I Don't Know Why
"I Don't Know Why" (sometimes listed as "Don't Know Why I Love You") is a 1968 song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, from the album For Once in My Life (1968). It also serves as the B-side for the 1969 hit "My Cherie Amour".
| "I Don't Know Why" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Stevie Wonder | ||||
| from the album For Once in My Life | ||||
| A-side | "My Cherie Amour" | |||
| Released | 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1968 | |||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||
| Length | 3:02(single version) 2:48 (album version) | |||
| Label | Tamla T 54180 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Stevie Wonder, Paul Riser, Don Hunter, Lula Hardaway | |||
| Producer(s) | Don Hunter, Stevie Wonder | |||
| Stevie Wonder singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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.
Personnel
- Stevie Wonder – vocals, clavinet
- James Jamerson – bass guitar
- Earl Van Dyke – Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano
- Uriel Jones – drums
- Joe Messina – guitar
- String arrangements by Paul Riser
Charts
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 39 |
| US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles | 16 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 41 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 20 |
| UK Singles Chart | 14 |
| "I Don't Know Why" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Rolling Stones | ||||
| from the album Metamorphosis | ||||
| B-side | "Try a Little Harder" | |||
| Released | May 1975 | |||
| Recorded | June 1969 at Olympic Studios, London, England | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:01 | |||
| Label | ABKCO Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Stevie Wonder, Paul Riser, Don Hunter, Lula Hardaway | |||
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Miller | |||
| The Rolling Stones singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Cover versions
The Jackson 5 cover the song (listed as "Don't Know Why I Love You") on their 1970 album ABC.
Al Kooper covered this song on his album "You Never Know Who Your Friends Are", 1969.
David Porter covered this song on his album "Gritty, Groovy and Gettin' It", 1970.
The Rolling Stones released a 1969 cover of the song in 1975 on their ABKCO outtake album Metamorphosis. It was recorded on 3 July 1969 during the sessions for Let It Bleed, the night that news broke of Brian Jones’ death. It was also used as the b-side for their 1975 single Try A Little Harder, and peaked at No. 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The song was covered by the B.E.F. on their 1991 album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume Two, featuring Green Gartside of Scritti Politti on vocals.
The Brand New Heavies cover the song on their 2006 album Get Used to It.
Popular culture
The song was featured on an episode of ABC's Scandal entitled "Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot".
