Am I Blue?

"Am I Blue?"
"Am I Blue?"
Single by Cher
from the album Bittersweet White Light
B-side	"How Long Has This Been Going On"
Released	1973
Recorded	1973
Genre	Pop
Length	3:47
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Clarke, Akst
Producer(s)	Snuff Garrett; Sonny Bono;
Cher singles chronology

"Am I Blue"
"Am I Blue"
Single by Eddie Cochran
A-side	"Drive In Show"
Released	1957
Recorded	May–August 1957, Gold Star Studios
Genre	Rockabilly
Label	Liberty 55087
Songwriter(s)	Harry Akst; Grant Clarke;
Producer(s)	Simon Jackson
Eddie Cochran singles chronology

"Am I Blue?" is a 1929 song composed by Harry Akst (music) and Grant Clarke (lyrics),^[1] then featured in four films that year, most notably with Ethel Waters in the movie On with the Show.^{[citation needed]}^[a] It has appeared in 42 movies,^{[citation needed]} most recently Funny Lady, The Cotton Club and Downton Abbey: A New Era, and has become a standard covered by numerous artists. As a work from 1929 with its copyright renewed it will enter the public domain on January 1, 2025.^[b]

Eddie Cochran version

Eddie Cochran, an early performer of rock and roll music, also recorded his version of "Am I Blue" sometime between May and August 1957. It was released on the B-side of Liberty Records single 55087. The A-side was "Drive In Show" which rose to number 82 on the Billboard charts.

Personnel used in the recording session:

Eddie Cochran – guitars, ukulele, vocals
Perry Botkin – rhythm guitar
Connie "Guybo" Smith – double bass
The Johnny Mann Chorus – backing vocals

Cher version

American singer-actress Cher recorded and released "Am I Blue" in 1973. It was released as the first and only single from her album of standards, Bittersweet White Light. It missed the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Other versions

Annette Hanshaw recorded the song on May 31, 1929.
In 1969, Judy Garland and Johnnie Ray performed an (unreleased) duet cover of the song.
A recording of the song in a medley with "Blue Room" was made on July 14, 1942, by Eddy Duchin and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36746, with the flip side a medley of "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "Pretty Baby.^[2]"
In 1954, Dinah Washington recorded the song for the album After Hours with Miss "D"^[3]
Jeri Southern recorded the song in 1957 for her Decca Records LP Jeri Gently Jumps.^[4]
In 1957, early teen idol Ricky Nelson included the song on his debut album Ricky.^[5]
Ray Charles on his 1959 Atlantic album The Genius of Ray Charles^[6]
In 1961, Fats Domino recorded the song for the album Let the Four Winds Blow.^[7]
Brenda Lee recorded her version for the album Reflections In Blue (1967).^[8]
In 1972, Bette Midler recorded the song for her album The Divine Miss M.^[9]
Barbra Streisand recorded a version of "Am I Blue" (with a comedic ending) for her 1975 film Funny Lady.^[10]
Willie Nelson recorded it for his album There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight (1978).^[11]
In 1978, Robert Gordon recorded the song for his Rock Billy Boogie album.^[12]
Linda Ronstadt recorded the song for her album For Sentimental Reasons (1986).^[13]
Charlie Rich recorded the song in 1991 for his 1992 release Pictures and Paintings. ^[14]
Rita Coolidge in 1975 on It’s Only Love,^[15] and again on her 1996 album, Out of the Blues.^[16]
Grace Knight on her album Keep Cool Fool (2012).

Popular culture

In 1944, the song was performed by Hoagy Carmichael and Lauren Bacall in the Howard Hawks-directed film To Have and Have Not.
The tune is played in a scene in the Warner Bros. cartoon Booby Hatched, when a duck is sitting on her eggs, her teeth chattering from the cold.
In 1987, Charlie Robinson sang the song in the Season 4 episode “Baby Talk” of the sitcom Night Court.
The deposed Qing emperor Henry Puyi (played by John Lone) sings the song during his 1925–31 playboy days in the Japanese concession of Tianjin in The Last Emperor (1987) by Bernardo Bertolucci.
Billie Holiday's version of the song (Columbia 37586 US 1947) appeared in the 1989 film Slaves of New York and the 2009 film Public Enemies.
The song is referenced in James Baldwin's story "Sonny's Blues"
Diane Lane lipsynced it in the 1984 film The Cotton Club; the song was actually sung by Lesley Miller. It was not released on the soundtrack of the movie.
In 1985, Nell Carter sang the song on the fifth episode of the fifth season of her hit sitcom Gimme a Break!.
The song briefly appears in the Freakazoid! episode "Virtual Freak", being sung by the titular character.
The song was performed by Batman (Kevin Conroy) in the Justice League Unlimited episode "This Little Piggy", as part of a bargain with Circe to release Wonder Woman from a curse placed upon her.

Notes

^ Ethel Waters' 1929 single "Am I Blue?" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
^ Numerous renewals in the 1956 catalogs including R1708l4

References

^ Bloom, Ken (1996). American Song: the complete musical theatre companion. New York: Schirmer Books. p. 1087. ISBN 0028704843.
^ Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.

External links

List of "Am I Blue" versions on Second Hand Songs.

[2] Ethel Waters' 1929 single "Am I Blue?" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.

[3] Numerous renewals in the 1956 catalogs including R1708l4

[1] Bloom, Ken (1996). American Song: the complete musical theatre companion. New York: Schirmer Books. p. 1087. ISBN 0028704843.

[4] Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series

[5] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 14, 2023.

[6] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[7] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.

[8] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

[9] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

[10] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

[11] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.

[12] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

[13] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

[14] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

[15] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

[16] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.

[17] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.

[18] "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.

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v t e Ethel Waters
Singles	"There'll Be Some Changes Made" "Tiger Rag" "Sweet Georgia Brown" "Dinah" "I've Found a New Baby" "Sugar" "Am I Blue?" "Three Little Words" "I Got Rhythm" "Shine On, Harvest Moon" "Stormy Weather" "Don't Blame Me" "Heat Wave" "A Hundred Years from Today" "Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable to Lunch Today)"
Related articles	Crystal Waters

v t e Libby Holman
Singles	"Am I Blue?" "Moanin' Low" "Why Was I Born?" "Body and Soul" "Love for Sale" "You and the Night and the Music"
Related articles	Strapless dress Treetops

v t e Eddie Cochran
Studio albums	Singin' to My Baby
Posthumous studio albums	Never to Be Forgotten My Way (UK)
Compilations	The Eddie Cochran Memorial Album Summertime Blues Legendary Masters Series The Very Best of Eddie Cochran Great Hits
Live albums	On The Air
Singles	"Sittin' in the Balcony" "Drive In Show" "Twenty Flight Rock" "Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie" "Summertime Blues" "C'mon Everybody" "Teenage Heaven" "Somethin' Else" "Hallelujah I Love Her So" "Three Steps To Heaven" "Lonely" "Sweetie Pie" "Weekend" "My Way"

v t e Cher
Albums Singles Films Concerts Videos Awards
Studio albums	All I Really Want to Do The Sonny Side of Chér Chér With Love, Chér Backstage 3614 Jackson Highway Chér Foxy Lady Bittersweet White Light Half-Breed Dark Lady Stars I'd Rather Believe in You Cherished Take Me Home Prisoner I Paralyze Cher Heart of Stone Love Hurts It's a Man's World Believe Not Commercial Living Proof Closer to the Truth Dancing Queen Christmas
Compilation albums	Golden Greats Superpak Vol. I and II Greatest Hits Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits The Greatest Hits The Very Best of Cher Gold Icon Forever
Soundtrack albums	Chastity Burlesque
Other albums	Two the Hard Way Black Rose
Music video releases	The Video Collection The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection
Live video releases	Extravaganza: Live at the Mirage Live in Concert The Farewell Tour
Other video releases	CherFitness: A New Attitude CherFitness: Body Confidence
Concerts and tours	Two the Hard Way Tour Take Me Home Tour Heart of Stone Tour Love Hurts Tour Do You Believe? Tour Living Proof: The Farewell Tour Dressed to Kill Tour Here We Go Again Tour
Residencies	Cher in Concert Cher Classic Cher
Film directed	If These Walls Could Talk
Television	The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour Cher The Sonny & Cher Show Cher... Special Dear Mom, Love Cher
Books	The Ugly Duckling Cher: The Memoir
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v t e Cher singles
1960s singles	"All I Really Want to Do" "Where Do You Go" "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" "Alfie" "I Feel Something in the Air" "Sunny" "Behind the Door" "Mama (When My Dollies Have Babies)" "Hey Joe" "You Better Sit Down Kids" "The Click Song" "Take Me for a Little While" "Yours Until Tomorrow" "Chastity's Song (Band of Thieves)" "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" "For What It's Worth"
1970s singles	"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" "The Way of Love" "Living in a House Divided" "Don't Hide Your Love" "Am I Blue?" "Half-Breed" "Dark Lady" "Train of Thought" "I Saw a Man and He Danced with His Wife" "Rescue Me" "Geronimo's Cadillac" "Long Distance Love Affair" "Pirate" "War Paint and Soft Feathers" "Take Me Home" "Wasn't It Good" "It's Too Late to Love Me Now" "Hell on Wheels"
1980s singles	"I Paralyze" "I Found Someone" "We All Sleep Alone" "Skin Deep" "After All" "If I Could Turn Back Time" "Just Like Jesse James"
1990s singles	"Heart of Stone" "You Wouldn't Know Love" "Baby I'm Yours" "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" "Love and Understanding" "Save Up All Your Tears" "Love Hurts" "Could've Been You" "When Lovers Become Strangers" "Oh No Not My Baby" "Whenever You're Near" "Many Rivers to Cross" "Walking in Memphis" "One by One" "Not Enough Love in the World" "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" "Paradise Is Here" "Believe" "Strong Enough" "All or Nothing" "Dov'è l'amore"
2000s singles	"The Music's No Good Without You" "Song for the Lonely" "Alive Again" "A Different Kind of Love Song" "When the Money's Gone" "Love One Another"
2010s singles	"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" "Woman's World" "I Hope You Find It" "Take It Like a Man" "I Walk Alone" "Fernando" "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" "SOS"
2020s singles	"Chiquitita" "DJ Play a Christmas Song"
Promotional singles	"Ringo, I Love You" "Superstar" "Classified 1A" "Carousel Man" "Holdin' Out for Love" "Bad Love" "Rudy" "Bang Bang" "Main Man" "Human" "Sirens" "Ooga Boo" "One of Us"
Other songs	"Our Day Will Come" "Fernando" "Dressed to Kill"
Guest singles	"A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Everyday)" "Dead Ringer for Love" "I Got You Babe" "It Ain't Necessarily So" "Love Can Build a Bridge" "Più che puoi" "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" "Stop Crying Your Heart Out"
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