"I May Be Wrong (but I Think You're Wonderful)" is a popular song. The music was written by Henry Sullivan, the lyrics by Harry Ruskin, arranged by Dan Daugherty, and the original music publisher was Ager, Yellen, and Bornstein, Inc.[1] The song was published in 1929 and it was included in the musical revue Murray Anderson's Almanac which ran for 69 performances at Erlanger's Theatre on Broadway in 1929.[2] It is said that the song was written on-demand for John Murray Anderson.
In his book, Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre,[3] Stanley Green reported that “because Anderson believed that the best songs are created under pressure he locked Sullivan in a room with a piano and threatened to keep him in there until he came up with a potential hit. When finally liberated, the composer had written the most successful number in the show. The song was introduced by singer Jimmy Savo in the revue."[4]
Cover versions edit
- High Hatters (vocal: Frank Luther) - recorded August 23, 1929 for Victor Records (catalog No. 22105).[5]
- Al Katz and His Kittens, recorded August 30, 1929 for Columbia Records, catalog No. 1971D.[6]
- Libby Holman, recorded September 1920 for Brunswick Records, November 1929, catalog No. 4506.[7]
- Red Nichols and His Five Pennies (with vocal chorus), recorded on October 24, 1929, for Brunswick Records, catalog. No. 4500.[8]
- Gladys Rice and Franklyn Baur, recorded November 26, 1929 for Victor Records, catalog. No. 22226.[9]
- Judy Garland - performed the song on Command Performance #134, August 19, 1944.[10]
- Dinah Shore - a single release for Columbia Records, catalog No. 37140. (1946)[11]
- Frankie Laine released a version in 1946, backed by Milton Delugg and the Swing Wing for Mercury Records, catalog No. 1205A.[12]
- Doris Day with Harry James - included in the album Young Man with a Horn. Released on Columbia CL-6106 in 1950.
- Frank Rosolino released a version in 1956, on his I Play Trombone album.[13]
- The Four Freshmen - for their album Four Freshmen and Five Saxes (1957).
- Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney recorded the song in 1958[14] for use on their radio show and it was subsequently included in the CD Bing & Rosie - The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions released in 2010.[15]
- Perry Como - included in his album Saturday Night with Mr. C (1958)
- The Mills Brothers - included in the album Count Basie & The Mills Brothers – The Board Of Directors (1967).[16]
- Ray Charles recorded a version for his album Volcanic Action of My Soul (1971)
- June Christy - A Friendly Session, Vol. 2 (1999)
- Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass recorded it on their album Speak Love.
Film appearances edit
- 1943 Swingtime Johnny - performed by The Andrews Sisters
- 1947 The Unsuspected - briefly sung by Audrey Totter
- 1948 Wallflower - played by the band at the dance and sung by Janis Paige
- 1949 You're My Everything - sung and danced by Dan Dailey
- 1950 Young Man with a Horn - sung by Doris Day
- 1951 Sunny Side of the Street - sung by Frankie Laine and Toni Arden
- 1953 She's Back on Broadway - performed by Gene Nelson
- 1961 Claudelle Inglish - played at the Senior Dance
References edit
- ^ Sullivan, Henry (1929-01-01). "I May Be Wrong". Sheet Music Collection.
- ^ "Broadway World". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Green, Stanley (1980). Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. New York: Da Capo. ISBN 0306801132.
- ^ "Worcester Songwriters of the Great American Songbook". worcestersongs.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "Judy Garland Discography". thejudyroom.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.