Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)

"Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)" is a popular song written by Morty Craft with lyrics written by Craft's wife, Selma.

"Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)"
Single by The Shepherd Sisters
B-side	"Congratulations to Someone"
Released	August 1957
Recorded	1957
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	2:45
Label	Lance
Songwriter(s)	Morty Craft-Selma Craft[1]
The Shepherd Sisters singles chronology
"Gone with the Wind" (1956) "Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)" (1957)

"Alone"
Single by The Four Seasons
from the album More Golden Hits by The Four Seasons
B-side	"Long, Lonely Nights (from the album Folk-Nanny)"
Released	May 1964
Genre	Doo-wop, rock and roll
Length	2:49
Label	Vee-Jay
Songwriter(s)	Morty Craft-Selma Craft[2]
Producer(s)	Bob Crewe
The Four Seasons singles chronology
"Ronnie" (1964) "Alone" (1964) "Rag Doll" (1964)

Original recordings

Craft, who founded Lance Records, produced the recording of "Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)" by The Shepherd Sisters for the label. It was the only hit for The Shepherd Sisters in the United States, reaching No. 18 on the Billboard chart^[3] on November 11, 1957. The Shepherd Sisters' version also charted in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 14.^[4]

Four Seasons recording

A remake of the song by The Four Seasons charted in 1964, reaching its peak Billboard Hot 100 position at No. 28,^[5] on July 18. "Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)" also went to No. 8 on the Canadian singles chart. It was the act's last hit single on Vee Jay Records, as The Four Seasons had already left the label at the beginning of 1964 in a royalty dispute.

Cover versions

• "Alone" was one of a number of hits for Petula Clark, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart,^[6] before she became famous internationally.
• The song was also subsequently recorded by Tracey Ullman.
• A 1957, version by The Southlanders, reached No. 17 in the UK.
• Saint Motel sampled the original version in their song "Sisters" which appears on their third album, The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.^[7]