Untitled Document

I

	Song	Artist/Date/Label	Remade by
	I Ain't Got Nobody Much (aka I Ain't Got Nobody)	Marion Harris 8-9-16 Victor 18133	Marion Harris (1920 for Columbia, 1922 for Brunswick), Ted Lewis, Louis Prima, David Lee Roth

I Ain't Got Time Anymore

Cliff Richard 3-70
Monument 1229

Glass Bottle

I Ain't Got You

Jimmy Reed 7-18-55
on lp Vee Jay 1022 Found Love (1960)

Billy Boy Arnold (10-55, 1995), Yardbirds, Aerosmith, Sugar Blue, Blues Bros.

I Ain't Living Long Like This

Gary Stewart 9-76
RCA 10957

Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings

I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow (aka Man Of Constant Sorrow)

Emry Arthur 1-17-28
Vocalion 5208

Emry Arthur (6-31 for Paramount), Stanley Bros., Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Ginger Baker, Rod Stewart, Soggy Bottom Boys et al.

The song, written as "Farewell Song" around 1913 by banjoist Dick Burnett—a blind neighbor of Arthur's, was based on an old hymn titled "The White Rose."

I Am A Rock

Paul Simon 6-17-65
on lp UK CBS 62579 Paul Simon Song Book

Simon & Garfunkel (12-14-65)

I Am Still In Love (aka I'm Still In Love With You)

Alton Ellis 1967
Jamaican Studio 1 2020

Sean Paul & Sasha

I Am Woman

Helen Reddy 1971
on lp Capitol 762 I Don't Know How To Love Him

Helen Reddy (1972, Capitol 3350), Bobbie Roy

I Believe

Jane Froman 12-23-52
Capitol 2332

Frankie Laine (1-8-53), Elvis Presley, Bachelors

I Believe I'll Dust My Broom (aka Dust My Broom)

Robert Johnson 11-23-36
Vocalion 03475

Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James (many times, first as Elmo James, 8-5-51), Luther Allison, Fleetwood Mac, Canned Heat, Taj Mahal, Hound Dog Taylor et al.

I Believe In Music

Mac Davis 1970
Columbia 45245

Kenny Rogers & First Edition (12-70), Mac Davis (1971, Columbia 45456), Donny Hathaway, Helen Reddy, B.J. Thomas, Gallery

I Believe In You And Me

Four Tops 1982
Casablanca 2353

Whitney Houston

I Breathe In, I Breathe Out

David Kersh 1997
on CD Curb 77905 If I Never Stop Loving You

Chris Cagle

I Call Your Name

Billy J. Kramer & Dakotas 6-27-63
Liberty 55626

Beatles (3-1-64), Mamas & Papas

I Can Hear Music

Ronettes 9-66
Philles 133

Beach Boys (10-1-68)

Following the failure (at least in the US) of Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep—Mountain High," Phil Spector was so dejected he passed on production duty for "I Can Hear Music" to co-writer Jeff Barry.

I Can Take Or Leave Your Loving

Foundations 1967
Uni 55058

Herman's Hermits

I Can Understand It

Bobby Womack 1972
on LP United Artists 5577 Understanding

New Birth, Valentinos

I Can't Hear You (No More)

Betty Everett 1964
Vee Jay 599

Carole King, Helen Reddy

I Can't Let Go

Evie Sands 1965
Blue Cat 122

Hollies (2-66), Linda Ronstadt

I Can't Quit You Baby

Otis Rush c. 7-56
Cobra 5000

Otis Rush (1965 for Vanguard), Little Milton, John Lee Hooker, Led Zeppelin, Willie Dixon, John Mayall, Gov't Mule

I Can't Stop Lovin' You

Don Gibson 12-3-57
RCA Victor 7133

Ray Charles

I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)

White Horse 1977
on lp Capitol 11687

Leo Sayer, Outlaws, Phil Collins

I Can't Stop Talking About You see Can't Stop Talking About You

I Can't Turn You Loose

Otis Redding 11-5-65
Volt 130

Chambers Bros., Edgar Winter's White Trash, Blues Brothers

I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine

Tony Martin 12-2-49
RCA Victor 20-3755

Patti Page (2-3-50), Dean Martin (3-28-50), Elvis Presley

I Don't Know

Willie Mabon c. 10-52
Parrot 1050/Chess 1531

Willie Mabon (1972 for Blues On Blues), Jimmy Witherspoon, Blues Bros.

Cripple Clarence Lofton's 1939 "I Don't Know" (Solo Art 12009, a reworking of his 1935 "Strut That Thing") is a likely influence on Mabon's song but, despite John Belushi's reference to it in the Blues Brothers' recording, it's not really the same composition.

I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)

Russ Columbo 9-3-31
Victor 22801

Bennie Krueger (9-14-31), Kate Smith (9-15-31), Wayne King (9-29-31), Linda Scott

I Don't Need You

Rick Christian 1978
Mercury 73984

Kenny Rogers

I Don't Want To Be Right, (If Loving You Is Wrong)

Emotions 1970
on CD UK Ace/Stax 138 Songs Of Innocence And Experience ...And Then Some! (2004)

Luther Ingram, Millie Jackson, Barbara Mandrell, Isaac Hayes

The Emotions' recording was scheduled for issue as an album track on the Stax subsidiary label Volt in 1972 and again the following year, but both were pulled from release.

I Don't Want To Lose You (aka I Don't Want To Lose You Baby)

Tommy Hunt 1965
Atlantic 2278

Chad & Jeremy

I Don't Want To Talk About It

Crazy Horse 1971
on lp Reprise 6438

Rod Stewart (1975, 1990), Everything But The Girl

I Dreamed Of A Hill-Billy Heaven

Eddie Dean & Frontiersmen 9-54
Sage & Sand 180

Tex Ritter

I Feel A Song (In My Heart Again)

Sandra Richardson 1971
Buddah 260

Stairsteps, Gladys Knight & Pips

I Feel For You

Prince 1979
on lp Warner Bros. 3366

Pointer Sisters, Chaka Khan

I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag

Country Joe & Fish 9-65
Rag Baby 1001 Talking Issue, Songs Of Opposition

Country Joe & Fish (11-67 for Vanguard, 1969 for Cotillion)

Rag Baby 1001, a 7", 33 1/3 EP, was designed to be a "Talking" edition of Country Joe McDonald's magazine of that title. Country Joe & The Fish had two songs on the A-side while the flip had two cuts from another San Franciscan songwriter, Pete Krug.

The song's title was inspired by Bukka White's 1940 "Fixin' To Die Blues" (Vocalion 05588).

I Feel So Bad

Chuck Willis 9-17-53
Okeh 7029

Elvis Presley, Otis Rush, Ray Charles

I Fought The Law

Crickets 5-18-59
on lp Coral 57320 In Style

Bobby Fuller Four (1964 for Exeter, 1965 for Mustang), Sonny Curtis, Clash, Sam Neely, Stray Cats, Nancy Griffith, Henry Kaiser & David Lindley

I Found Someone

Laura Branigan 1985
on lp Atlantic 81265 Hold Me

Cher

I Found You (aka I Got You)

Yvonne Fair 1-8-62
King 5594

James Brown (1964, 1965)

I Get A Kick Out Of You

Ethel Merman w/ Johnny Green & His Orch. 12-4-34
Brunswick 7342

Paul Whiteman, Leo Reisman, Frank Sinatra (1953, 1962), Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Arturo Sandoval et el.

Cole Porter wrote the song in 1931 for a Broadway show called Star Dust that never got produced. Ethel Merman then introduced "Kick" in the 1934 Broadway production Anything Goes.

There have been various lyric changes through the years, notably eliminating the references to Mrs. Lindbergh and cocaine.

I Get Evil see Don't You Lie To Me

I Go To Rio

Peter Allen 1976
A&M 1873/2031

Pablo Cruise, Peter Allen (1977 on lp It Is Time For Peter Allen)

I Go To Sleep

Peggy Lee 7-7-65
Capitol 5488

Applejacks, Cher, Pretenders

The song was written by the Kinks' Ray Davies, who was a fan of Peggy Lee. His group's demo has been issued.

The Applejacks' version was the first released but Lee's was recorded earlier.


	I Got Love If You Want It (aka Got Love If You Want It)	Slim Harpo 3-57 Excello 2113	High Numbers (aka The Who, as "I'm The Face"), Kinks, Yardbirds, Pretty Things, Terry Knight & Pack (as "Got Love"), Johnny Winter

I Got Rhythm

Fred Rich & Orch. w/ Paul Small 10-20-30
Columbia 2328-D

Red Nichols (10-23-30), Louis Russell (10-24-30), Harold Lem (10-29-30), Ethel Waters (11-18-30), Louis Armstrong, Ethel Merman (many times), Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Happenings et al.

The song was introduced by Ethel Merman in the stage play Girl Crazy, which opened on Broadway 10-14-30. George Gershwin had written the melody some years earlier as a slow number. New lyrics from brother Ira were penned and the tempo increased for use in this production. Rich recorded it just six days after the premiere while Red Nichols, who led the pit orchestra (which included such future stars as Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Gene Krupa!) for Girl Crazy, cut it three days later. Ethel Merman didn't formally record "I Got Rhythm" until 1947 (for Decca), followed by many more versions up through her 1979 Disco Album.

I Got You see I Found You

I Gotta Know

Cliff Richard 7-26-59 (mono)
on lp ABC-Paramount 321 Cliff Sings

Cliff Richard (stereo, 9-6-59), Elvis Presley (4-4-60)

I Hear You Knocking

Smiley Lewis 5-23-55
Imperial 5356

Gale Storm, Fats Domino, Dave Edmunds

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Miracles 8-16-66
on CD Motown 530 960 Motown Sings Motown Treasures (1998)

Marvin Gaye (2 & 4-67), Gladys Knight & Pips (6-67), Miracles (5-68), CCR, Roger (Troutman)

While the Miracles' 1966 original and their version on the 1968 Special Occasion LP use the same backing track, Smokey Robinson recut his vocal following Knight's success with the song. "Grapevine's" cowriter Norman Whitfield produced the versions by all three Motown artists.

I Just Can't Help Believing

Barry Mann 2-3-68
Capitol 2217

B.J. Thomas, Elvis Presley, David Frizzell

I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

Chuck Jackson 1962
on lp UK Kent 033 Mr. Emotion (1984)

Tommy Hunt, Big Maybelle, Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick

I Just Fall In Love Again

Carpenters 1977
on lp A&M 4703 Passage

Anne Murray

I Knew You When

Wade Flemons 1964
Vee Jay 614

Billy Joe Royal (c. 7-65)

I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again (aka I'll Never Love This Way Again)

Richard Kerr 1978
A&M 2099

Cheryl Ladd, Dionne Warwick

I Know You Rider

Joan Baez 1960 (summer)
on CD Vanguard 79594 Joan Baez (2001)

Tossi Aaron (1961), Judy Henske, Kingston Trio (as "Rider"), Grateful Dead, Big Brother & Holding Co., Hot Tuna, String Cheese Incident et al.

Alan and John Lomax recorded the song at Parchman Farm Penitentiary in August, 1933, performed by an unidentified woman. This field recording, at the time titled "Prison Rider Blues," is posted online at https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/mississippi-1933-1940/parchman-farm-833/prison-rider-blues.

Tossi Aaron, and probably Joan Baez, were taught the song by Bob Coltman, who'd picked it up from the 1934 Lomax songbook American Ballads & Folksongs

Joan's recording first appeared on a reissue CD of her debut (self-titled) album.

I Like It (I Like It Like That)

Pete Rodriguez 1966
on lp Alegre 8550 I Like It Like That

Blackout Allstars, Tito Nieves

Rodriguez's version was also issued as a single (Alegre 4010) in 1967.

I Like Your Kind Of Love

Melvin Endsley 12-18-56
RCA Vcitor 6891

Andy Williams

I Love Rock 'N' Roll

Arrows 1975 (early)
UK Rak 205

Joan Jett (1979, 1981), Britney Spears

The Arrows' original was a designated 45 b-side and they subsequently re-cut it as an a-side, with both versions issued on Rak 205.

At the time, Jett's 1979 version was only issued on a European 45 b-side (Vertigo 6198 264). Of course it was her 1981 recording that brought fame to the song.

I Love You

Zombies 7-8-65
Parrot 9786

People (11-67)

I Love You Because

Leon Payne 8-11-49
Capitol 40238

Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Leon Payne (1963 for Starday), Al Martino, Carl Smith

I Love You Drops

Bill Anderson 12-3-64
Decca 31890

Vic Dana

I Love You For Sentimental Reasons see Sentimental Reasons

I Love You So

Crows 2-53
Rama 5

Chantels

I Made It Through The Rain

Gerard Kenny 1979
on lp RCA 3424 Made It Through The Rain

Barry Manilow

I May Never Get To Heaven

Don Gibson 1-3-60
RCA Victor 7690

Wanda Jackson, Narvel Felts, Conway Twitty

I Miss You So

Cats & The Fiddle 12-7-39
Bluebird 8429

Orioles (1951, 1963), Chris Connor, Paul Anka, Little Anthony & Imperials

I Need Your Lovin'

Clarence Paul 1959
Hanover 4519

Roy Hamilton

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden (aka Rose Garden)

Billy Joe Royal 7-67
on lp Columbia 2781/9581 Featuring Hush

Dobie Gray, Joe South, Lynn Anderson, Kon Kan, k.d. lang

I Only Have Eyes For You

Dick Powell 1933
on CD Rhino 72907 Hollywood's Best: '30s (1997)

Frank Sinatra, Flamingos, Swallows, Lettermen, Jerry Butler, Art Garfunkel

I Promise (aka I Promise To Remember)

Jimmy Castor & Juniors 5-56
Wing 90078

Frankie Lymon & Teenagers, Jimmy Castor Bunch (1972 for RCA)

I Put A Spell On You

Screamin' Jay Hawkins 11-9-55
Collectables COL 1068 (1984)

Screamin' Jay Hawkins (9-12-56 for Okeh, plus many other times), Nina Simone, Alan Price Set, CCR, Arthur Brown, Annie Lennox

Hawkins cut his original for the tiny Philadelphia label Grand, but it remained unissued until the '80s.

Grand Records co-owner Herbert Slotkin is generally, but not always, listed as co-writer.

Hawkins' 1956 version was also issued on Collectables 1068, but that one had simply a "C" prefix.

I Really Don't Want To Know

Eddy Arnold 10-23-53
RCA Victor 5525

Les Paul & Mary Ford (2-22-54), Tommy Edwards, Solomon Burke, Esther Phillips, Ronnie Dove, Elvis Presley

I Remember You

Dorothy Lamour 1941
on lp Hollywood Soundstage 405 The Fleet's In ost (1970s?)

Jimmy Dorsey (12-10-41), Harry James, Frank Ifield

I Rise, I Fall

Rick Nelson 7-30-63
on lp Decca 74479 Sings "For You"

Johnny Tillotson (2-12-64)

I Sold My Heart To The Junk Man

Basin Street Boys c. 6-46
Exclusive 225

Etta Jones, Blue-Belles (Starlets)

I Take What I Want

Sam & Dave 7-27-65
Stax 175

James & Bobby Purify

I Understand Just How You Feel (aka I Understand)

Four Tunes 9-11-53
Jubilee 5132

G-Clefs

The melody is based on "Auld Lange Syne."

It was first titled "I Understand" but member/composer Pat Best had previously written a song with that title, also for the Four Tunes (Manor 1093, 1947). The 1953 title was modified to differentiate it from the earlier record.

I Wanna Be Your Man

Rolling Stones 10-7-63
London 9641/9657

Beatles (9-12 and 10-3 & 23-63)

As the flip of "Stoned" and then "Not Fade Away," this wasn't really a US hit for the Stones, but any Lennon-McCartney composition the Beatles didn't cut first is worth noting. A chance meeting of Lennon and McCartney with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in September, 1963 led to the two Beatles visiting the Stones at a studio rehearsal. John and Paul had begun "I Wanna Be Your Man" as a song that could feature Ringo and offered it to them. The Stones were interested so Lennon and McCartney supposedly completed the tune on the spot. Soon after, the Beatles began their sessions for the song but didn't finish a version until after Mick & company had cut theirs.

I Wanna Go Back

Billy Satellite 1984
Capitol 5409

Eddie Money

I Wanna Go Home (aka Detroit City)

Billy Grammer 9-12-62
Decca 31449

Bobby Bare (4-18-63), Tom Jones

Billy Grammer cut a demo of the song for writers Tillis and Dill, then Decca decided to issue it. This was the recording Bobby Bare heard and learned the song from.

I Want My Mama see Mamãe Eu Quero!

I Want Some Of Your Pie (aka Custard Pie)

Blind Boy Fuller 7-12-39
Vocalion 05030/Columbia 30060

Led Zeppelin

I Want You To Want Me

Cheap Trick 1977
on lp Epic 34884 In Color

Cheap Trick (1978 on Epic 50625/50680)

I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water

Stonewall Jackson 5-5-64
Columbia 43197

Johnny Rivers

I Will Always Love You

Dolly Parton 6-13-73
RCA 0234

Dolly Parton (1982, RCA 13260), Whitney Houston, Melissa Etheridge

I Will Follow Him

Petula Clark 1962
Laurie 3156 (1963)

Little Peggy March (1-7-63)

Clark had a 1962 hit in France titled "Chariot" (Vogue EPL 8000) and "I Will Follow Him" used the same melody, with new lyrics. Co-writer Del Roma was a pseudonym for composer/conductor Paul Mauriat. "Chariot" had first been done by Franck Pourcel as an instrumental in 1961. Another co-writer's name, J.W. Stole, was Pourcel's pseudonym.

"Chariot" by Rhet Stoller (UK Decca 11302) is a different song.

I Will Serenade You (aka Let Me Serenade You)

Rhinoceros 1968
Elektra 45640

3 Dog Night

I Wish I Knew (aka I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free)

Billy Taylor 11-12-63
on lp Capitol 2039 Right Here, Right Now!

Nina Simone, Solomon Burke, Billy Taylor (1967 for Tower , 1977 for West, 1996 for Arkadia Jazz), Derek Trucks, Levon Helm, John Legend

I Wish You Love

Keely Smith 4-26-55
Capitol 3445

Keely Smith (11-14-57 on lp Capitol 914 I Wish You Love), Gloria Lynne, Jonathan Richman

Based on the 1946 French song "Que Reste-t-il de nos Amours."

I Wish You Would

Billy Boy (Arnold) 5-5-55
Vee Jay 146

Yardbirds, Billy Boy Arnold (1993 for Alligator)

Arnold had done session work with Bo Diddley, whose "Diddley Daddy" (Checker 819) riff was used for "I Wish You Would."

I Won't Last A Day Without You

Paul Williams 1972
A&M 1409

Carpenters, Al Wilson

I Write The Songs

Captain & Tennille 1975 (early)
on lp A&M 3405 Love Will Keep Us Together

David Cassidy, Barry Manilow, Bruce Johnston

I'd Rather Go Blind

Etta James 8-23-67
Cadet 5578

Chicken Shack, Rod Stewart, Koko Taylor, Sydney Youngblood, Beyoncé

I'd Rather Leave When I'm In Love

Carole Bayer Sager 1977
on lp Elektra 7E 1100

Peter Allen, Rita Coolidge, Stephanie J. Block

I'll Be There

Bobby Darin 7-22-59
Atco 6167

Gerry & The Pacemakers

I'll Bet You

Theresa Lindsey 1966
Golden World 43

Funkadelic, Jean Carter, Jackson 5, Billy Butler

I'll Drown In My Tears (aka Drown In My Own Tears)

Sonny Thompson w/ Lula Reed 12-14-51
King 4527

Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Winter, Janis Joplin, Smithereens, Saffire

I'll Hold Out My Hand

Evie Sands 1969
A&M 1026

Clique

I'll Never Fall In Love Again

Jill O'Hara & Jerry Orbach
1968 on lp UA 9902 Promises, Promises cast

Ella Fitzgerald (5-69), Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick

I'll Never Fall In Love Again

Lonnie Donegan 2-62
UK Pye 7N 15446

Tom Jones

The melody was adapted from Vernon Dalhart's 1928 "Wanderin" (Columbia 1585D), probably via Sammy Kaye's 1949 arrangement (RCA Victor 3680).

I'll Never Love This Way Again see I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again

I'm A Fool

Rick Nelson 9-17-64
on lp Decca 4608 Spotlight On Rick

Astronauts (9-24-64), Dino, Desi & Billy

I'm A Fool To Care

Ted Daffan's Texans 4-25-40
Okeh 05573/Vocalion 05573

Les Paul & Mary Ford, Joe Barry, Ray Charles, Ringo Starr

I'm A King Bee

Slim Harpo 3-57
Excello 2113

Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters

I'm A Man

Bo Diddley 3-2-55
Checker 814

Muddy Waters (as "Mannish Boy"), Yardbirds

"I'm A Man" was the B-side to Bo's first single "Bo Diddley." The same two tracks were reissued in 1961 on Checker 997.

I'm A Train see Chaine, La

I'm A Woman

Christine Kittrell 1962
Vee Jay 444

Peggy Lee (11-14-62), Jim Kweskin's Jug Band, Coasters (1967 as "She Can," reissued in 1972 as "Talkin' 'Bout Woman"), Maria Muldaur

The song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (note the mangling of their names on Kittrell's record) in response to Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man" and Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy." They also rewrote the lyrics for the Coasters' versions.

I'm All Shook Up (aka All Shook Up)

David Hill 11-7-56
Aladdin 3359

Elvis Presley (1-12-57), Jeff Beck, Suzi Quatro, Otis Blackwell, Ry Cooder, Billy Joel, Kris Kristofferson, Jon Spencer, Paul McCartney

Writer Otis Blackwell was a busy guy in the mid '50s penning, among others, "Don't Be Cruel," "Fever," "Handy Man" and "Great Balls Of Fire." He was forced/talked into sharing writing credit with Elvis Presley (who admittedly never composed anything), and Elvis' publisher, for "Don't Be Cruel" and subsequently "All Shook Up." Blackwell is the sole writer listed on Hill's early pressings, likely done before the co-credit deal was finalized. Later issues (particularly the 45s) have E. Presley as co-writer.

David Hill became a songwriter, under his real name David Hess, and coincidently penned the Elvis Presley hit "I Got Stung."

"All Shook Up" by Vicki Young (Capitol 3425) is a different song.

I'm Available

Dave Burgess 1957
Challenge 1008

Margie Rayburn

I'm Coming Home

Johnny Mathis 1973
Columbia 45908

Spinners

I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday (aka I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal)

Bobby Bare c. 1977
on lp RCA 3422 Honky Tonkin' (1979)

Johnny Cash (1979, 1980, 1993), Billy Joe Shaver, John Anderson, Lewis Family

Writer Billy Joe Shaver penned this as a metaphor for his transformation from a life of drugs to being a born-again Christian.

Bobby Bare's original was the only one to use the title "I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday."

I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Some Day

Bobby Mitchell 9-26-57
Imperial 5475

Fats Domino (6-14-58)

I'm Gonna Be Strong

Frankie Laine 7-2-63
Columbia 42843/42884

Gene Pitney, Blue Angel, Cyndi Lauper

For some inexplicable reason, Laine released two very similar recordings (most likely just different vocal takes) of this, one right after the other.

I'm Gonna Get Along Without You (aka Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now)

Roy Hogsed 6-19-51
Capitol 1854

Teresa Brewer, Bell Sisters (as "Boom Boom, My Honey"), Patience & Prudence, Skeeter Davis, Tracey Dey

I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door

Isley Bros. 4-30-59
RCA Victor 7537

Mike Russo, Eddie Hodges

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

Dee Dee Warwick 10-66
Mercury 72638

Madeline Bell, Supremes & Temptations

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter

Fats Waller 5-8-35
Victor 25044

Billy Williams

I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down

Ann Peebles 1972
Hi 2232

Paul Young

Hazel Meyers' 1924 record of the same title (Emerson 10748) is a different song.

I'm Gonna Walk Away From Love (aka Walk Away From Love)

Choice Four 1975
on lp RCA Victor 0913

David Ruffin

I'm Henry The VIII

Harry Champion 1-1911
UK Columbia 1621

Harry Champion (2-11 for UK Beka, 5-11 for UK Homophone), Joe Brown, Herman's Hermits

Joe Brown's 1961 recording was likely the model for Herman's Hermits' hit.

I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail

Taylor & Davis w/ Cumberland Ridge Runners 3-34
Perfect 13023

Blue Sky Boys (6-16-36), Hank Snow, Everly Bros., Johnny Cash, Jerry Garcia, Billie Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones

I'm In The Mood For Love

Leo Reisman 6-15-35
Brunswick 7482

Little Jack Little (6-28-35), Frances Langford (7-31-35, 1939), Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Chimes

Introduced by Langford in the 1935 film Every Night At Eight, but her commercially-issued version followed Reisman's.

I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal see I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday

I'm Leaving It Up To You see Leavin' It All Up To You

I'm No Angel

Bill Medley 1982
Planet 13425

Gregg Allman

I'm Not Your Stepping Stone

Paul Revere & Raiders 1-4-66
on lp Columbia 2508/9308 Midnight Ride

W.C. Fields Memorial Electric String Band (2-66), Monkees (7-26-66), Sex Pistols, Minor Threat

I'm Shakin'

Little Willie John 12-23-59
King 5342

Blasters, Jack White

I'm So Glad

Skip James 2-31
Paramount 13098

Skip James (1965 for Vanguard), Cream (1966, 1968), Deep Purple, Scot Richard Case

James was reportedly inspired to write this as a response to Lonnie Johnson's 1928 "I'm So Tired Of Living Alone" (Okeh 8677).

I'm Sorry

Bobby Wayne 1952
Mercury 5847

Platters

I'm Still In Love With You see I Am Still In Love

I'm Sure Going To Miss Her (aka Sure Gonna Miss Her)

Chellows 1965
Hit 187

Gary Lewis & Playboys (10-6-65), Bobby Russell (1968 for Elf)

The Hit label, based in Nashville, mostly issued sound-alikes of contemporary pop songs such as the Beagles' "Can't Buy Me Love" (Hit 113). For whatever reason, they occasionally issued an original recording. In this case, one by Bobby Russell, whose writing credits include "The Joker Went Wild," "Little Green Apples," "Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" and "Honey." Russell happened to be one of the vocalists used regularly for Hit recordings. "I'm Sure Going To Miss Her" was the flip of the Chellows' take on the 4 Seasons' hit "Bye, Bye Baby."

I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am)

Gary Glitter 1973
Bell 398

Brownsville Station

I'm Wise (aka Slippin' And Slidin')

Eddie Bo 1955
Apollo 486

Little Richard (1956, 1964, 1965), Buddy Holly, Eddie Bo (1962 as "Baby I'm Wise" for Ric), Johnny Winter, John Lennon

Al Collins' "I Got The Blues For You" (Ace 500, 1954) has elements of this tune, but "I'm Wise" incorporates the lyric angle and an even closer melody of the future Little Richard hit. I'd call Bo's the original and Collins' an influence.

I'm Your Puppet

Dan Penn 1965
MGM 13415

James & Bobby Purify

I've Been Everywhere

Lucky Starr 1962
Aussie Festival FK 205

Lucky Starr (1962 for Big Top, 1963 for Dot), Hank Snow (6-27-62), Johnny Cash

Starr's original named various Australian places while the U.S. & U.K. releases used locales from their respective countries. Geoff Mack wrote both the Aussie and US lyrics, The Big Top (3123) and Dot (16506) singles were different takes.

I've Been Hurt

Ray Whitley 1965
Dunhill 201

Tams, Sensational Epics, Bill Deal & Rhondells

I've Done Everything For You

Sammy Hagar 1978
Captiol 4596

Rick Springfield

I've Got A Thing About You Baby

Tony Joe White 1972
on lp Warner Bros. 2580 The Train I'm On

Billy Lee Riley, Elvis Presley

I've Got Five Dollars And It's Saturday Night

Ted Daffan & His Texans w/ Jerry Elliott 1-29-50
Columbia 20679

Jesse Rogers (c. 6-50), Faron Young, George (Jones) & Gene (Pitney)

I've Got My Mind Set On You (aka Got My Mind Set On You)

James Ray 1962
Dynamic Sound 503

George Harrison

Ray's 45 was an edit (only 1:49 long!) of his album version (Caprice 1002, self-titled).

I've Got The World On A String

Cab Calloway 11-9-32
Brunswick 6424

Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Stan Kenton, Mel Tormé, Louis Prima, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, Peggy Lee et al.

The song was introduced by Aida Ward, backed by Calloway's band, in the Cotton Club Parade of 1932. Cab & his orchestra were the first to record it though.

I've Got To Use My Imagination see Imagination, (I've Got To Use My

I've Got You Under My Skin

Virginia Bruce 1936
on LP Classic International Filmusicals C.I.F. 3001 Born To Dance ost (c.1975)

Frances Langford & Jimmy Dorsey (8-6-36), Hal Kemp (9-2-36), Ray Noble w/ Al Bowlly (9-25-36), Stan Freberg, Frank Sinatra (1956, 1963, 1966), Four Seasons, Neneh Cherry et el.

I've Gotta Be Me

Steve Lawrence 1967
Calendar 1001

Sammy Davis, Jr. (3-4-68)

Lawrence's version is from the original cast recording of Golden Rainbow.

I've Lost You

Matthews' Southern Comfort
1969 on lp Decca 75191

Elvis Presley (6-4-70)

Ian Matthews left Fairport Convention in early 1969 to pursue a solo career. He took on the management team of Ken Howard and Alan Blaikely, who wrote "I've Lost You." Despite the album being issued under the name Matthews' Southern Comfort, it was really a solo record. Matthews kept the name, subsequently assembling a proper band and using the moniker for his next two LPs.

I've Told Ev'ry Little Star

Jack Denny w/ Paul Small 11-11-32
Victor 24183

Linda Scott

Introduced by Walter Slezak and Katherine Carrington in the 1932 Broadway show Music In The Air, but likely no recording was made. The song's melody was inspired by the singing of a finch(!).

If Every Day Was Like Christmas

Bobby (aka Red) West 1965
Brent 200

Elvis Presley (6-10-66)

Red West, who was part of Elvis Presley's inner circle (aka the Memphis Mafia), self-issued his original on a label named after his son.

If I Had A Boat see Boat Song, The

If I Had A Hammer see Hammer Song, The

If I Loved You

Bing Crosby 4-18-45
Decca 18686

Frank Sinatra (5-1-45), Jan Clayton & John Raitt (5-16-45), Chad & Jeremy

Composed for the stage play Carousel. Clayton & Raitt's was from the original cast recording but Bing's was done prior.

If I Were A Carpenter

Tim Hardin 1966
Verve Folkways 5031

Bobby Darin (8-15-66), Four Tops, Johnny Cash & June Carter, Bob Seger, Leon Russell, Robert Plant

When Bobby Darin's version was getting popular, writer Hardin initially expressed displeasure that his vocal style had been copied. But Tim eventually admitted he had coached Darin's recording!

If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right see I Don't Want To Be Right, (If Loving You Is Wrong)

If My Friends Could See Me Now

Gwen Verdon 2-6-66
on lp Columbia 2900 Sweet Charity cast

Joseph Gershenson & Shirley MacLaine, Linda Clifford

If Not For You

Bob Dylan 8-12-70
on lp Columbia 30290 New Morning

George Harrison, Olivia Newton-John, Richie Havens

Dylan had also cut the song on May 1, 1970 and that version appeared on his 1991 Bootleg Series 1-3 set. On Dylan's Biograph box set, 7-70 is the date listed for "If Not For You" which, since he made no recordings of it that July, is probably someone's guess based on his May, June and August sessions.

If She Knew What She Wants

Jules Shear 1984
EMI America 8276

Bangles

If You Asked Me To

Patti La Belle 1988
MCA 53358

Celine Dion

If You Can't Rock Me

Strikes w/ the Three Pelves
c. 10-56
Lin 5006

Strikes (11-18-56 for Imperial), Ricky Nelson

If You Let Me Make Love To You Then Why Can't I Touch You

Salvation off-Broadway cast
10-7-69 Capitol 337

Ronnie Dyson

If You Wanna Be Happy see Marry An Ugly Woman

Iko Iko see Jock-A-Mo

Image Of Me, The

Wayne Kemp 1967
JAB 9005

Conway Twitty, Flying Burrito Bros., Tom Petty

Imagination, (I've Got To Use My) (aka I've Got To Use My Imagination)

Barry Goldberg c. 8-73
Atco 6946

Martha Reeves, Gladys Knight & Pips

On the 2009 CD issue of Barry Goldberg's self-titled album, the mix of "Imagination" eliminated arranger Arif Mardin's "sweetening," primarily the chorus of backing vocals.

Impossible Dream

Richard Kiley 12-6-65
on lp Kapp 5505 Man Of La Mancha cast

Jack Jones (4-4-66), Hesitations, Roger Williams

In My Dreams

Dokken 1985
Elektra 69563

The Party

In My Time Of Dying see Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed

In Other Words (aka Fly Me To The Moon)

Kaye Ballard 1954
Decca 29114

Eydie Gorme, Felicia Sanders (1959), Joe Harnell (as "Fly Me To The Moon Bosa Nova"), Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Womack et al.

Introduced—but apparently not recorded—by Felicia Sanders in 1954. In response to the US space program, the song was retitled in the early '60s.

In The Chapel In The Moonlight (aka Chapel In The Moonlight)

Shep Fields 10-22-36
Bluebird 6640

Ruth Etting (12-12-36), Kitty Kallen, Bachelors, Dean Martin

In The Middle Of A Heartache

Wanda Jackson 1-6-60
on CD Bear Family 15629 Right Or Wrong (1992)

Wanda Jackson (4-20-61)

Wanda's first version, according to liner notes writer Colin Escot, was in more of a "hillbilly" style, with classic country backing. Her subsequent hit recording was modeled after Patsy Cline's sound.

In The Mood

Edgar Hayes & Orch. 2-17-38
Decca 1882

Glenn Miller (8-1-39), Ernie Fields, Bette Midler

Derived from "Tar Paper Stomp" aka "Wingy's Stomp" by Joe "Wingy" Manone under the name Barbecue Joe & His Hot Dogs (Champion 16153, 8-28-30). The "In The Mood" riff also appeared in Fletcher Henderson's "Hot And Anxious" (Columbia 2449, 1931) and "There's Rhythm In Harlem" by the Mills Blue Rhythm Band (Columbia Viva-Tonal 3071, 1935).

Credited writer Joe Garland, a sax player in Edgar Hayes's band, didn't really compose the tune but most likely, was just the first to transcribe and register it.

In The Pines (aka Black Girl, aka Where Did You Sleep Last Night?)

"Doc" Walsh" 4-17-26
Columbia 15094

Leadbelly (many time, first in 1944 as [Black Gal] Where Did You Sleep Last Night?), Bill Monroe, Pete Seeger, Four Pennies, Louvin Bros., Dave Van Ronk, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Dolly Partin, Odetta, John Baldry, Nirvana et el.

There were many variations of the song in the 1920s and '30s, done under other titles including The Longest Train I Ever Saw and The Lonesome Road.

Indian Reservation see Pale Faced Indian

Ink Is Black (aka Black & White)

Pete Seeger 3-8-56
on lp Folkways 2453 Love Songs For Friends And Foes

Earl Robinson, Sammy Davis Jr., Greyhound, 3 Dog Night

Written by David Arkin (father of actor/singer Alan) and Earl Robinson following the Brown vs. Board Of Education Supreme Court ruling outlawing school segregation.

Invisible

Jaded Era 2003
on CD Cage 'Em 625989357022 Invisible

Ashlee Simpson

Ira Hayes (aka The Ballad Of Ira Hayes)

Peter LaFarge 1962
on lp Columbia 8595/1795 "Ira Hayes" And Other Ballads

Pete Seeger, Peter LaFarge (1965 for Folkways), Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan

Ira Hayes, a Native American Indian, was one of the flag raisers photographed at Iwo Jima during World War II. LaFarge was inspired to write the song about him from the 1961 bio-pic The Outsider.

Irresistible You

Bobby Peterson 1960
V-Tone 214

Bobby Darin (6-19-61)

Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone

Bake Turner 4-29-69
Kapp 2075

Charlie Pride (8-2-69), Sir Douglas Quintet, Doug Sahm, Texas Tornados, Tanya Tucker

Is It Really Over

Billy Deaton 1962
Shannon 777

Jim Reeves (7-2-64)

Shannon Records was owned by Jim Reeves, who wrote the song for Deaton. Billy's went nowhere but Jim himself cut it a couple of years later, turning it into a hit.

Is That All There Is

Dan Daniels 1968 (rel. 3-68)
Epic 10297

Leslie Uggams, Peggy Lee (1-29-69), Cristina

"Is That All There Is" was inspired by Thomas Mann's short fiction piece "Disillusionment." The song was first performed by the English singer/actress Georgia Brown in 1966 for a BBC production, but no recording was made. Co-writers Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller then were unsucessfull in pitching it to Marlene Dietrich.

Dan Daniels was a NYC disc jockey when he was contacted by Epic records about narrating over a music track the label had already produced—"Is That All There Is." Leiber & Stoller protested (which was their right since the song hadn't been released by anyone yet) and Epic withheld Daniels' record from commercial distribution.

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

Four Lads 8-12-53
Columbia 40082

They Might Be Giants, Bette Midler

"Istanbul" has musical elements similar to Irving Berlin's 1929 composition "Puttin' On The Ritz."

It Ain't Easy

Ron Davies 1970
A&M 1188

Three Dog Night, Dave Edmunds, David Bowie, Long John Baldry, Ron Davies (1973, on lp A&M 4400 U.F.O.), Detroit, Claudia Lennear, Detroit Cobras

It Don't Matter To Me

Bread 1969
on lp Elektra 74044

Bread (1970, Elektra 45701), Josh Rouse

It Hurts So Good (aka Hurts So Good)

Katie Love & Four Shades Of Black 1971
Muscle Shoals Sound 100/Scepter 12304

Millie Jackson, Susan Cadogan

It Hurts To Be In Love

Neil Sedaka 1964
on CD Razor & Tie 82968 Definitive Collection (2007)

Gene Pitney, Neil Sedaka (later 1964?)

"It Hurts To Be In Love" was written by Howard Greenfield (often Neil's writing partner) and Helen Miller, who co-wrote two other Gene Pitney recordings. Sedaka, along with his wife Leba, Toni Wine and Helen Miller, cut the song at Dick Charles Studio. Neil's label, RCA Victor, refused to consider a non-RCA studio-made recording. Another factor in its non-release at the time was Sedaka changed producers and the new one didn't want to use any previous tracks. This recording ended up being used as a "demo" to sell the song and Gene Pitney bit. His hit used the same backing track as Neil's. Before Gene's success, Neil recorded another (inferior) version that Bear Family later issued.

It Must Be Love

Labi Siffre 1971
Bell 45,183 (1972)

Madness

It Was A Very Good Year

Kingston Trio 1-16-61
on lp Capitol 1564 Goin' Places

Modern Folk Quartet, Frank Sinatra

It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels see Did God Make Honky Tonk Angels

It Won't Be Wrong see Don't Be Long

It's A Heartache

Ronnie Spector 8-16-77
Alston 3738

Bonnie Tyler, Juice Newton, Trick Pony

Despite the song having been written by Bonnie Tyler's managers, Ronnie Spector claims hers was done first. A recording date for Tyler's has been elusive, so Spector's assertion stands until it can be shown otherwise.

It's A Man's World (aka It's A Man's Man's Man's World)

James Brown 6-6-64
on CD Polydor 25714 CD Of JB (1985)

James Brown (1966 for King)

It's All Coming Back To Me Now

Pandora's Box w/ Elaine Caswell 1989
on CD Virgin 2605 Original Sin

Celine Dion

It's All In The Game

Tommy Edwards 7-13-51
MGM 11035

Dinah Shore (7-26-51),Sammy Kaye (8-1-51), Louis Armstrong (11-28-51). Tommy Edwards (1958), Cliff Richard, Four Tops, Johnny Mathis & Take 6

Based on the 1912 instrumental "Melody in A Major," composed by future US vice president Charles Dawes. Carl Sigman wrote the "Game" lyrics in 1951.

Jimmy Dorsey used the melody, with different lyrics, for his 1940 "Let Me Dream" (Decca 3311). Brother Tommy cut is as an instrumental titled simply "Melody" in 1942 (Victor 10-1045).

It's All Over Now

Valentinos 3-24-64
SAR 152

Rolling Stones (6-11-64), Bobby Womack & Bill Withers, Rod Stewart, John Anderson

It's Getting Better

Vogues 1968
on lp Reprise 6314 Turn Around, Look At Me

Leonard Nimoy, Mama Cass, Bobby Rydell

Many Bobby Rydell discographies mistakenly list his version as being on Reprise 0656 (the flip of "The Lovin' Things"). That Reprise single has "That's What I Call Livin'" instead, although Rydell did issue "It's Getting Better" in 1976, on P.I.P 6531. Whether he recorded it in the '60s remains an open question.

It's Going To Take Some Time

Carole King 9-71
on lp Ode 77013 Music

Carpenters

It's Gonna Work Out Fine see Gonna Work Out Fine

It's In His Kiss (aka The Shoop Shoop Song)

Merry Clayton 1963 (rel. 6-10-63)
Capitol 4984

Betty Everett (11-26-63), Ramona King, Kate Taylor, Cher

It's Just A Little Bit Too Late see Just A Little Bit Too Late

It's Late

Dorsey Burnette 8-28-58
on lp UK United Artists 30312 Imperial Rockabillies Vol. 3 (1980)

Ricky Nelson (10-21-58), Shakin' Stevens

It initially seemed like this could been writer Burnette's demo, but it also appeared on the 1985 U.S. album Let's Have A Party, The Rockabilly Influence: 1950-1960 (Capitol 12455). The liner notes make no mention of it being a demo, and it turns out Dorsey's actual demo (a different recording) has turned up online.

It's My Party

Helen Shapiro 2-63
on lp Epic 24075/26075 A Teenager In Love

Leslie Gore (3-30-63), Chiffons, Bryan Ferry, Amy Winehouse

North London teenager Helen Shapiro zipped to Nashville for some sessions during a break in her early 1963 UK tour (with a group called the Beatles opening for her!).

Phil Spector produced a version by the Crystals (actually the Blossoms) but it's never been issued.

It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)

Chris Thompson 1986
on lp Atlantic 81665-1 The High Cost Of Living

Starship

It's Oh So Quiet!

Betty Hutton 5-10-51
RCA Victor 4179

Björk

"It's Oh So Quiet!" was an adaptation of Horst Winter's 1948 "Und jetzt ist es still" (German Austroton 8269).

It's Only A Paper Moon

Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards 1933
on CD(?) Broken Audio Early Classics: Movie Musicals 1920-1940 Vol. 2 (2011)

George Olsen (9-7-33), Hal Kemp (9-7-33), Paul Whiteman (9-11-33), Cliff Edwards (10-24-33), Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Django Reinhardt, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra

"Moon" began as "If You Believe In Me," written for an unsuccessful stage production titled The Great Magoo. It was reworked into "It's Only A Paper Moon" and first appeared in the film Take A Chance, which opened in November, 1933. The song was performed by June Knight and Buddy Rogers, as well as Ukelele Ike. While Knight & Rogers' version is on YouTube, it's not clear whether it's commercially available.

Also unclear is whether the Early Classics material was issued as a CD or is only sold as digital downloads.

Take A Chance was also a 1932 stage play but "It's Only A Paper Moon" was not part of it.

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday

G. C. Cameron 1975
Motown 1364

Boyz II Men

Cameron's version was done for the 1975 film Cooley High.

It's The Same Old Song

Supremes 4-65
on CD Motown B0026532-01 A' Go-Go (Expanded Edition) (2017)

Four Tops (7-8-65), Supremes (1967 on lp Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland)

Ivory Tower

Jack Fulton 1955
Scope 1956

Cathy Carr, Gale Storm, Charms