"Why Was I Born?" is a 1929 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II.[4]

"Why Was I Born?"
Single by Helen Morgan
B-side"Don't Ever Leave Me"
Written1929
Published1929 T.B. Harms, Inc., Universal Polygram International Publishing, Inc.[1]
ReleasedJanuary 20, 1930[2]
RecordedOctober 16, 1929 take 2[3]
StudioNew York City
VenueSweet Adeline (1929 Broadway musical)
GenreShow tune, Popular Music
Length3.22
LabelVictor 22199
Composer(s)Jerome Kern
Lyricist(s)Oscar Hammerstein II

It was written for the show Sweet Adeline (1929) and introduced by Helen Morgan.[5] Popular recordings in 1930 were by Helen Morgan and by Libby Holman.[6]

Notable recordings

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Horne singing "Why Was I Born?" in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)

References

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  1. ^ "ACE Repertory". www.ascap.com. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  2. ^ "Victor 27682 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  3. ^ "Victor matrix BVE-56191. Why was I born? / Helen Morgan - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  4. ^ a b "Ella Fitzgerald – Sings The Jerome Kern Songbook (1963, Reel-To-Reel)". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "Sweet Adeline – Broadway Musical – Original". IBDd.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 612. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  7. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "Frank Sinatra Discography". Jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  9. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 120. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  10. ^ "Dorothy Lamour - The Road To Romance...For Bing, Bob And You!". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  11. ^ "thejudyroom.com". thejudyroom.com. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  12. ^ "Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book, Vols. 1-2 - Margaret Whiting | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  13. ^ "Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane - Kenny Burrell, John Coltrane | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  14. ^ "Dinah Washington - Dinah '63". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  15. ^ "Georgia Brown - Georgia Brown (The Sensational New Singing Star Of Oliver!)". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  16. ^ "Vinyl Album: Cher - Bittersweet White Light (1973)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  17. ^ "Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert - Sonny Rollins | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  18. ^ "Triplicate - Bob Dylan | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.