I Wonder (1944 song)
{{Short description|1944 single by Cecil Gant}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Wonder
| cover = Cecil Gant I Wonder.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Cecil Gant
| album =
| B-side = My Last Goodbye
| released = {{Start date|1944}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = {{Duration|2:44}}
| label = Bronze
| writer = Cecil Grant, Raymond Leveen
| producer =
| prev_title = Cecil's Mop Mop
| prev_year = 1944
| next_title = Wake-Up, Cecil, Wake-Up
| next_year = 1944
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Wonder
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Brenda Lee
| album = By Request
| B-side = My Whole World Is Falling Down
| released = June 1963
| format =
| recorded = 1963
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=55}}
| label = Decca
| writer = Cecil Grant, Raymond Leveen
| producer =
| prev_title = If You Love Me (Really Love Me)
| prev_year = 1963
| next_title = My Whole World Is Falling Down
| next_year = 1963
}}
"I Wonder" is a 1944 song written and originally performed by Pvt. Cecil Gant. The original version was released on the Bronze label, before Gant re-recorded it for the Gilt-Edge label in Los Angeles. The record made it to number one on the Juke Box Race Records chart and was Pvt. Gant's most successful release.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=223}} In February 1945, pianist, Roosevelt Sykes hit number one with his version of the song. Sykes' version is notable in that it replaced Gant's version, at number one on the Juke Box Race Records chart.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=563}}
Other cover versions
- Also in 1945, vocalist Warren Evans reached number six on the Juke Box Chart with his version of song.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=193}}
- Also in 1945, Louis Armstrong recorded his own version of "I Wonder" which peaked at number three on the Juke Box Chart.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=33}}
- Brenda Lee released a version as the B-side of "My Whole World Is Falling Down" in July 1963. It reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 later that year.{{cite book|last1=Whitburn|first1=Joel|title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits|date=1989|publisher=Billboard Books|isbn=0-8230-7527-3|page=250|edition=Fourth}}
- Etta Jones included it on her 1962 album Lonely and Blue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lonely-and-blue-mw0000678904|title=Lonely and Blue - Etta Jones | Songs, Reviews, Credits |access-date=May 30, 2021|website=AllMusic}}
- Vikki Carr - Color Her Great! (1963).{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Vikki-Carr-Color-Her-Great/master/963981|title=Vikki Carr - Color Her Great|website=Discogs.com|year=1963 |access-date=May 30, 2021}}
- Aretha Franklin from the album Aretha Arrives (1967).{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/aretha-arrives-mw0000655057|title=Aretha Arrives - Aretha Franklin | Songs, Reviews, Credits |access-date=May 30, 2021|website=AllMusic}}
- American R&B and boogie-woogie pianist and singer Little Willie Littlefield recorded a version for his 1997 album The Red One.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-one-mw0001031888|title=Red One - Little Willie Littlefield | Songs, Reviews, Credits |access-date=May 30, 2021|website=AllMusic}}
- Humble Pie recorded a slow blues/rock version for their Smokin' release in 1972.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/smokin-mw0000651467|title=Smokin' - Humble Pie | Songs, Reviews, Credits |access-date=May 30, 2021|website=AllMusic}}
- Tony Bennett and k.d. lang – A Wonderful World (2002){{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-wonderful-world-mw0000227466|title=A Wonderful World - Tony Bennett, k.d. lang | Songs, Reviews, Credits |access-date=May 30, 2021|website=AllMusic}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Roosevelt Sykes}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Roosevelt Sykes songs
Category:Louis Armstrong songs
Category:Little Willie Littlefield songs
{{pop-standard-stub}}