Song Sung Blue

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the Johnny Mathis Album, see Song Sung Blue (album).
"Song Sung Blue"
Single by Neil Diamond
from the album Moods
B-side"Gitchy Goomy"
ReleasedMay 1972
GenreRock[1]
Length3:15
LabelUni
Songwriter(s)Neil Diamond
Producer(s)Tom Catalano
Neil Diamond singles chronology
"Crunchy Granola Suite"
(1971) 		"Song Sung Blue"
(1972) 		"Play Me"
(1972)
Background Singers: Sally Stevens, Susie Stevens, Alison Freebairn-Smith and Jennifer Hicklin

"Song Sung Blue" is a

UK Singles Chart.[2]

"Song Sung Blue" was Diamond's second #1 hit in the U.S., after

adult contemporary chart.[4]
The song has become one of Diamond's standards, and he often performs it during concerts.

"Song Sung Blue" was nominated for two

1973, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.[4] Both awards that year were won by Roberta Flack's rendition of Ewan MacColl's song, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
".

Cash Box said of it that "the song gives the phrase 'Everybody, sing!' new meaning."[5] Record World said that it has "simply some of the best and most commercial soft sounds on the contemporary scene."[6]

Diamond described "Song Sung Blue" in the liner notes to his 1996 compilation album, In My Lifetime, as a "very basic message, unadorned. I didn't even write a bridge to it. I never expected anyone to react to "Song Sung Blue" the way they did. I just like it, the message and the way a few words said so many things."[4]

Later uses

The song inspired the title of a 2008 documentary about a Neil Diamond impersonator who was married to a Patsy Cline impersonator.[7]

Chart history

Cover versions

Andy Williams released a version in 1972 on his album, Alone Again (Naturally).

Hot Butter released a version in 1972 on their album Hot Butter.

Johnny Paycheck released a version in 1972 on his album Somebody Loves Me.

Sacha Distel recorded the song in French as "Chanson Bleue".

British new wave group Altered Images released a version in 1982 on the album Pinky Blue.

Aces Back to Back
.

Frank Sinatra also recorded a version on his Trilogy album (1980).

The Nolan Sisters
recorded a version which is on their 1978 20 Giant Hits album.

References

  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (March 1, 2019). "The Number Ones: Neil Diamond's "Song Sung Blue"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 17, 2023. Diamond based the "Song Sung Blue" vocal melody on the second movement of a Mozart concerto, and the melody, it turns out, translates just fine to pop music.
  2. ^ a b "song sung blue | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  3. ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of #1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 314.
  4. ^ a b c Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 108.
  5. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 29, 1972. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  6. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. April 29, 1972. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  7. ^ Song Sung Blue at IMDB
  8. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1972-07-08. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  9. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 1972. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Song Sung Blue". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  12. ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  13. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 7/01/72". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1972 - Singles". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

External links

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