| "My Greatest Mistake" | |
| Type: | Song |
| Composer: | Jack Fulton (w&m) and Jack O'Brien (w&m) |
| Key: | E major |
| Genre: | Popular, torch song |
| Form: | AABA |
| Written: | 1940 |
| Meter: | Moderately slow (with expression) |
| Publisher: | Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc. |
"My Greatest Mistake" is a popular song written in 1940 by Jack Fulton and Jack "Bones" O'Brien.
The original piano and vocal score is in E major. The song was Jack Fulton's first hit. Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., of New York was the publisher. J. R. Lafleur & Son, Ltd. (Boosey & Hawkes), of London was the sole selling agent for the British Empire, except Canada, Newfoundland, and Australia. J. Albert & Son of Sydney was the selling agent for Australia.
"My Greatest Mistake" was one of some 1,250,000 songs under an ASCAP license. In 1940, ASCAP attempted to double its fees to broadcasters for the airing of licensed songs. For ten months – January 1, 1941, to October 29, 1941 – radio broadcasters, namely NBC and CBS, banned all music licensed by ASCAP. Given the timing of the launch of "My Greatest Mistake," the ASCAP boycott, according to O'Brien, stunted the momentum of the song's rise in popularity for 13 recordings that were released before the boycott.