I May Be Wrong (but I Think You're Wonderful)
"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.{{Cite journal |last=Sullivan |first=Henry |date=1929-01-01 |title=I May Be Wrong |url=https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/7559 |journal=Sheet Music Collection}} 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.{{cite web|title=Broadway World|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/shows/backstage.php?showid=2144#|website=broadwayworld.com|accessdate=December 4, 2017}} It is said that the song was written on-demand for John Murray Anderson.
In his book, Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre,{{cite book|last1=Green|first1=Stanley|title=Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre|date=1980|publisher=Da Capo|location=New York|isbn=0306801132|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/trent_0116403559523}} 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."{{cite web|title=Worcester Songwriters of the Great American Songbook|url=http://worcestersongs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/i-may-be-wrong-but-i-think-youre.html|website=worcestersongs.blogspot.co.uk|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}
Other recordings
- High Hatters (vocal: Frank Luther) - recorded August 23, 1929 for Victor Records (catalog No. 22105).{{cite web|title=The Online Discographical Project|url=http://www.78discography.com/vic22000.html|website=78discography.com|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}
- Al Katz and His Kittens, recorded August 30, 1929 for Columbia Records, catalog No. 1971D.{{cite web|title=The Online Discographical Project|url=http://www.78discography.com/COL1500D.htm|website=78discography.com|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}
- Libby Holman, recorded September 1920 for Brunswick Records, November 1929, catalog No. 4506.{{cite web|title=The Online Discographical Project|url=http://www.78discography.com/|website=78discography.com|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}
- Red Nichols and His Five Pennies (with vocal chorus), recorded on October 24, 1929, for Brunswick Records, catalog. No. 4500.{{cite web|title=The Online Discographical Project|url=http://www.78discography.com/BRN4500.htm|website=78discography.com|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}
- Gladys Rice and Franklyn Baur, recorded November 26, 1929 for Victor Records, catalog. No. 22226.{{cite web|title=The Online Discographical Project|url=http://www.78discography.com/vic22000.html|website=78discography.com|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}
- Judy Garland - performed the song on Command Performance #134, August 19, 1944.{{cite web|title=Judy Garland Discography|url=http://thejudyroom.com/misc/losttracksbestof.html|website=thejudyroom.com|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}
- Dinah Shore - a single release for Columbia Records, catalog No. 37140. (1946){{cite web|title=The Online Discographical Project|url=http://www.78discography.com/COL37000.htm|website=78discography.com|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}
- Frankie Laine released a version in 1946, backed by Milton Delugg and the Swing Wing for Mercury Records, catalog No. 1205A.{{cite web|title=The Online Discographical Project|url=http://www.78discography.com/Merc010.htm|website=78discography.com|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}
- Doris Day with Harry James - included in the album Young Man with a Horn. Released on Columbia CL-6106 in 1950.{{cite web|title=www.discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4365566-Doris-Day-And-Harry-James-Young-Man-With-A-Horn?srsltid=AfmBOopLdnyUg197DE9glNruRTxVzTWxOydqpeIvYE5nrWEqVcdTlbiz|website=www.discogs.com|accessdate=January 23, 2025}}
- Frank Rosolino released a version in 1956, on his I Play Trombone album.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Frank-Rosolino-I-Play-Trombone/master/322279|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}
- The Four Freshmen - included in their album Four Freshmen and Five Saxes (1957).{{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/four-freshmen-and-five-saxes-mw0000340645|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=January 22, 2025}}
- Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney recorded the song in 1958{{cite web|title=A Bing Crosby Discography|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/CBS.html |website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|accessdate=December 3, 2017}} for use on their radio show and it was subsequently included in the CD Bing & Rosie - The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions released in 2010.{{cite web|title=allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bing-rosie-the-crosby-clooney-radio-sessions-mw0002076504|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}
- Perry Como - included in his album Saturday Night with Mr. C (1958){{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/saturday-night-with-mr-c-mw0000842367|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=January 22, 2025}}
- The Mills Brothers - included in the album Count Basie & The Mills Brothers – The Board Of Directors (1967).{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Count-Basie-The-Mills-Brothers-The-Board-Of-Directors/master/413860|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=December 4, 2017}}
- Ray Charles recorded a version for his album Volcanic Action of My Soul (1971){{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/volcanic-action-of-my-soul-mw0000814560|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=January 23, 2025}}
- Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass recorded it on their album Speak Love (1983){{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000649511|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=January 22, 2025}}
- June Christy - A Friendly Session, Vol. 2 (1999){{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-friendly-session-vol-2-mw0000048483|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=January 22, 2025}}
Film appearances
- 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
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