To Sir With Love (song)

"To Sir With Love" is the theme from the 1967 film To Sir, With Love. The song was written by Don Black and Mark London.

"To Sir With Love" was initially recorded by Lulu (with The Mindbenders, who also acted in the film) for the film of the same name. The song was released as a single in 1967 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining in the top position for five weeks and earning the number one position for the entire year. "To Sir With Love" also peaked at number nine on the R&B charts.^[1]

In Lulu's native UK, the song was never released in its own right, instead appearing as the B-side to the 1967 #11 hit "Let's Pretend".

In 2002, Lulu re-recorded the song as a duet with Irish singer Samantha Mumba for her album Together.

"To Sir With Love" has also been performed by soul singer Al Green (1979), British reggae/ska band The Pyramids (1970), and in a duet by Michael Stipe & Natalie Merchant (1993).

Billboard standings

Tina Arena version

Australian singer Tina Arena released her version of the song as the first single from her 2007 album Songs of Love & Loss.

Chart performance

Other cover versions

• Will Friedle sings the song to Mr. Feeny in the Boy Meets World episode "Graduation"
• Brazilian band Os Abelhudos recorded a Portuguese language version, titled "Ao Mestre, Com Carinho" in 1989. Years later singer Eliana made a cover of this version.
• In 2010, the cast of Glee did a cover version of the song, featured in the season one finale episode "Journey to Regionals". Also featured in Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals.
• Hollywood hard rock outfit Serious Suicide did a cover in 2005
• The song was also covered by Al Green
• Vicki Sue Robinson covered the song in 1983.
• New Zealand songstress Ngaire covered the song in 1991; her cover reached number 1 in the New Zealand charts.
• The song was performed by 10,000 Maniacs with Michael Stipe at the MTV inaugural ball for Bill Clinton in 1993
• Trash Can Sinatras covered the song in 1996 on the album A Happy Pocket
• Luscious Jackson recorded a version for inclusion as a B-side on their "Ladyfingers" single release in 1996.
• Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles recorded a version in 1997 and included it as an uncredited bonus track on her self-titled CD
• Soul Asylum recorded a live version in 1997 and included it on the album After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom, June 28, 1997
• The Divinyls featured a cover on their 1994 The Collections album.
• Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden included a cover of "To Sir With Love" as a hidden track on her 1997 album Happy?
• Chaka Khan recorded her version with the London Symphony Orchestra and included it on her 2004 album of jazz standards and movie song covers called Classikhan
• The Jackson 5 did their own take in 1967 prior to the group's debut with Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5
• Midge Ure recorded his version on his 2008 album Ten
• The Pyramids "Symarip" TROJAN ( TR 7770 )1970
• Lulu herself sang a brief reprise of the song when she appeared in the film To Sir, With Love II (1996).
• In 1967 Jamaican group Lynn Taitt and the Jets released an instrumental version
• In 1967 Dawn Penn recorded a version produced by Bunny Lee. Bizarrely when the song was originally released in Jamaica on WIRL it was credited to Suzette and the Lynn Taitt Orchestra rather than to Penn.
• In 1968 Martha and the Vandellas released their version on the Ridin' High album

References