Maybe It's Because

[Mark Stryker]

I've recently because smitten with the 1949 song "Maybe It's Because" (music by Johnnie Scott and lyrics by Harry Ruby). I have it on a Frank Sinatra disc taken from his "Light Up Time" radio shows from 1949-50 and he just sings the hell out of it -- the last 4 bars of the A sections especially kill me, with the melody soaring to a higher pitch to start the phrase and then working toward a sighing resolution. The song was new to me and I'm curious if there are any modern jazz interpretations (or even other pop vocal versions) that I've overlooked or just plain don't know about.

Can anybody hip me to some versions I ought to hear? I've heard Louis Armstrong's take for Decca (great) as well as the version that Dick Haymes had a hit with (yuck).

Thanks in advance.

Edited December 30, 2010 by Mark Stryker

[Chas]

I've recently because smitten with the 1949 song "Maybe It's Because"...

Evidently

[Larry Kart]

Crosby and Garland duetting

[mattes]

On The Radio: The Lucky Strike Shows 1949-1950

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001FZSKNI/ref=tmm_other_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&qid=1293769684&sr=8-1&condition=new

[JohnS]

I'm not familiar with this melody Mark. Lord lists fourteen versions, all vocals apart from a Milcho Leviev trio on Trend. Interesting versions include Claude Thornhill, Jack Sheldon, Nancy Harrow, Sarah Vaughan and Peggy Lee.