where to get The Candy Man Can by Sammy Davis Jr in piano or instrumental?

Question

I want to use the song The Candy Man Can originally sung by Sammy Davis Jr as a background music for one of my online projects.  

a) is it legal to do so without formally asking for permission to use the song? Or would that be copyright infringement?

b) I want it on piano only or at most instrumental with no vocals.  Where can I find one like this?

c) If I find a web site which allows me to download/buy the song, how do I know that this is a legal copy of the song that can be sold, or if it is a pirated copy?

d) If I find a web site which allows me to buy the music sheet and I ask my buddy to play it on the piano and record it, then is it legal to use it?  how do I know that this web site has the rights to the music sheets in the first place?

Am I being overly cautious or what?  Thanks in advance

calyfran · Accepted Answer

They're good questions, and you aren't being overly cautious. If your online project is a moneymaking endeavor, then you'd get in trouble for using the song, whether someone else's recording or your own. Using more than a few seconds of a copyrighted piece of music is a violation of copyright. If it's a project for school, though, or something like that, then I'd imagine that if you buy the sheet music and have your friend record it, you won't be hassled. Chances are the copyright owner wouldn't learn of it. And almost certainly the worst that might happen to you would be that you'd receive an order from the copyright owner to cease and desist, meaning that you'd have to take down the project or replace the music with something not under copyright.

Here are some downloadable (not free) piano versions of the song (free software installation required for printout):
http://search.musicnotes.com/?q=candy+man&search_id=Top&hl=n&x=0&y=0

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where to get The Candy Man Can by Sammy Davis Jr in piano or instrumental?

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