"I Don't Know Why" (sometimes listed as "Don't Know Why I Love You") is a song by American singer-songwriter
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, sou ...
, from the 1968 album ''
For Once in My Life''. It was released as a single on January 28, 1969, with "
My Cherie Amour" on the
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...
. A few months later, the single was re-issued with sides reversed because of the growing popularity of "My Cherie Amour", which became a Top Ten hit.
''
Cash Box'' stated that "Wonder is softened just a trifle on this slower and more dramatically developing ballad."
Personnel
*
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, sou ...
– vocals,
clavinet
*
The Funk Brothers – all other instruments
Charts
The single peaked at No. 39 on the
US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song was recorded when Wonder was 18 years old, and became a moderate hit single, together with "You Met Your Match", another song from the album. It also showcases Wonder's talents on the
clavinet.
Rolling Stones version
A rendition of "I Don't Know Why" by
the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...
is included on their 1975 rarities compilation ''
Metamorphosis''. It was recorded on July 3, 1969, during the sessions for ''
Let It Bleed''. It was also the night that news broke of former guitarist
Brian Jones
Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969) was an English multi-instrumentalist and singer best known as the founder, rhythm/lead guitarist, and original leader of the Rolling Stones. Initially a guitarist, he went on to prov ...
' death, less than a month after he had been fired from the band.
The song was also used as the B-side for their 1975 single "
Try A Little Harder
Try or TRY may refer to:
Music Albums
* ''Try!'', an album by the John Mayer Trio
* ''Try'' (Bebo Norman album) (2014) Songs
* "Try" (Blue Rodeo song) (1987)
* "Try" (Colbie Caillat song) (2014)
* "Try" (Nelly Furtado song) (2004)
* "Try (Jus ...
", and peaked at No. 42 on the
US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.
References
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1968 songs
1969 singles
Stevie Wonder songs
Songs written by Lula Mae Hardaway
Songs written by Stevie Wonder
Torch songs
Song recordings produced by Stevie Wonder