I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)

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"I Get Along Without You Very Well" is a popular song composed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1939, with lyrics based on a poem written by Jane Brown Thompson. [1]

Contents

Background

Thompson's identity as the author of the poem was for many years unknown, even to Carmichael; he had been handed the poem anonymously at an event at Indiana University, and the poem only noted the author as "J.B.". Carmichael noted J.B.'s name in the song's sheet music as the author of the poem that inspired the lyrics, and asked for help to identify "J.B.". However, it wasn't until the mid-1950s that a positive identification was made. Jane Brown Thompson died the night before the song was introduced on radio by Dick Powell. [1]

The biggest-selling version was a 1939 recording by Red Norvo and his orchestra (vocal by Terry Allen). [2]

Carmichael and Jane Russell performed the song in the 1952 film noir The Las Vegas Story . [1]

The story of the song was told in a 1957 episode of Telephone Time on ABC television. Carmichael and Walter Winchell, who helped to locate "J. B.", appeared on the program. [3]

Notable recordings

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References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2006/06/i_get_along_wit.php The Melody Lingers On: I Get Along Without You Very Well, by Tony Thornton.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN   0-89820-135-7.
  3. ↑ "Inside Stuff-Music". Variety. November 6, 1957. p. 64. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Bluebird Records in the 10000 to 10499 series
  5. ↑ Victor Records in the 26000 to 26499 series
  6. ↑ Brunswick Records (United Kingdom) in the 05000 to 05976 series
  7. ↑ Liberty Records in the 55001 to 55999 series
  8. ↑ Vocalion Records in the 4500 to 4999 series
  9. ↑ Conqueror Records in the 9000 to 9499 series
  10. ↑ Columbia Records in the 38000 to 38499 series
  11. ↑ Columbia Records in the 38500 to 38999 series
  12. ↑ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. March 6, 1982. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
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