The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Sing Your Sinners

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 12, 2013 is “Sing You Sinners.”

About This Song

“Sing You Sinners” was written for the 1930 film “Honey” by W. Franke Harling, with lyrics by Sam Coslow. Tony Bennett first recorded this song in 1950 and, by all accounts, he owns “Sing You Sinners.” He’s recorded it several times and often sings it in concert.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded today’s version of “Sing You Sinners” in late 1955 and released as a single in 1956. It was arranged and conducted by Percy Faith. This arrangement really swings and Tony sounds like he’s having a lot of fun singing it. “Come on band, SWING!”

http://open.spotify.com/track/2LygyYc41REdXz53KhQjB3
“Sing You Sinners,” as well as all of the recordings on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 4, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Sing You Sinners

As we continue our playing of live performances this week, the song of the day for Tuesday, June 11, 2013 is Sing You Sinners.”

About This Song

“Sing You Sinners” was written by W. Franke Harling and Sam Coslow and used in the 1930 film Honey, starring Lillian Roth. Even though Bing Crosby starred in a 1938 musical called Sing You Sinners, this song was not used in that film.

About This Version

Today’s live version is from the 1962 Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall concert. The complete concert edition of the album is a masterpiece and is rightly considered one of the greatest live vocal live performance recordings ever made.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1mROvttcJYQox5aB0gvFri
“Sing You Sinners,” as well as the complete Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Sing You Sinners

The song of the day for Sunday, February 24, 2013 is Sing You Sinners.

About Sing You Sinners

Sing You Sinners was written by W. Franke Harling and Sam Coslow and used in the 1930 film Honey, starring Lillian Roth. Even though Bing Crosby starred in a 1938 musical called Sing You Sinners, this song was not used in that film.

About This Version

This version is the first and the best. Tony Bennett recorded Sing You Sinners in July, 1950; it was released in October of that year. It features a great arrangement by Marty Manning. Unlike some of the recordings that he made when he first started recording with Columbia, this song sounds more like the Tony Bennett we know today than the early singer. I think it has everything to do with the material. He might have first recorded this song in any decade of his career and I doubt if it would sound much different than this version. And it’s a great song … then and now. He regularly sings this song in concert and still swings it hard!

http://open.spotify.com/track/2D8HFZ4W9TMRYccuOX91zh
Sing You Sinners, as well as all of the songs on The Columbia Singles: Volume 1, is available from iTunes.

 

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Song of the Day: Sing You Sinners

The Song of the Day for September 13, 2012 is Sing You Sinners.

Last week, my co-blogger and I went to Bumbershoot to hear Tony Bennett. We took her son, Sam, who is 11 years old today. Sing You Sinners is Sam’s favorite Tony Bennett song. I snuck a peek at Sam when Mr. Bennett started singing this song at the concert. Sam had a huge smile on his face and was tapping out the rhythm the whole time.

Sam, for you: Sing You Sinners. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

About Sing You Sinners

This song was written in 1930 for the film Honey with music by W. Franke Harling and lyrics by Sam Coslow.  Thanks to You Tube, there is film of this song from Honey:

About This Version

Mr. Bennett has recorded this song several times, starting in 1950. The version we include here was recorded in 1955 and was arranged and conducted by Percy Faith. The 1955 version was compiled on Forty (and Fifty) Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett.  The song was included in the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. He also recorded it with John Legend on the first Duets album.

You sinners, drop everything and let that harmony ring up to heaven and sing, you sinners!