I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)
"I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" is a 1931 popular song.
The music was written by Fred E. Ahlert, the lyrics by Roy Turk. The song was published in 1931. It had three periods of great popularity: in 1931, right after its publication; in 1946; and in 1961[1] into 1962.
In 1931, the biggest-selling version was either by Russ Columbo[1] or by Wayne King;[2] both versions and recordings by Benny Krueger's orchestra (with a vocal by Smith Ballew) and by Kate Smith all had significant popularity.[1]
In September 1943, Frank Sinatra sang this song on the radio series A Date with Judy.
In 1946, three versions, by Tommy Dorsey's orchestra (with a vocal by Stuart Foster), by Frank Sinatra, and by Skinnay Ennis, all contended for popularity.[1]
In 1961, a US hit recording was issued by Linda Scott. It reached a peak position #12 in 8 weeks on the Billboard chart;[3][4] The song has been recorded by many artists (ranging from country-blues legends like Moon Mullican and Jerry Lee Lewis to Dean Martin) and is now a standard.
Recorded versions
[edit]- The Andrews Sisters and Vic Schoen's orchestra (recorded May 8, 1946, released by Decca Records as catalog number 18899A, with the flip side "Azusa"[5])
- The Aristocrats (recorded September 1, 1931, released by Romeo Records as catalog number 1711, with the flip side "Let's Drift Away on Dreamer's Bay"[6])
- Georgie Auld and his orchestra (recorded April 30, 1946, released by Musicraft Records as catalog number 15078, with the flip side "Just You, Just Me"[7])
- Hoagy Carmichael and his orchestra (released by ARA Records as catalog number 148, with the flip side "I Can't Get Started"[8])
- Larry Clinton and his orchestra (released by Cosmo Records as catalog number 704, with the flip side "More Than You Know"[9])
- King Cole Trio (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1030, with the flip side "You're the Cream in My Coffee"[10])
- Russ Columbo (recorded September 3, 1931, released by Victor Records as catalog number 22801,[1] with the flip side "Guilty"[11])
- Eddie Davis Trio (recorded August 16, 1955, released by King Records as catalog number 4832, with the flip side "It's a Pity to Say Goodbye"[12])
- Jimmie Davis (recorded March 6, 1953, released by Decca Records as catalog number 29157, with the flip side "Just Between You and Me"[13])
- The Deep River Boys (featuring Harry Douglass) (released October 1959 by Top Rank Records as catalog number JAR174, with the flip side "Timbers Gotta Roll"[14])
- The Delicates (released 1961 by Roulette Records as catalog number 4387, with the flip side "Strange Love"[15])
- The DeMarco Sisters with Bud Freeman (recorded October 1945, released by Majestic Records as catalog number 7194, with the flip side "Chiquita Banana"[16])
- Hal Denman and his orchestra (recorded November 27, 1931, released by Supertone Records as catalog number 2768, with the flip side "How's Your Uncle?"[17])
- Lou Donaldson on his 1995 album Caracas
- Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra (vocal: Stuart Foster; recorded April 16, 1946, released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1901, with the flip side "Remember Me"[18])
- Skinnay Ennis and his orchestra (released by Signature Records as catalog number 15033B, with the flip side "Got a Date with an Angel"[19])
- Erroll Garner Trio (recorded June 28, 1950, released by Columbia Records as catalog numbers 39038, with the flip side "When Johnny Comes Marching Home,"[20] and 39168, with the flip side "It Could Happen to You"[20])
- Ken Griffin (recorded April 1953, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 40101, with the flip side "It Had to Be You"[21])
- Annette Hanshaw (recorded September 22, 1931, released by Harmony Records as catalog number 1376-H, with the flip side "Guilty"[22])
- Eddie Heywood (recorded May 29, 1946, released by Decca Records as catalog number 23590, with the flip side "Loch Lomond"[23])
- Eden Kane (recorded 1961, released by Decca Records in Britain as catalog number F 11460, with the flip side "Music For Strings". In early 1962, this version reached the British Top 10, peaking at #7 with his version.[24]
- Lloyd Keating and his orchestra (recorded August 20, 1931, released by Clarion Records as catalog number 11002, with the flip side "Love Letters in the Sand"[25])
- Wayne King (recorded September 3, 1931, released by Victor Records as catalog number 22817,[1][2] with the flip side "Guilty"[11])
- Benny Krueger and his orchestra (vocal: Smith Ballew; recorded September 14, 1931, released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 6185,[1] with the flip side "I Idolize My Baby's Eyes"[26])
- Dean Martin (from Dream with Dean, released by Reprise Records RSD2014)
- Tony Martin with Al Sack's Starlight Orchestra (recorded April 1946, released by Mercury Records as catalog numbers 3019[27] and 5034,[28] both with the flip side "Without You"[27][28])
- Kenzie Moore with Joe Dyson’s Band (recorded January 1953, released by Specialty Records as catalog number 456, with the flip side "Let It Lay"[29])
- Leon Payne (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1405, with the flip side "If I Could Only Live My Life Over"[10])
- The Platters (From Volume Two, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 20216 [30])
- The RadioLites (recorded September 18, 1931, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 2540-D, with the flip side "Love Letters in the Sand"[31])
- The Ravens (recorded September 1947, released by National Records as catalog number 9059, with the flip side "How Could I Know?"[32])
- Linda Scott (released by Canadian-American Records as catalog number 129[3][4])
- Bobby Sherwood and his orchestra (recorded May 5, 1942, released by Capitol Records as catalog number 107, with the flip side ""[33])
- Frank Sinatra (recorded July 30, 1945, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36918, with the flip side "You Go to My Head"[34])
- Kate Smith (recorded September 15, 1931, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 2539-D,[1] with the flip side "You Call It Madness"[31])
- Claude Thornhill and his orchestra (recorded July 25, 1942, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36858, with the flip side "Buster's Last Stand"[34])
- Al Trace's Silly Symphonists (released by Hit Records as catalog number 8081A, with the flip side "Sugar Blues"[35])
- Billy Williams Quartet (released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70012, with the flip side "Mad About Cha"[36])
- Country Joe McDonald (Paris Sessions) (1973) (Vanguard Records)
Translations
[edit]It was translated into French and performed as "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" by Georges Beauchemin in 1932, and Charles Trenet in 1946.[37]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Gardner, Edward Foote (2000). Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949. St. Paul, Minnesota: Paragon House. ISBN 1-55778-789-1.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1999). Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-135-7.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2000-11-01). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (7th Rev. ed.). New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN 978-0-8230-7690-1.
- ^ a b Lonergan, David (2004-01-28). Hit Records 1950-1975. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5129-0.
- ^ Decca Records in the 18500 to 18999 series
- ^ Romeo Records in the 1500 to 1999 series
- ^ Musicraft Records in the 15000 to 15130 series
- ^ ARA Records in the 100 to 162 series
- ^ Cosmo Records listing
- ^ a b Capitol Records in the 1000 to 1499 series
- ^ a b Victor Records in the 22500 to 22999 series
- ^ King Records in the 4100 to 4997 series
- ^ Decca Records in the 29000 to 29499 series
- ^ Top Rank Records listing
- ^ Roulette Records listing
- ^ Majestic Records listing
- ^ Supertone Records in the 2500 to 2839 series
- ^ RCA Victor Records in the 20-1500 to 20-1999 series
- ^ Signature Records listing
- ^ a b Columbia Records in the 39000 to 39499 series
- ^ Columbia Records in the 40000 to 40499 series
- ^ Harmony Records in the 1000-H to 1428-H series
- ^ Decca Records in the 23500 to 23999 series
- ^ "officialcharts.com". Official Charts. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ Clarion Records in various series
- ^ Brunswick Records in the 6000 to 6499 series
- ^ a b Mercury Records in the 3000 to 3072 series
- ^ a b Mercury Records in the 5000 to 5497 series
- ^ Specialty Records listing
- ^ "The Platters – Volume Two (1956, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1956.
- ^ a b Columbia Records in the 2500-D to 2999-D series
- ^ National Records listing
- ^ Capitol Records in the 100 to 499 series
- ^ a b Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series
- ^ Hit Records in the 8001 to 8090 series
- ^ Mercury Records in the 70000 to 71696 series
- ^ Trenet
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