Careless Hands

{{Short description|Song written by Carl Sigman and Bob Hilliard}}

{{about|the 1949 song|the 1971 album by Dottie West|Careless Hands (album)}}

"Careless Hands" is a popular song written by Carl Sigman and Bob Hilliard, and first recorded in 1948.

The song was originally recorded by Sammy Kaye with vocals by Don Cornell,[http://www.secondhandsongs.com/work/79556 "Careless Hands" at SecondhandSongs.com]. Retrieved 19 February 2014 and then recorded in 1949 by Mel Tormé, whose version reached no.1 on the US pop chart and became Tormé's first major success.{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=1986|title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954|edition=1st|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-083-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/421 421]|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/421}} It was also recorded by many other singers including Bing Crosby (recorded March 22, 1949){{cite web|title=A Bing Crosby Discography|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/crosby1bDecca.html|website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|accessdate=September 13, 2017}} and Al Martino. There were no less than four charted versions in 1949, by Mel Tormé (#1), Sammy Kaye (#3), Bing Crosby (#12) and Bob & Jeanne (#21).{{cite book|last1=Whitburn|first1=Joel|title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954|date=1986|publisher=Record Research Inc|location=Wisconsin, USA|isbn=0-89820-083-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/483 483]|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/483}}

In the UK, a version by comedian and entertainer Des O'Connor reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart in 1967.{{cite book| first= Graham| last= Betts| year=2004| title= Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004| edition= 1st|publisher= Collins| location= London| isbn= 0-00-717931-6| page=565}}

In 1971, "Careless Hands" was recorded by American country music artist Dottie West. It was released as a single, peaking at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in April 1971. The song was subsequently released on a studio album of the same name.{{cite web |title=Dottie West Chart History: Hot Country Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/dottie-west/chart-history/csi/ |website=Billboard |accessdate=7 August 2019}}