I Don't Know Why Explained

I Don't Know Why
Cover:idon'tknowwhystevie.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Stevie Wonder
Album:For Once in My Life
A-Side:My Cherie Amour
Released:January 28, 1969
Recorded:1968
Genre:Soul, pop
Length:
  • 3:02 (single version)
  • (album version)
Label:Tamla
Producer:
  • Don Hunter
  • Stevie Wonder
Prev Title:Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:My Cherie Amour
Next Year:1969

"I Don't Know Why" (sometimes listed as "Don't Know Why I Love You") is a song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, from the 1968 album For Once in My Life. It was released as a single on January 28, 1969, with "My Cherie Amour" on the B-side. A few months later, the single was re-issued with sides reversed because of the growing popularity of "My Cherie Amour", which became a Top Ten hit.[1]

Cash Box stated that "Wonder is softened just a trifle on this slower and more dramatically developing ballad."[2]

Personnel

Charts

The single peaked at No. 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was recorded when Wonder was 18 years old, and became a moderate hit single, together with "You Met Your Match", another song from the album. It also showcases Wonder's talents on the clavinet.

Chart (1969)Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart][3] 41
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 39

Rolling Stones version

I Don't Know Why
Cover:I Don't Know Why cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Rolling Stones
Album:Metamorphosis
A-Side:Try a Little Harder
Recorded:June 1969
Studio:Olympic, London
Genre:Rock
Label:ABKCO
Producer:Jimmy Miller
Prev Title:Dance Little Sister
Prev Year:1974
Next Title:Out of Time
Next Year:1975

A rendition of "I Don't Know Why" by the Rolling Stones is included on their 1975 rarities compilation Metamorphosis. It was recorded on July 3, 1969, during the sessions for Let It Bleed. It was also the night that news broke of former guitarist Brian Jones' death, less than a month after he had been fired from the band.

The song was also used as the B-side for their 1975 single "Try A Little Harder", and peaked at No. 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Betts, Graham . 2014 . Motown Encyclopedia . 414–415 . AC Publishing . 9781311441546.
  2. News: CashBox Record Reviews. February 15, 1969. 20. 2021-12-08. Cash Box.
  3. The RPM 100 . March 17, 1969 . RPM . 11 . 3 . 5.
  4. The Hot 100 Chart . Billboard . 7 October 2020 . March 22, 1969.
  5. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 720.