Sing, You Sinners (song)

"Sing, You Sinners" is a novelty song with music by W. Franke Harling and lyrics by Sam Coslow. Composed in 1930 for the film Honey, starring Nancy Carroll, it is performed during a musical scene by Tess Gardella, Mitzi Green (Doris) and Lillian Roth (Cora Falkner). The Bing Crosby 1938 Paramount musical Sing You Sinners also included the song in the title credits. It is considered "Coslow's biggest movie hit".

The chorus is as follows:

History

According to IMDb, one day, the lyricist Sam Coslow went to a religious revival with his friends, giving him the idea to compose the song with W. Franke Harling.

1930 recordings

• Popular recordings in 1930 were by The High Hatters (on Victor 22322) and by Smith Ballew and his Orchestra.
• An early recording is found on the album "The Song Hits of 1930 (Jazz Age Chronicles, Vol. 9)", and is sung by The Charleston Chasers. This is, perhaps, the way Coslow and Harling intended it to be performed.
• Belle Baker recorded the song in April 1930, shortly after "Honey" was released.
• A version was released in 1930 by Hit of the Week Records and performed by Harlem Hot Chocolates, pseudonym for Duke Ellington's band.

Other recordings

• In Britain, the song was recorded by the duo Bob and Alf Pearson.
• A popular version was recorded by Tony Bennett for Columbia Records (No. CO44125) on July 20, 1950. Bennett also recorded the song on several more occasions. In addition it is featured on Tony Bennett album ' when he sings it with singer John Legend.
• In 1951 Margaret Whiting performed the song with orchestra directed by Frank DeVol (Capitol 1417 78 rpm).
• Rosemary Clooney included the song on her album Swing Around Rosie (1959).
• Mel Tormé recorded for his album Comin' Home Baby! (1962).
• The song is the title track of Erin McKeown's October 24, 2006, album Sing You Sinners.