"(I'm) Confessin' (that I Love You)" (also known as "Confessin
'", "I'm Confessin
'" and "Confessin' that I Love You") is a
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
and
popular standard that has been recorded many times.
Background
The song was first produced with different lyrics as "Lookin' For Another Sweetie", credited to
Chris Smith and Sterling Grant, and recorded by
Thomas "Fats" Waller & His Babies on December 18, 1929.
In 1930 it was reborn as "Confessin'", with new lyrics by
Al Neiburg, and with the music this time credited to Doc Daugherty and Ellis Reynolds. Louis Armstrong made his first, and highly influential, recording of the song in August 1930,
and continued to play it throughout his career.
Unlike the crooners, Armstrong did not try to deliver the original song's lyrics or melody; instead, he smeared and dropped lyrics and added melodic scat breaks.
Cover versions
Other important recorded versions were done by:
*
Jesse Crawford (1930)
*
Chester Gaylord (1930)
*
Seger Ellis (1930)
*
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was a Canadian and American bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane racing, hydroplane racer whose unique "sweet jazz" style remained popular with audiences for nearly five decade ...
(1930),
Rudy Vallee (1930)
*
Django Reinhardt
Jean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953), known by his Romani people, Romani nickname Django ( or ), was a Belgium, Belgian-born Romani jazz guitarist and composer in France. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe ...
(1934)
*
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American singer, actor, and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, from 1943 until 1987 ...
(1945)
*
Les Paul and Mary Ford (1952)
*
Ricky Nelson (1957)
*
Dean Martin (1964)
*
Thelonious Monk (1965)
*
Anne Murray (1993)
*
Samara Joy (2022)
*The song was also a number one hit for
Frank Ifield in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1963.
See also
*
List of 1930s jazz standards
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Confessin'
Songs with lyrics by Al J. Neiburg
Perry Como songs
1930 songs
1963 singles
UK singles chart number-one singles
Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Judy Garland songs
Van Morrison songs
Johnnie Ray songs
Frank Ifield songs
1930s jazz standards
Songs with music by Chris Smith (composer)