Sinner Man

"Sinner Man"
Song

"Sinner Man" or "Sinnerman" is an American traditional spiritual song that has been recorded by a number of performers. The song dates to the turn of the 20th century but most modern recorded versions derive from the 1956 recording by Les Baxter, further changes and additions were codified in 1959 by the folk music group the Weavers. The Weavers' performance of the song appears on their compilation albums Gospel and Reunion at Carnegie Hall Part 2.

The Nina Simone recording

"Sinnerman" (spelled as one word) is one of Nina Simone's most famous songs and she recorded her definitive 10-minute-plus version on her 1965 album Pastel Blues. Simone learned the lyrics of this song in her childhood when it was used at revival meetings by her mother, a Methodist minister, to help people confess their sins. In the early days of her career during the early sixties, when she was heavily involved in the Greenwich Village scene, Simone often used the long piece to end her live performances. An earlier version of the song exists, recorded live at The Village Gate, but was never used on the 1962 Colpix album Nina at the Village Gate.

Simone's version of Sinnerman has been sampled by Kanye West for the Talib Kweli song "Get By", by Timbaland for the song "Oh Timbaland", and by Felix da Housecat for Verve Record's "Verve Remixed" series (1rst posthume music video directed by J.G Biggs). It has also been covered by 16 Horsepower on their album Folklore, and by Zegota on their self-titled 7". French rapper Abd al-Malik sampled Simone's version for the title track of his 2006 album "Gibraltar". He also sampled Simone's version of "See Line Woman" for the track "Le grand frère" from the same album.

Versions of "Sinnerman" were featured in 1999's The Thomas Crown Affair, in the 2004 film Cellular by David R. Ellis, and in three 2006 films: Michael Mann's Miami Vice, The Golden Door by Emanuele Crialese, in the closing scene of David Lynch's Inland Empire, and during a chase scene midway through the 2007 documentary Sharkwater by Rob Stewart. On TV, the song was heard in episode 10 of season 6 of Homicide: Life on the Street as well as at the end of episode 6 of season 4 of Entourage, to name just two of several examples. An instrumental section is used by Australian Network Ten during its Australian Football League broadcasts.

Peter Tosh and the Wailers versions

"Sinner Man" has also been recorded as a reggae interpretation several times by the Wailers.

It was first recorded by the group at Studio One in Kingston, Jamaica in early 1966; Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer shared lead vocals.

A different version entitled "Downpressor Man" was recorded by Peter Tosh & The Wailers in 1971 ("downpressor" meaning "oppressor" in Rastafarian vocabulary). The song featured Tosh on lead vocals and Bunny Wailer on background. An instrumental version was also released. Songwriting credit for this version is sometimes given to Tosh.

Tosh recorded the song again as "Downpresser Man" for his 1977 solo album Equal Rights and released a live recording of the song in a medley with "Equal Rights" on his 1983 album Captured Live.

The Tosh solo version was covered by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor on her 2005 album Throw Down Your Arms, and by the ska-punk band Goldfinger.

Other versions

A number of other versions of the song have been recorded by performers such as The Seekers, Three Dog Night, John P. Kee, 16 Horsepower, Soda & His Million Piece Band, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Lauryn Hill and 1960s Spanish folk group "Nuestro pequeño mundo".

An interpretation was recorded by Yoko Kanno as a background track for an episode of Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG entitled "Vegetarian Dinner".

A hard rock version was recorded by the band Extra Fancy in 1996, which was also the name of their debut album. It was a minor hit on MTV2, and was also featured on the cartoon series, Mega Man, which is based on the best-selling video game series and character of the same name by Capcom.

An instrumental variation titled "Guru / Sinnerman" was recorded by indie-rock band Plants and Animals for their 2007 EP With/Avec.

The Canadian section of the Ukrainian youth orgranization Plast has adapted a translated version, sung regularly at campfires. It is unknown when it was first sung.

The Von Trapp Children have recorded a version for their A Capella CD.

"Spot Light on Bud and Travis" Liberty Records side one LRP3138

Gordon Lightfoot and Terry Whelan recorded Sinnerman in 1962 as the Two Tones. The song appears on their live "At The Village Corner" record.

Sinnerman (Heavenly House mix) by Felix Da Housecat, from the 2003 CD entitled Verve Remixed.

American blues duo Black Diamond Heavies recorded a version for their 2008 album, "A Touch of Someone Else's Class".

Brazilian musician Zé Ramalho has recorded a version in portuguese, entitled Oh! Pecador, as bonus for his 1985 album De Gosto de Água e de Amigos.

Other songs titled "Sinner Man"

"Sinner Man" was recorded by Trini Lopez and appears on his album All My Best.

"Sinner man" was also recorded in 1958 by Nina and Frederick, a couple nerderland-Danish who still live in Ibiza.

"Sinner Man" is also the title of a disco song written by Amanda George and Rob Hegel that was a hit for Sarah Dash in 1979.

"Sinnerman" is the title of a song by Midge Ure on his 1996 album Breathe written by Ure and Danny Mitchell.

"Sinner Man" in other media

Nina Simone's "Sinnerman" has been featured in various films and commercials. Her version has also been used in a number of fashion show soundtracks, including Dior's Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2004 and Valentino Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2008.

Films

• The Young One (1960, played at the beginning, version by Leon Bibb)
• The Thomas Crown Affair (1999, during the climax)
• Crime and Punishment in Suburbia (2000—two different versions)
• High Crimes (2002, Felix da Housecat remix, during ending sequence.)
• Cellular (2004)
• Oceans 12 (2004)
• Miami Vice (2006, Felix da Housecat remix, during the opening scene in the nightclub)
• Inland Empire (2006, played at the end)
• Déjà Vu (2006)
• Golden Door (2007)
• Sharkwater (2007)
• The Windsurfing Movie (2007)
• A Very British Gangster (2007)
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
• Les regrets (2009)

Television

• Scrubs (episode called My Own Personal Jesus)
• Homicide: Life on the Street
• Life on Mars Season 1, Episode 7. Played over finale/end credits.
• Nash Bridges Episode titled "Jackpot Part 1" played during the scene that Nash called the chief of police to warn him of an assassination plot.
• Judge John Deed (A section of the instrumental part of Sinnerman forms part of the theme tune)
• Morning Chubb
• Entourage (Credits of Season 4 Episode 06 "The WeHo Ho")
• Mad Men (During a Promo for season 2)
• "Verbotene Liebe" (English title: Forbidden Love)
• Top Gear (UK) (Series 9, Episode 3 - America Special - Initial Miami Beach scene (Felix da Housecat Mix))
• Boomtown (2.6 The Big Picture)
• Sociedade Civil RTP2 Portugal intro song
• Shameless Season 8 - Episode 7

Other

• Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (video game)
• The Absinthe Films snowboarding video Futureproof
• "Sinner Man" is featured in Ben Bova's short story "Stars, Won't You Hide Me?" and the title is a lyric from the song. (The story can be found in his 1990 "Future Crime" anthology.)
• Dance 8. for male solo of Alvin Ailey's ballet "Revelations"
• Sinnermen Productions (Production Company)
• The Felix Da Housecat remix is featured in the mobile phone maker HTC Corporation "You" campaign commercials.
• "Sinnerman" is featured in the novel Night of Thunder by Stephen Hunter (2008). The lyrics are partially quoted and a character takes on the persona of The Sinnerman.

External links

• "Sinnerman" information including lyrics at the Nina Simone Database
• "Sinner Man" page at The 60's Jamaican Music Reference