Tell Me Why (1951 song)
Encyclopedia
"Tell Me Why" is a popular
song
written by Marty Gold
with the lyrics by Al Alberts
. The song was published in 1951
.
, in 1951
. It was also recorded a short time later by Eddie Fisher
in a version that reached the Top 10.
The recording by The Four Aces
was recorded on October 23, 1951, and released by Decca Records
as catalog number
27860. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on September 7, 1951 and lasted 24 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2 . The flip side was "A Garden in the Rain
," also a big hit for the Aces.
The recording by Eddie Fisher
was recorded on December 5, 1951, and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4444. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on December 28, 1951 and lasted 19 weeks on the chart, peaking at #7 . The flip side was "Trust in Me
."
and his orchestra, released by Decca even before they released the Four Aces' recording, as catalog number 27621, with the flip side "Restringing the Pearls", by Skeets McDonald
(released by Capitol Records
as catalog number 1957, with the flip side "Be My Life's Companion
"), and by Dinah Washington
(recorded January 1952
, released by Mercury Records
as catalog number 8267, with the flip side "Wheel of Fortune
").
Semprini
with Rhythm Acc. recorded it in London on March 26, 1952 as the third song of the medley "Part 2. Hit Medley of Foxtrots" along with "The Little White Cloud That Cried
" and "I'm Lucky to Have You". It was released by EMI
on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10263.
Bobby Vinton
revived "Tell Me Why" in 1964 and reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100
with his version.
The Mastertouch Piano Roll Company of Australia released the song on a piano roll, catalogue number AD 4657, in 1951.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written by Marty Gold
Marty Gold
Martin Gold was a composer, pianist, and bandleader born in New York City, New York. He was the pianist and arranger for the Korn Kobblers, a popular 1940s novelty group billed as "America's most nonsensical dance band", but was probably best known as the composer of the song "Tell Me Why", which...
with the lyrics by Al Alberts
Al Alberts
Al Alberts was a popular singer and composer. -Biography:Born Al Albertini in Chester, Pennsylvania, he went to South Philadelphia High School, whose alumni included many others who would become famous in show business, such as Joey Bishop, Buddy Greco, Al Martino, Mario Lanza, Chubby Checker,...
. The song was published in 1951
1951 in music
-Events:*January 29 – Nilla Pizzi wins the first annual Sanremo Music Festival with "Grazie dei fiori".*February – The first complete performance of Charles Ives's Second Symphony is given in Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.*March – Alan...
.
Major recorded versions
The hit version of the song was recorded by Alberts' group, The Four AcesThe Four Aces
The Four Aces is an American male traditional pop music quartet, popular since the 1950s. Over the last half-century, the group amassed many gold records. Its million-selling signature tunes include "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing", "Three Coins in the Fountain", "Stranger in Paradise", "Tell Me...
, in 1951
1951 in music
-Events:*January 29 – Nilla Pizzi wins the first annual Sanremo Music Festival with "Grazie dei fiori".*February – The first complete performance of Charles Ives's Second Symphony is given in Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.*March – Alan...
. It was also recorded a short time later by Eddie Fisher
Eddie Fisher (singer)
Edwin Jack "Eddie" Fisher , was an American entertainer. He was one of the world's most famous and successful singers in the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show. His divorce from his first wife, Debbie Reynolds, to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, garnered...
in a version that reached the Top 10.
The recording by The Four Aces
The Four Aces
The Four Aces is an American male traditional pop music quartet, popular since the 1950s. Over the last half-century, the group amassed many gold records. Its million-selling signature tunes include "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing", "Three Coins in the Fountain", "Stranger in Paradise", "Tell Me...
was recorded on October 23, 1951, and released by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
as catalog number
Catalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
27860. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on September 7, 1951 and lasted 24 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2 . The flip side was "A Garden in the Rain
A Garden in the Rain
"A Garden in the Rain" is a popular song.The music was written by Carroll Gibbons, the lyrics by James Dyrenforth. The song was published in 1928.The song had two periods of great popularity: in 1929 and in 1952....
," also a big hit for the Aces.
The recording by Eddie Fisher
Eddie Fisher (singer)
Edwin Jack "Eddie" Fisher , was an American entertainer. He was one of the world's most famous and successful singers in the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show. His divorce from his first wife, Debbie Reynolds, to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, garnered...
was recorded on December 5, 1951, and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4444. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on December 28, 1951 and lasted 19 weeks on the chart, peaking at #7 . The flip side was "Trust in Me
Trust in Me (1937 song)
"Trust in Me" is a song written by Ned Wever, Milton Ager, and Jean Schwartz.It was first popularized by Mildred Bailey in 1937, charting at #4....
."
Other versions
The song was also covered in a recording by Jerry GrayJerry Gray (Arranger)
Jerry Gray was an American violinist, arranger, composer, and leader of swing dance orchestras bearing his name. He is widely known for his work with popular music during the Swing era. His name is inextricably linked to two of the most famous bandleaders of the time, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller...
and his orchestra, released by Decca even before they released the Four Aces' recording, as catalog number 27621, with the flip side "Restringing the Pearls", by Skeets McDonald
Skeets McDonald
Enos William McDonald , better known as Skeets McDonald, was an American country and rockabilly musician popular during the 1950s and 60s...
(released by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
as catalog number 1957, with the flip side "Be My Life's Companion
Be My Life's Companion
"Be My Life's Companion" is a popular song.It was written by Bob Hilliard and Milton De Lugg and published in 1951.-Major recorded versions:...
"), and by Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
(recorded January 1952
1952 in music
-Events:*February 26 - Jo Stafford marries bandleader/arranger Paul Weston.*March 21 - First reported Rock and roll riot breaks out at Alan Freed's Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland, Ohio...
, released by Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
as catalog number 8267, with the flip side "Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (song)
"Wheel of Fortune" is a popular song written by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss and published in 1951. It was originally recorded in 1951 for Atlantic Records by The Cardinals. In one of the earliest examples of a major record label covering an independent black hit, Capitol recreated The...
").
Semprini
Semprini
Alberto Fernando Riccardo Semprini known by his stage name Alberto Semprini, or Semprini, was an English pianist, famous for appearances on the BBC, mainly on radio....
with Rhythm Acc. recorded it in London on March 26, 1952 as the third song of the medley "Part 2. Hit Medley of Foxtrots" along with "The Little White Cloud That Cried
The Little White Cloud That Cried
"The Little White Cloud that Cried" is a popular song written by Johnnie Ray and published in 1951.The biggest hit version was recorded by Ray and The Four Lads in 1951. The recording was released by Okeh Records as catalog number 6840...
" and "I'm Lucky to Have You". It was released by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10263.
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
revived "Tell Me Why" in 1964 and reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
with his version.
The Mastertouch Piano Roll Company of Australia released the song on a piano roll, catalogue number AD 4657, in 1951.