesday fans since the 1960s. Their lyrics are: "Never felt more like singing the blues, When Wednesday win, United lose." Former Wednesday player Terry Curran recorded a version of the song in 1980 that sold tens of thousands, that is still used at Hillsborough to this day. Ipswich Town fans 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. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits – Fred Bronson – Google Books. Billboard Books. ISBN 9780823076772. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
Marty Robbins interviewed on the Pop 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. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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.
Video on YouTube
"Tout le long du chemin", Discogs.com

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 (with Johnnie 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

v t e Dave Edmunds
Studio albums	Rockpile Subtle as a Flying Mallet Get It Tracks on Wax 4 Repeat When Necessary Twangin... D.E. 7th Information Riff Raff Closer to the Flame Hand Picked: Musical Fantasies ...Again On Guitar...Rags & Classics
Live albums	I Hear You Rockin'
Singles	"I Hear You Knocking" "I Knew the Bride" "Girls Talk" "Queen of Hearts" "Crawling from the Wreckage" "Almost Saturday Night" "The Race Is On" with Stray Cats "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" "Slipping Away"
Related articles	Love Sculpture Nick Lowe Rockpile Seconds of Pleasure "Teacher, Teacher" "And the Night Stood Still"

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