I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)

2022-05-18T20:23:40Z

71.201.99.55:

"'''I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)'''" is a 1931 [[popular music|popular]] [[song]].

The music was written by [[Fred E. Ahlert]], the lyrics by [[Roy Turk]]. The song was published in [[1931 in music|1931]]. It had three periods of great popularity: in [[1931 in music|1931]], right after its publication; in [[1946 in music|1946]]; and in [[1961 in music|1961]]<ref name=Gardner>{{cite book|
title= Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949|
last = Gardner|
first = Edward Foote|
publisher= Paragon House|
location= St. Paul, Minnesota|
year= 2000|
isbn= 1-55778-789-1
}}</ref> into 1962.

In 1931, the biggest-selling version was either by [[Russ Columbo]]<ref name=Gardner/> or by [[Wayne King]];<ref name=WhitburnCentury>{{cite book|
title= Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music|
last = Whitburn|
first = Joel|
author-link = Joel Whitburn|
publisher= Record Research|
location= Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|
year= 1999|
isbn= 0-89820-135-7
}}</ref> both versions and recordings by [[Benny Krueger]]'s orchestra (with a vocal by [[Smith Ballew]]) and by [[Kate Smith]] all had significant popularity.<ref name=Gardner/>

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.<ref name=Gardner/>

In 1961, a US hit recording was issued by [[Linda Scott]]. It reached a peak position #12 in 8 weeks on the [[Billboard chart]];<ref name=WhitburnTop40>{{cite book|
title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits|
last= Whitburn|
first= Joel|
author-link= Joel Whitburn|
publisher= Watson-Guptill Publications|
location=New York|
edition= 7th Rev.|
date=2000-11-01|
isbn= 978-0-8230-7690-1
}}</ref><ref name=Lonergan>{{cite book|
title=Hit Records 1950-1975|
last= Lonergan|
first= David|
publisher= Scarecrow Press|
location=Lanham, Maryland|
date=2004-01-28|
isbn= 978-0-8108-5129-0
}}</ref>
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==
*[[The Andrews Sisters]] and [[Vic Schoen]]'s orchestra (recorded May 8, [[1946 in music|1946]], released by [[Decca Records]] as catalog number 18899A, with the flip side "Azusa"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Dec18500.htm Decca Records in the 18500 to 18999 series]</ref>)
*The Aristocrats (recorded September 1, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Romeo Records]] as catalog number 1711, with the flip side "Let's Drift Away on Dreamer's Bay"<ref>[http://78discography.com/ROM1500.htm Romeo Records in the 1500 to 1999 series]</ref>)
*[[Georgie Auld]] and his orchestra (recorded April 30, [[1946 in music|1946]], released by [[Musicraft Records]] as catalog number 15078, with the flip side "[[Just You, Just Me]]"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Musicraft15000.htm Musicraft Records in the 15000 to 15130 series]</ref>)
*[[Hoagy Carmichael]] and his orchestra (released by [[ARA Records]] as catalog number 148, with the flip side "I Can't Get Started"<ref>[http://78discography.com/ARA100.htm ARA Records in the 100 to 162 series]</ref>)
*[[Larry Clinton]] and his orchestra (released by [[Cosmo Records]] as catalog number 704, with the flip side "[[More Than You Know (1929 song)|More Than You Know]]"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Cosmo.htm Cosmo Records listing]</ref>)
*[[Nat King Cole|King Cole]] Trio (released by [[Capitol Records]] as catalog number 1030, with the flip side "You're the Cream in My Coffee"<ref name=Cap1000>[http://78discography.com/Capitol1000.htm Capitol Records in the 1000 to 1499 series]</ref>)
*[[Russ Columbo]] (recorded September 3, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Victor Records]] as catalog number 22801,<ref name=Gardner/> with the flip side "[[Guilty (1931 song)|Guilty]]"<ref name=Vic22800>[http://78discography.com/vic22500.html Victor Records in the 22500 to 22999 series]</ref>)
*[[Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis|Eddie Davis]] Trio (recorded August 16, [[1955 in music|1955]], released by [[King Records (USA)|King Records]] as catalog number 4832, with the flip side "It's a Pity to Say Goodbye"<ref>[http://78discography.com/King4000.htm King Records in the 4100 to 4997 series]</ref>)
*[[Jimmie Davis]] (recorded March 6, [[1953 in music|1953]], released by [[Decca Records]] as catalog number 29157, with the flip side "Just Between You and Me"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Dec29000.htm Decca Records in the 29000 to 29499 series]</ref>)
*[[The Deep River Boys]] (featuring [[Harry Douglass (singer)|Harry Douglass]]) (released October [[1959 in music|1959]] by [[Top Rank Records]] as catalog number JAR174, with the flip side "Timbers Gotta Roll"<ref>[http://www.globaldogproductions.info/t/top-rank-uk.html Top Rank Records listing]</ref>)
*[[The Delicates]] (released [[1961 in music|1961]] by [[Roulette Records]] as catalog number 4387, with the flip side "Strange Love"<ref>[http://www.globaldogproductions.info/r/roulette.html Roulette Records listing]</ref>)
*[[The DeMarco Sisters]] with [[Bud Freeman]] (recorded October [[1945 in music|1945]], released by [[Majestic Records]] as catalog number 7194, with the flip side "Chiquita Banana"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Majestic.htm Majestic Records listing]</ref>)
*[[Hal Denman]] and his orchestra (recorded November 27, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Supertone Records]] as catalog number 2768, with the flip side "How's Your Uncle?"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Superior.htm Supertone Records in the 2500 to 2839 series]</ref>)
*[[Lou Donaldson]] on his 1995 album ''[[Caracas (album)|Caracas]]''
*[[Tommy Dorsey]] and his orchestra (vocal: [[Stuart Foster]]; recorded April 16, [[1946 in music|1946]], released by [[RCA Victor Records]] as catalog number 20-1901, with the flip side "Remember Me"<ref>[http://78discography.com/RCA201500.htm RCA Victor Records in the 20-1500 to 20-1999 series]</ref>)
*[[Skinnay Ennis]] and his orchestra (released by [[Signature Records]] as catalog number 15033B, with the flip side "Got a Date with an Angel"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Signiature.htm Signature Records listing]</ref>)
*[[Erroll Garner]] Trio (recorded June 28, [[1950 in music|1950]], released by [[Columbia Records]] as catalog numbers 39038, with the flip side "[[When Johnny Comes Marching Home]],"<ref name=Col39000>[http://78discography.com/COL39000.htm Columbia Records in the 39000 to 39499 series]</ref> and 39168, with the flip side "[[It Could Happen to You (song)|It Could Happen to You]]"<ref name=Col39000/>)
*[[Kenneth W. Griffin|Ken Griffin]] (recorded April [[1953 in music|1953]], released by [[Columbia Records]] as catalog number 40101, with the flip side "[[It Had to Be You (song)|It Had to Be You]]"<ref>[http://78discography.com/COL40000.htm Columbia Records in the 40000 to 40499 series]</ref>)
*[[Annette Hanshaw]] (recorded September 22, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Harmony Records]] as catalog number 1376-H, with the flip side "[[Guilty (1931 song)|Guilty]]"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Har1000.htm Harmony Records in the 1000-H to 1428-H series]</ref>)
*[[Eddie Heywood]] (recorded May 29, [[1946 in music|1946]], released by [[Decca Records]] as catalog number 23590, with the flip side "Loch Lomond"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Dec23500.htm Decca Records in the 23500 to 23999 series]</ref>)
*[[Eden Kane]] (recorded [[1961 in music|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.<ref>{{cite web|title=officialcharts.com|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/9773/eden-kane/|accessdate=April 4, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Lloyd Keating]] and his orchestra (recorded August 20, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Clarion Records]] as catalog number 11002, with the flip side "[[Love Letters in the Sand]]"<ref>[http://78discography.com/ClarionSP.htm Clarion Records in various series]</ref>)
*[[Wayne King]] (recorded September 3, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Victor Records]] as catalog number 22817,<ref name=Gardner/><ref name=WhitburnCentury/> with the flip side "[[Guilty (1931 song)|Guilty]]"<ref name=Vic22800/>)
*[[Benny Krueger]] and his orchestra (vocal: [[Smith Ballew]]; recorded September 14, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Brunswick Records]] as catalog number 6185,<ref name=Gardner/> with the flip side "I Idolize My Baby's Eyes"<ref>[http://78discography.com/BRN6000.htm Brunswick Records in the 6000 to 6499 series]</ref>)
*[[Dean Martin]] (from [[Dream with Dean]], released by [[Reprise Records]] RSD2014)
*[[Tony Martin (American singer)|Tony Martin]] with Al Sack's Starlight Orchestra (recorded April [[1946 in music|1946]], released by [[Mercury Records]] as catalog numbers 3019<ref name=Merc3000>[http://78discography.com/Merc030.htm Mercury Records in the 3000 to 3072 series]</ref> and 5034,<ref name=Merc5000>[http://78discography.com/Merc050.htm Mercury Records in the 5000 to 5497 series]</ref> both with the flip side "Without You"<ref name=Merc3000/><ref name=Merc5000/>)
*[[Kenzie Moore]] with [[Joe Dyson]]’s Band (recorded January [[1953 in music|1953]], released by [[Specialty Records]] as catalog number 456, with the flip side "Let It Lay"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Specialty.htm Specialty Records listing]</ref>)
*[[Leon Payne]] (released by [[Capitol Records]] as catalog number 1405, with the flip side "If I Could Only Live My Life Over"<ref name=Cap1000/>)
*[[The Platters]] (From ''[[Volume Two (The Platters album)|Volume Two]]'', released by [[Mercury Records]] as catalog number 20216 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Platters-Volume-Two/release/2517019|title=The Platters – Volume Two (1956, Vinyl)}}</ref>)
*[[The RadioLites]] (recorded September 18, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Columbia Records]] as catalog number 2540-D, with the flip side "[[Love Letters in the Sand]]"<ref name=Col2500D>[http://78discography.com/COL2500D.htm Columbia Records in the 2500-D to 2999-D series]</ref>)
*[[The Ravens]] (recorded September [[1947 in music|1947]], released by [[National Records]] as catalog number 9059, with the flip side "How Could I Know?"<ref>[http://78discography.com/NationalLate.htm National Records listing]</ref>)
*[[Linda Scott]] (released by [[Canadian-American Records]] as catalog number 129<ref name=WhitburnTop40/><ref name=Lonergan/>)
*[[Bobby Sherwood]] and his orchestra (recorded May 5, [[1942 in music|1942]], released by [[Capitol Records]] as catalog number 107, with the flip side ""<ref>[http://78discography.com/Capitol100.htm Capitol Records in the 100 to 499 series]</ref>)
*[[Frank Sinatra]] (recorded July 30, [[1945 in music|1945]], released by [[Columbia Records]] as catalog number 36918, with the flip side "[[You Go to My Head]]"<ref name=Col36500>[http://78discography.com/COL36500.htm Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series]</ref>)
*[[Kate Smith]] (recorded September 15, [[1931 in music|1931]], released by [[Columbia Records]] as catalog number 2539-D,<ref name=Gardner/> with the flip side "You Call It Madness"<ref name=Col2500D/>)
*[[Claude Thornhill]] and his orchestra (recorded July 25, [[1942 in music|1942]], released by [[Columbia Records]] as catalog number 36858, with the flip side "Buster's Last Stand"<ref name=Col36500/>)
*[[Al Trace]]'s Silly Symphonists (released by [[Hit Records]] as catalog number 8081A, with the flip side "Sugar Blues"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Hit8000.htm Hit Records in the 8001 to 8090 series]</ref>)
*[[Billy Williams (singer)|Billy Williams]] Quartet (released by [[Mercury Records]] as catalog number 70012, with the flip side "Mad About Cha"<ref>[http://78discography.com/Merc700.htm Mercury Records in the 70000 to 71696 series]</ref>)
*Country Joe McDonald (Paris Sessions) (1973) (Vanguard Records)

==Translations==
It was translated into French and performed as "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" by [[Georges Beauchemin]] in 1932, and [[Charles Trenet]] in 1946.<ref>[http://www.charles-trenet.net/chansons/Je_ne_sais_pas_pourquoi.html Trenet]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{The Andrews Sisters}}
{{Linda Scott}}
{{Marty Robbins}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1931 songs]]
[[Category:Songs with music by Fred E. Ahlert]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Roy Turk]]
[[Category:Wayne King songs]]
[[Category:Linda Scott songs]]
[[Category:Marty Robbins songs]]
[[Category:Canadian-American Records singles]]

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I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)