Confessin’ 1930
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“(I’m) Confessin’ (that I Love You)”
Published 1930
Composer(s) Chris Smith
Lyricist(s) Al J. Neiburg
Language English
“(I’m) Confessin’ (that I Love You)” (also known as “Confessin’,” “I’m Confessin’,” and “Confessin’ that I Love You”) is a jazz and popular standard that has been recorded many times.
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.
Other important recorded versions in the United States were done by Chester Gaylord (1930), Guy Lombardo (1930), Rudy Vallee (1930), Perry Como (1945), Les Paul and Mary Ford (1952), and Anne Murray (1993). The song was also a number one hit for Frank Ifield in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1963.
Dizzy Gillespie recorded a version titled “Pop’s Confessin'” in which he imitated the vocal style of Louis Armstrong.
Recorded versions
Alyn Ainsworth
Louis Armstrong 1930
Smith Ballew
Count Basie
Josephine Baker
Tony Bennett w/k.d. lang 2002
Teresa Brewer 1991
Paul Chambers
Rosemary Clooney 1955/2002 (live)
Perry Como 1945 #12
Doris Day 1964
Connie Evingson
Ella Fitzgerald on her Decca album “For Sentimental Reasons”, with Johnny Long and his Orchestra 1978
Helen Forrest
Judy Garland 1958
Erroll Garner
Chester Gaylord (1930, Brunswick 4871)
Benny Goodman 1939
Stéphane Grappelli
Lionel Hampton
Lena Horne 1962
Frank Ifield 1963 #1 (UK)
Harry James 1944
Diana Krall 2017
Frankie Laine
Peggy Lee 1974
Guy Lombardo 1930
Dean Martin 1964/1973
Pat Martino
The McGuire Sisters
Thelonious Monk
Van Morrison
Anne Murray 1993
Ricky Nelson 1957
Willie Nelson 1978/1981
Les Paul and Mary Ford 1952
Oscar Peterson
Louis Prima
Johnnie Ray 1958
Django Reinhardt
Marc Ribot
Mavis Rivers with Red Norvo
Tommy Sands
Artie Shaw 1941
Sonny Stitt
Dinah Shore
Kay Starr
April Stevens
Nino Tempo
Rudy Vallee 1930
Lizz Wright
Timi Yuro