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It's a Sin to Tell a Lie

{{Infobox song

| name = It's a Sin to Tell a Lie

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Somethin' Smith and the Redheads

| album =

| B-side = My Baby Just Cares for Me

| released = January 31, 1955

| recorded = 1954

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Traditional pop

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=01}}

| label = Epic

| writer = Billy Mayhew

| producer =

| prev_title = Gee

| prev_year = 1954

| next_title = The Ace in the Hole

| next_year = 1955

}}

"It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" is a 1936 popular song written by Billy Mayhew,{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/its-a-sin-to-tell-a-lie-mt0010456546 |title=It's a Sin to Tell a Lie - Fats Waller | Song Info |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2016-08-22}} introduced early that year on records by many dance bands including Dick Robertson on the 78rpm record Champion 40106, and later popularized by Fats Waller on Victor 25342{{cite web |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/objects/detail/23597/Victor_25342 |title=Victor 25342 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced) |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings |publisher=UC Santa Barbara Library |access-date=March 12, 2021}} and re-issued on Victor 20-1595.{{cite web|url=http://78records.cdbpdx.com/ |title=ARCHIVE OF RECORDED 78 RPM RECORDS |website=78records.cdbpdx.com |date= |accessdate=2016-08-22}} It was recorded in French by Cajun singer Cléoma Breaux in 1936 or 1937.{{cite web|url=http://www.npmusic.org/artists.html#joefalcon|title=Joe Falcon & Cleoma Breaux|accessdate=2017-06-22|author=Neal Pomea}} Four further recordings of the song were made in 1936, namely by Freddy Ellis and His Orchestra (April), Victor Young and His Orchestra (April), Elton Britt (September), Roy Smeck and His Serenaders and Vera Lynn.

Later versions

{{As of|2019}}, in all there are 95 versions, including:

  • The tune was revived in 1955 by Somethin' Smith and the Redheads, reaching number 7 on the Billboard charts in that year.{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=779}}
  • It was later a Top 40 country hit for Slim Whitman, reaching #21 on the 'Top Country Singles' chart in 1971, from the album of the same name.{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=383}}
  • John Denver tells a story about the song and does a cover in his 1978 album, Live at the Sydney Opera House (RCA Victor VPL1-7167).{{cite web |url=http://www.math.hmc.edu/~levin/JD/album_odd1.html |title=The Other John Denver Discography |website=Math.hmc.edu |date= |accessdate=2016-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602090358/http://www.math.hmc.edu/~levin/JD/album_odd1.html |archive-date=2009-06-02 |url-status=dead }}
  • Gerry Monroe (a number 13 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1971){{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 375}}

Later uses

  • Originally a waltz, during the British Dixieland revival in the 1950s and 1960s this melody was often played in fast 4/4 time, notably recorded by the Kenny Ball Band.
  • In the 2010 role-playing game Fallout: New Vegas, The Ink Spots rendition of the song can be heard on the in-game radio.{{Citation|title=Fallout New Vegas Radio - It's A Sin To Tell A Lie|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP9nD0TsqEI|language=en|access-date=2022-02-08}}
  • A private recording exists of Elvis Presley singing part of the song over an orchestral recording by Nelson Riddle.
  • In season 2, episode 4 of the New Zealand TV series Seven Periods With Mr Gormsby, "Dancing with the Staff", the titular character performs a version of the song at the school dance.

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Slim Whitman}}

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Category:1936 songs

Category:1955 singles

Category:1971 singles

Category:Slim Whitman songs

Category:Patti Page songs

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