(It's No) Sin Explained

Sin (It's No Sin)
Type:single
Artist:Eddy Howard
B-Side:My Wife and I
Released:1951
Recorded:1951
Genre:Traditional pop
Length:2:46
Label:Mercury
Prev Title:(A Woman Is a) Deadly Weapon
Prev Year:1951
Next Title:Stolen Love
Next Year:1952

"(It's No) Sin" is a popular song with music by George Hoven and lyrics by Chester R. Shull.[1] [2] It was a No. 1 song on Billboard charts released by Eddy Howard in 1951. This song should not be confused with "It's a Sin", another popular song of the same era.

Lyrics

The song is about someone whose love interest is leaving, but who insists that it's no sin to keep on loving the person forever.[3]

First recordings

(It's No) Sin
Type:single
Artist:The Four Aces
Released:1951
Recorded:1951
Genre:Vocal
Length:3:05
Label:Victoria

The most popular recordings of the song were made by The Four Aces and Eddy Howard, both top 10 hits in 1951.[4]

The recording by Eddy Howard was released by Mercury Records (catalog number 5711). It first reached the Billboard chart on September 14, 1951, and lasted 23 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 1, staying there for eight weeks.[5] [6] It also reached No. 1 on Cashbox for a week. It was ranked No. 4 on Billboards 1951 year-end chart.

The recording by The Four Aces was released by Victoria Records (catalog number 101). It first reached the Billboard chart on September 7, 1951, and lasted 22 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 4.[5] This was The Four Aces' first charting record, and led to their receiving a contract with a major company, Decca. It was ranked No. 31 for 1951.

The song was the No. 1 song on Your Hit Parade for seven weeks.

Other contemporary recordings

A number of artists also recorded and released the song in 1951. The Four Knights and Savannah Churchill both peaked in the chart the same week as Eddy Howard in November 1951; The Four Knights reaching No. 14 while Savannah Churchill reached No. 5.[7] Churchill's recordings was also ranked No. 39 on Billboards 1951 year chart.

Coleman Hawkins recorded it in October 1951 and Sidney Bechet recorded it with his All-Stars in January 1952 (entitled It's No Sin (Est-Ce Un Peche?)). Knud Pfeiffer wrote the Danish lyrics. The Danish title is "Er det synd". Raquel Rastenni with Radiodansekorkesteret recorded it in Copenhagen in 1952. The song was released on the 78 rpm record His Master's Voice X 8043.

Later recordings

(It's No) Sin
Type:single
Artist:The Duprees
Album:You Belong to Me
B-Side:The Sand and the Sea
Released:1964
Recorded:1963
Genre:Doo-wop
Length:2:35
Label:Sundazed
Prev Title:Why Don't You Believe Me
Prev Year:1963
Next Title:Check Yourself
Next Year:1970

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Catalog of Copyright Entries Third series. Library of Congress. Copyright Office . 1951 . 515 .
  2. Web site: Search Results for 'it's no sin' . Secondhandsongs.com. 3 May 2021.
  3. Book: Bielen, Kenneth . The Lyrics of Civility: Biblical Images & Popular Music Lyrics in American Culture . 2016 . 27. 9781317713517 . Taylor & Francis .
  4. Book: Tyler, Don . Hit Songs, 1900-1955 American Popular Music of the Pre-Rock Era. 2007 . 318. 9780786429462 . McFarland .
  5. Book: Whitburn , Joel . Joel Whitburn . Top Pop Records 1940-1955 . . 1973 .
  6. Book: Hoffmann, Frank . Chronology of American Popular Music, 1900-2000. 2016 . 126. 9781135868864 . Taylor & Francis .
  7. Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys . 34. Billboard . November 17, 1951.
  8. Web site: The Duprees | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links. AllMusic. 3 May 2021.
  9. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 261.