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Sometimes I'm Happy (Sometimes I'm Blue)

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Wikipedia article




'"Sometimes I'm Happy"' is a popular song. The music was written by Vincent Youmans, the lyrics by Irving Caesar. The song was originally published in 1923 under the title "Come On And Pet Me," with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and William Cary Duncan.

Background



It was originally intended for the Broadway musical 'Mary Jane McKane,' but was cut before the show opened. The music was subsequently used, with new lyrics and title, in the short-lived 1925 musical 'A Night Out,' and in the musical 'Hit the Deck,' starring Stanley Holloway and opening in April 1927.

The song was performed in 'Hit the Deck' by Charles King and Louise Groody, who also made a recording for Victor Records, catalog number 20609. The best-selling versions were by King and Groody and by Roger Wolfe Kahn (with vocal by Franklyn Baur), also issued by Victor (catalog number 20599). Two other versions, a duet by Baur and Gladys Rice on Columbia Records (catalog number 998-D) and a vocal by Vaughn De Leath on Brunswick Records (catalog number 3608) also had a significant degree of popularity.

A number of other recordings was made in 1927 (see below), and the tune has become a standard, recorded by many artists since that time. It appeared as the B-side of the landmark 1935 recording of "King Porter Stomp" by Benny Goodman and his orchestra (released July 31 as Victor 25090).

Lyrics (Come On And Pet Me version)



There's a girl friend that I know

Has a boy friend who is slow

When they're alone he is shy,

And she has to keep complaining:

Come on and pet me, why don't you pet me?

Why don't you get me to let you pet me?

You never ask me out for a spoon

For all I know, there ain't any moon!

I'd like to bask in your fond caressin'

You do the askin' I'll do the yessin'

Within your arms I'd stay for a year

Come on and pet me, dear, do dear!

Lyrics (Sometimes I'm Happy version)



Sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm blue

My disposition depends on you

I never mind the rain from the sky

If I can find the sun in your eyes

Sometimes I love you, sometimes I hate you

But when I hate you, it's 'cause I love you

That's how I am

So what can I do?

I'm happy when I'm with you

Sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm blue

My disposition depends on you

I never mind the rain from the sky

If I can find the sun in your eyes

Sometimes I love you, sometimes I hate you

But when I hate you, it's 'cause I love you

That's how I am

So what can I do?

I'm always happy

So very happy

Im always happy when I'm with you



Recorded versions



*Steve Allen

*Ray Anthony

*Victor Arden and the Phil Ohman Orchestra (recorded April 8, 1927; released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 3527B, with the flip side "Hallelujah";[http://78discography.com/BRN3500.htm Brunswick Records in the 3500 to 3999 series] also released by Vocalion Records under the name 'Jay's Chelsea Orchestra' as catalog number 15591, with the flip side "Me and My Shadow"[http://78discography.com/VOC15500.htm Vocalion Records in the 15500 to 15999 series])

*Mildred Bailey (recorded March 14, 1941; released by Decca Records as catalog number 3755B;[http://78discography.com/Dec3500.htm Decca Records in the 3500 to 3999 series] re-released by Decca as catalog number 27918[http://78discography.com/Dec27500.htm Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series] in early 1952, both with the flip side "Rockin' Chair")

*Count Basie

*Tony Bennett

*Bunny Berigan

*Les Brown

*Pete Brown (recorded May 5, 1959 on Verve Records album 'From The Heart')

*Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond

*Ray Bryant

*Betty Carter

*Al Casey's Sextet (recorded January 19, 1945, released by Capitol Records as catalog number 10034, with the flip side "How High the Moon"[http://78discography.com/Capitol10000.htm Capitol Records in the 10001 to 10210 series])

*Arnett Cobb

*Nat King Cole

*Eddie Condon

*Ray Conniff

*Jill Corey

*Willie Creager's Rhythm Aces (vocal by the Locust Sisters; recorded April 30, 1927; released by Supertone Records as catalog number 9606;[http://78discography.com/SPTN9500.htm Supertone Records in the 9500 to 9778 series] also released under the name 'Georgia Collegians' by Champion Records as catalog numbers CH15325[http://78discography.com/Champ150.htm Champion Records in the 15001 to 15499 series] and 15910,[http://78discography.com/Champ155.htm Champion Records in the 15501 to 15999 series] by Gennett Records as catalog numbers 6138[http://78discography.com/GNT6000.htm Gennett Records in the 6000 to 6499 series] and 7090,[http://78discography.com/GNT7000.htm Gennett Records in the 7000 to 7323 series] and by Silvertone Records as catalog number 5051[http://78discography.com/SIL5000g.htm Silvertone Records in the 5000 to 5237 series] all with the flip side "Hallelujah")

*Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1956 for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the box set 'The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56)' issued by Mosaic Records (catalog MD7-245) in 2009.

*Vic Damone

*Doris Day with The Mellowmen (recorded May, 1949; released by Columbia Records as catalog number 38545, with the flip side "You Go to My Head"[http://78discography.com/COL38500.htm Columbia Records in the 38500 to 38999 series])

*Vaughn De Leath (recorded July 1927; released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 3608, with the flip side "Baby Feet Go Pitter Patter ('Cross My Floor)"; also released by Vocalion Records as catalog number 15597B, both with the flip side "Me and My Shadow")

*Liz Diamond

*The Dinning Sisters

*Eddy Duchin (in a medley with Pretty Baby; recorded July 15, 1942, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36746, with the flip side "Blue Room"/"Am I Blue?"[http://78discography.com/COL36500.htm Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series])

*Roy Eldridge

*Seger Ellis and his orchestra (recorded March 11, 1937, released by Decca Records as catalog number 1350, with the flip side "Bee's Knees"[http://78discography.com/Dec1000.htm Decca Records in the 1000 to 1499 series])

*Gil Evans

*Robert Farnon

*Frances Faye (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2472, with the flip side "I Was Wrong About You"[http://78discography.com/Capitol2000.htm Capitol Records in the 2000 to 2499 series])

*The Four Freshmen - 'Four Freshmen and Five Saxes'

*Erroll Garner (recorded December 5, 1945, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 1002, with the flip side "Always"[http://78discography.com/Merc010.htm Mercury Records in the 1001 to 1442 series])

*Stan Getz

*Dizzy Gillespie

*Benny Goodman & his orchestra (Instrumental) (recorded July 1, 1935; released by Victor Records as catalog number 25090B, with the flip side "King Porter Stomp"[http://78discography.com/vic25000.html Victor Records in the 25000 to 25499 series]). A recording can also be found on 'The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert'.

*Stphane Grappelli

*Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra (1939)

*Walter Gross (released by MGM Records as catalog number 30465, with the flip side "Time on My Hands (You in My Arms)"[http://78discography.com/MGM30000.htm MGM Records in the 30001 to 30499 series] and by Musicraft Records as catalog number 387, with the flip side "More Than You Know"[http://78discography.com/Musicraft200.htm Musicraft Records in the 201 to 597 series])

*Scott Hamilton

*Johnny Hartman

*Ted Heath

*Bill Henderson

*Hildegarde

*Earl Hines

*Milt Hinton

*Nick Holder

*Billie Holiday

*Stanley Holloway - The first artist to sing the song for the play "Hit the Deck" in 1927

*Honeydreamers (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2857, with the flip side "Perdido"[http://78discography.com/Capitol2500.htm Capitol Records in the 2500 to 2999 series])

*Lena Horne with Luther Henderson (recorded 1947; released by MGM Records as catalog number 10246, with the flip side "It's Mad, Mad, Mad",[http://78discography.com/MGM10000.htm MGM Records in the 10000 to 10499 series] and as catalog number 30398, with the flip side "I've Got the World on a String")

*Alberta Hunter

*Milt Jackson

*Hank Jones

*Louis Jordan

*The Jo-Vals (released by Laurie Records as catalog number 3229, with the flip side "You You My Love"[http://www.globaldogproductions.info/l/laurie.html Laurie Records listing])

*Roger Wolfe Kahn & His Orchestra (vocal by Franklyn Baur; recorded April 14, 1927; released by Victor Records as catalog number 20599A, with the flip side "Hallelujah"[http://78discography.com/vic20500.html Victor Records in the 20500 to 20999 series])

*Sammy Kaye & his orchestra (vocal: Tommy Ryan) (recorded September 3, 1937; released by Vocalion Records as catalog number 3909, with the flip side "Indiana";[http://78discography.com/VOC3500.htm Vocalion Records in the 3500 to 3999 series] re-released in 1949 by Harmony Records as catalog number Ha1041, with the flip side "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"[http://78discography.com/Harobie.htm Harmony Records released in 1949])

*Charles King and Louise Groody (Broadway Production; recorded April 12, 1927; released by Victor Records as catalog number 20609, with the flip side "Hallelujah")

*Kathy Kirby (for her 1965 album 'Make Someone Happy')

*Lee Konitz

*Andre Kostelanetz

*Gene Krupa

*Cleo Laine

*Frankie Laine

*Peggy Lee

*Jerry Lewis

*Susannah McCorkle

*The McGuire Sisters (1956)

*Carmen McRae (1955)

*Joni Mitchell

*National Music Lover Dance Orchestra (released by National Music Lovers Records as catalog number 1208, with the flip side "How Can a Girl Like You Like a Boy Like Me?"[http://78discography.com/NML.htm National Music Lovers Records listing])

*Phineas Newborn Jr.

*Jack Oakie & Polly Walker (featured in the film Hit the Deck) (1930)

*Anita O'Day, with the Alvy West Band (released by Signature Records as catalog number 15127B, with the flip side "Ace in the Hole"; also shown as 'Anita O'Day with the Little Band,' released by Signature Records as catalog number 15222B, with the flip side "Bewitched"[http://78discography.com/Signiature.htm Signature Records listing])

*Oscar Peterson

*John Pizzarelli "The John Pizzarelli Trio", (After Hours) (1996)

*The Platters

*King Pleasure

*Bud Powell

*Jane Powell (featured in the film Hit the Deck) (1955; released by MGM Records as catalog number 30879, with the flip side "Hallelujah"[http://78discography.com/MGM30500.htm MGM Records in the 30500 to 30887 series])

*Della Reese

*Django Reinhardt

*Gladys Rice (shown in[http://78discography.com/COL500D.htm Columbia Records in the 500-D to 999-D series] as 'William Rice') and Franklyn Baur (released by Columbia Records as catalog number 998-D)

*Willard Robison and his orchestra (recorded June 1927, released by Path Records as catalog number 32274[http://78discography.com/Pathe32000.htm Path Records in the 32001 to 32508 series] and by Perfect Records as catalog number 12353,[http://78discography.com/PE12000.htm Perfect Records in the 12000 to 12499 series] both with the flip side "Lazy Weather")

*Shirley Scott

*Don Shirley

*Six Hottentots (recorded March 23, 1927; released by Banner Records as catalog number 6008, with the flip side "Sugar"[http://78discography.com/Ban6000.htm Banner Records in the 6000 series])

*Dinah Shore

*Johnny Smith

*Southampton Society Orchestra (released by Path Records as catalog number 36643, with the flip side "I'm in Love Again"[http://78discography.com/Pathe36500.htm Path Records in the 36500 to 36999 series])

*Jo Stafford (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 993, with the flip side "Why Can't You Behave?"[http://78discography.com/Capitol500.htm Capitol Records in the 500 to 999 series] and as catalog number 20051, with the flip side "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny"[http://78discography.com/Capitol20000.htm Capitol Records in the 20001 to 20156 series]), 'Autumn in New York' (1950)

*Sun Ra

*The SuperJazz Big Band of Birmingham, Alabama recorded the song on the CD, 'UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis'

*Claude Thornhill

*The Three Sounds

*Trenier Twins (recorded December 1947, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 8089, with the flip side "Cadillac Convertible"[http://78discography.com/Merc080.htm Mercury Records in the 8001 to 8310 series])

*Trotta (released by Discovery Records as catalog number 159, with the flip side "Night Must Fall"[http://78discography.com/Discovery.htm Discovery Records listing])

*Sarah Vaughan (1955)

*Cy Walter (released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39629, with the flip side "Isn't It Romantic?"[http://78discography.com/COL39500.htm Columbia Records in the 39500 to 39999 series])

*Dinah Washington (1956)

*Ben Webster

*Margaret Whiting

*Jean Wiener & Clment Doucet (recorded 1928; released by Columbia Records as catalog number D13035, with the flip side "Hallelujah!")

*Lee Wiley (recorded 1951; released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39801, with the flip side "Keepin' Myself For You")

*Joe Williams

*Nancy Wilson (1959)

*Teddy Wilson

*Lester Young Quartet (recorded December 28, 1943, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 1093, with the flip side "Afternoon of a Basie-ite")

*UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis, arrangement by Steve Sample Sr.

*Sarah Vaughan on her live album Sassy Swings The Tivoli produced by Quincy Jones(1963)

References




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