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.^[1] 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.^[2] It is said that the song was written on-demand for John Murray Anderson.

In his book, Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre,^[3] 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."^[4]

Cover versions

High Hatters (vocal: Frank Luther) - recorded August 23, 1929 for Victor Records (catalog No. 22105).^[5]
Al Katz and His Kittens, recorded August 30, 1929 for Columbia Records, catalog No. 1971D.^[6]
Libby Holman, recorded September 1920 for Brunswick Records, November 1929, catalog No. 4506.^[7]
Red Nichols and His Five Pennies (with vocal chorus), recorded on October 24, 1929, for Brunswick Records, catalog. No. 4500.^[8]
Gladys Rice and Franklyn Baur, recorded November 26, 1929 for Victor Records, catalog. No. 22226.^[9]
Judy Garland - performed the song on Command Performance #134, August 19, 1944.^[10]
Dinah Shore - a single release for Columbia Records, catalog No. 37140. (1946)^[11]
Frankie Laine released a version in 1946, backed by Milton Delugg and the Swing Wing for Mercury Records, catalog No. 1205A.^[12]
Doris Day with Harry James - included in the album Young Man with a Horn. Released on Columbia CL-6106 in 1950.
Frank Rosolino released a version in 1956, on his I Play Trombone album.^[13]
The Four Freshmen - for their album Four Freshmen and Five Saxes (1957).
Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney recorded the song in 1958^[14] for use on their radio show and it was subsequently included in the CD Bing & Rosie - The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions released in 2010.^[15]
Perry Como - included in his album Saturday Night with Mr. C (1958)
The Mills Brothers - included in the album Count Basie & The Mills Brothers – The Board Of Directors (1967).^[16]
Ray Charles recorded a version for his album Volcanic Action of My Soul (1971)
June Christy - A Friendly Session, Vol. 2 (1999)
Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass recorded it on their album Speak Love.

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

^ Sullivan, Henry (1929-01-01). "I May Be Wrong". Sheet Music Collection.
^ "Broadway World". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^ Green, Stanley (1980). Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. New York: Da Capo. ISBN 0306801132.
^ "Worcester Songwriters of the Great American Songbook". worcestersongs.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
^ "Judy Garland Discography". thejudyroom.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
^ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.