"To Sir With Love" was both a film and a hit song sung by Lulu.
The song served as the theme of the 1967 British film To Sir, with Love, directed by James Clavell and starring Sidney Poitier as teacher Mark Thackeray. Scottish singer and actress Lulu also appeared in the film, making the song especially closely connected to the movie rather than being merely a later tie-in recording.
Written by lyricist Don Black and composer Mark London, the song became a major success in the United States. Lulu’s recording reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1967 and stayed there for five weeks. Billboard also ranked it as the best-selling U.S. single of 1967.
A common mix-up is crediting the song to the film’s star, Sidney Poitier, or to The Mindbenders, who were involved with the film’s music and appeared in it. The widely recognized hit version, however, was performed by Lulu, whose career combined pop singing with acting.