Song Sung Blue

For the Johnny Mathis Album, see Song Sung Blue (album).

"Song Sung Blue" is a 1972 hit song written and recorded by Neil Diamond, inspired by the second movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto #21. It was released on Diamond's album Moods, and later appeared on many of Diamond's live and compilation albums. The song was a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States for one week, the week of July 1, and it spent twelve weeks in the Top 40. It also reached #14 on the UK Singles Chart.^[2]

"Song Sung Blue"
Single by Neil Diamond
from the album Moods
B-side	"Gitchy Goomy"
Released	May 1972
Genre	Pop[1]
Length	3:15
Label	Uni
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" was Diamond's second #1 hit in the U.S., after 1970's "Cracklin' Rosie", and to date his last solo #1 song (he had a #1 duet with Barbra Streisand in 1978, with "You Don't Bring Me Flowers").^[3] In addition, "Song Sung Blue" spent seven weeks at #1 on the 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 Grammy Awards in 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

Weekly charts Chart (1972) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) 5 Belgium 5 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[8] 9 Canada RPM Top Singles[9] 2 Germany 6 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 17 Netherlands 3 New Zealand (Listener) 1 South Africa (Springbok)[11] 5 UK[2] 14 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] 1 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 1 U.S. Cash Box Top 100[13] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1972) Rank Canada 33 Switzerland [14] 7 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[15] 26 U.S. Cash Box [16] 24

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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.

Bobby Darin performed the song in 1972 during his summer television show, and his version was included on the 2004 album, 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. "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. 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. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - 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.
17. "American single certifications – Neil Diamond – Song Sung Blue". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 15, 2024.

External links

• Neil Diamond - Song Sung Blue on YouTube