Billy Williams - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter

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Billy Williams was a singer who had a hugely successful recording Fats Waller's "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" in 1957. His trademark hook for his songs was to shout "Oh, Yeah" at the end of lyrics.

"I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" is a 1935 popular song with music by Fred E. Ahlert and lyrics by Joe Young. It has been recorded many times, and has become a standard of the Great American Songbook.

The first big hit version (#5 on the Billboard magazine charts) was by Fats Waller recorded on May 8, 1935 (Victor 25044), reaching further heights in the charts (#3) for the Boswell Sisters in the following year (January 6, 1936 - Decca 671 B (60302-A)).
Charlie Gracie (mostly known for his 1957 #1 hit "Butterfly" on Cameo Record label #105 - 45rpm) recorded "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" (Cadillac Record label # 141 - 45 rpm). The flip side of the record was a song written by Gracie, "Boogie Woogie Blues."

The song was recorded by Frank Sinatra for his 1954 album Swing Easy, Bing Crosby for his 1957 LP Bing With A Beat and again by Sinatra in 1962 for his collaborative album with Count Basie, Sinatra-Basie.

The song had a major revival in 1957 in a recording by Billy Williams, which reached #3 on the Billboard magazine charts (a reported million-seller).

Among other versions are recordings by Nat "King" Cole, Scatman Crothers, Gregory Isaacs, Barry Manilow, Dean Martin, Willie Nelson , Linda Scott, and Shakin' Stevens. Bill Haley & His Comets recorded a rock and roll version of the song in 1957.

Madeleine Peyroux also covered this song on her debut album Dreamland (1996).

American Public Media's business-news program, Marketplace, uses a portion of Waller's version to open its weekly letters-from-listeners segment.

SOURCE: Wikipedia

Category:

Education

Tags:

• pop
• rock
• r&b

[John1948TwoA1]

This one seems to be blocked but I can't understand why. Video? Audio? What. I had it up for over a year before.

[DrJim1940]

My favorite version of this one!

[EmmetEarwax]

I first heard this song on "Last of the Summer Wine". One episode wrapped up with Compo, Cleggy and Truly (of the Yard) singing it to an audience in the Holmfirth community center. I forget the rest of the story. My mother recalled the song and even sang along with it !

[allenmrmusic]

I think this posting sounds even better than the original 45 I have for this same song. Fidelity seems to have been enhanced by digitizing it - maybe the removal of the stylus on the vinyl subtle noise is gone.

[63filmbuff]

nowadays it is "Im gonna sit right down and type myself a email".lol

[TheDiscoDays]

Welcome back Billy Williams. This video wasn't available for a long time but now back up....I love the Astaire/ Rogers dancing in black and white...........oh, yeah !!!!