Why Was I Born? Explained

Why Was I Born?
Cover:	Why Was I Born?.jpg
Type:	single
Written:	1929
Published:	1929 T.B. Harms, Inc., Universal Polygram International Publishing, Inc.^[1]
Artist:	Helen Morgan
B-Side:	Don't Ever Leave Me
Released:	January 20, 1930^[2]
Recorded:	October 16, 1929 take 2^[3]
Studio:	New York City
Venue:	Sweet Adeline (1929 Broadway musical)
Genre:	Show tune, Popular Music
Length:	3.22
Label:	Victor 22199
Composer:	Jerome Kern
Lyricist:	Oscar Hammerstein II

"Why Was I Born?" is a 1929 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II.^[4]

It was written for the show Sweet Adeline (1929) and introduced by Helen Morgan.^[5] Popular recordings in 1930 were by Helen Morgan and by Libby Holman.^[6]

Notable recordings

• Billie Holiday - recorded the song for Brunswick Records (catalog No. 7859) on January 25, 1937 with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra.^[7]
• Lena Horne in the film Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
• Frank Sinatra recorded the song for Columbia Records on December 28, 1947.^[8]
• Vic Damone reached No. 20 in the Billboard charts in 1949 with the song.^[9]
• Dorothy Lamour - The Road to Romance...For Bing, Bob and You! (1957).^[10]
• Judy Garland - The London Sessions (1960) ^[11]
• Margaret Whiting - Margaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook (1960)^[12]
• Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane - Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane (1963)^[13]
• Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook (1963)^[4]
• Dinah Washington - for her album Dinah '63 (1963).^[14]
• Georgia Brown - Georgia Brown (The Sensational New Singing Star of Oliver!) (1963).^[15]
• Cher - Bittersweet White Light (1973)^[16]
• Sonny Rollins - (2005)^[17]
• Bob Dylan - Triplicate (2017)^[18]

Notes and References

1. Web site: ACE Repertory. 2021-08-18. www.ascap.com.
2. Web site: Victor 27682 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings. 2021-08-18. adp.library.ucsb.edu.
3. Web site: Victor matrix BVE-56191. Why was I born? / Helen Morgan - Discography of American Historical Recordings. 2021-08-18. adp.library.ucsb.edu.
4. Web site: Ella Fitzgerald – Sings The Jerome Kern Songbook (1963, Reel-To-Reel). May 31, 2021. Discogs.com.
5. Web site: Sweet Adeline – Broadway Musical – Original . IBDd.com. May 31, 2021.
6. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 612.
7. Web site: The Online Discographical Project . 78discography.com . September 24, 2018.
8. Web site: Frank Sinatra Discography . Jazzdiscography.com . September 24, 2018.
9. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 120.
10. Web site: Dorothy Lamour - The Road To Romance...For Bing, Bob And You!. Discogs.com. May 31, 2021.
11. Web site: thejudyroom.com . thejudyroom.com . October 8, 2021.
12. Web site: Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book, Vols. 1-2 - Margaret Whiting | Songs, Reviews, Credits. May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
13. Web site: Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane - Kenny Burrell, John Coltrane | Songs, Reviews, Credits. May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
14. Web site: Dinah Washington - Dinah '63. Discogs.com. May 31, 2021.
15. Web site: Georgia Brown - Georgia Brown (The Sensational New Singing Star Of Oliver!). Discogs.com. May 31, 2021.
16. Web site: Vinyl Album: Cher - Bittersweet White Light (1973). May 31, 2021. 45worlds.com.
17. Web site: Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert - Sonny Rollins | Songs, Reviews, Credits. May 31, 2021. AllMusic.
18. Web site: Triplicate - Bob Dylan | Songs, Reviews, Credits . May 31, 2021. AllMusic.