Crosby, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, John Gary, Keely Smith and Neil Sedaka, and opera singers like Lauritz Melchior, Jan Peerce and Mario Lanza, many African-American artists of varying styles also successfully recorded the song after Billy Eckstine first did so in 1946, including a version in "gospel style" by Mahalia Jackson in concert in Berlin, 1967; also versions by Ray Charles, George Benson, The Ravens, Roy Hamilton, The Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes (for their album I Hear A Symphony), and jazz singer Jimmy Scott on his 2006 album Milestone Profiles - Jimmy Scott on Milestone Records. Billy Preston recorded a version for his 1971 album I Wrote A Simple Song, but two years earlier, while working with the Beatles, he improvised it with John Lennon and Ringo Starr and this recording was ultimately included in 2021 on Let It Be: Special Edition. Instrumental versions have been recorded by Sonny Rollins, on his 1962 "comeback" album, The Bridge, Stanley Turrentine on his album Never Let Me Go (Blue Note 90838), Clare Fischer on Surging Ahead (Pacific Jazz PJ 67), and Bill Evans on You Must Believe in Spring (reissued on Rhino Records). Others include Oscar Peterson, Louis Armstrong, Art Blakey, Art Tatum, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Art Pepper, Nana Mouskouri and Adam Rogers. Al Jolson sang "Without A Song" on request from Oscar Levant, and as the show's closing number, on the CBS Kraft Music Hall radio program, on the 21st of October 1948, accompanied by Lou Bring & His Orchestra & Chorus. James Cleveland and the Cleveland Singers recorded "Without a Song" on the Savoy Records label in 1965, its much-loved gospel rendition that features Cleveland's powerful lead complemented by striking vocal harmonies. "Without a Song" was released as a single in the UK by Gary Shearston in 1974 and by Noah Stewart in 2011. The Carpenters included a partially a cappella rendition of “Without a Song” in their 1980 TV special The Carpenters: Music, Music, Music. Willie Nelson used it as the title track of a 1983 album. References Songs with music by Vincent Youmans Songs with lyrics by Billy Rose Songs with lyrics by Edward Eliscu 1929 songs Willie Nelson songs Columbia Records singles 1920s jazz standards Songs from musicals