I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) Explained

"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

• 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

It was translated into French and performed as "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" by Georges Beauchemin in 1932, and Charles Trenet in 1946.^[37]

Notes and References

1. Book: Gardner, Edward Foote. Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949. Paragon House. St. Paul, Minnesota. 2000. 1-55778-789-1 .
2. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music. Joel Whitburn. Record Research. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. 1999. 0-89820-135-7 .
3. Book: Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Joel Whitburn. Watson-Guptill Publications. New York. 7th Rev.. 2000-11-01. 978-0-8230-7690-1 .
4. Book: Lonergan, David. Hit Records 1950-1975. Scarecrow Press. Lanham, Maryland. 2004-01-28. 978-0-8108-5129-0 .
5. http://78discography.com/Dec18500.htm Decca Records in the 18500 to 18999 series
6. http://78discography.com/ROM1500.htm Romeo Records in the 1500 to 1999 series
7. http://78discography.com/Musicraft15000.htm Musicraft Records in the 15000 to 15130 series
8. http://78discography.com/ARA100.htm ARA Records in the 100 to 162 series
9. http://78discography.com/Cosmo.htm Cosmo Records listing
10. http://78discography.com/Capitol1000.htm Capitol Records in the 1000 to 1499 series
11. http://78discography.com/vic22500.html Victor Records in the 22500 to 22999 series
12. http://78discography.com/King4000.htm King Records in the 4100 to 4997 series
13. http://78discography.com/Dec29000.htm Decca Records in the 29000 to 29499 series
14. http://www.globaldogproductions.info/t/top-rank-uk.html Top Rank Records listing
15. http://www.globaldogproductions.info/r/roulette.html Roulette Records listing
16. http://78discography.com/Majestic.htm Majestic Records listing
17. http://78discography.com/Superior.htm Supertone Records in the 2500 to 2839 series
18. http://78discography.com/RCA201500.htm RCA Victor Records in the 20-1500 to 20-1999 series
19. http://78discography.com/Signiature.htm Signature Records listing
20. http://78discography.com/COL39000.htm Columbia Records in the 39000 to 39499 series
21. http://78discography.com/COL40000.htm Columbia Records in the 40000 to 40499 series
22. http://78discography.com/Har1000.htm Harmony Records in the 1000-H to 1428-H series
23. http://78discography.com/Dec23500.htm Decca Records in the 23500 to 23999 series
24. Web site: officialcharts.com. . April 4, 2021.
25. http://78discography.com/ClarionSP.htm Clarion Records in various series
26. http://78discography.com/BRN6000.htm Brunswick Records in the 6000 to 6499 series
27. http://78discography.com/Merc030.htm Mercury Records in the 3000 to 3072 series
28. http://78discography.com/Merc050.htm Mercury Records in the 5000 to 5497 series
29. http://78discography.com/Specialty.htm Specialty Records listing
30. Web site: The Platters – Volume Two (1956, Vinyl). . 1956 .
31. http://78discography.com/COL2500D.htm Columbia Records in the 2500-D to 2999-D series
32. http://78discography.com/NationalLate.htm National Records listing
33. http://78discography.com/Capitol100.htm Capitol Records in the 100 to 499 series
34. http://78discography.com/COL36500.htm Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series
35. http://78discography.com/Hit8000.htm Hit Records in the 8001 to 8090 series
36. http://78discography.com/Merc700.htm Mercury Records in the 70000 to 71696 series
37. http://www.charles-trenet.net/chansons/Je_ne_sais_pas_pourquoi.html Trenet