They Didn't Believe Me

Just before the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Herbert Reynolds and Jerome Kern wrote the words and music, respectively, to a most enduring song—They Didn't Believe Me. Composed for the Broadway musical, The Girl From Utah, the song was one of five that were added to the show when it came over from Britain. Producer Charles Frohman felt the musical needed a catchy lift to survive in New York. Over time, the song has became a pop and jazz standard. Here are 13 of my favorites, in order...

Here's Johnny Mercer in 1942...



Here's Julie London in 1960...



Here's Dinah Washington in 1956...



Here are the Hi-Lo's with the Jerry Fielding Orchestra in 1953...



Here's Charlie Parker and Chet Baker in 1952...



Here's Sammy Davis Jr. and Carmen McRae in 1957...



Here's Johnny Hartman in 1955 with Howard McGhee on trumpet...



Here's Dean Martin in 1966...



Here's Tony Bennett with Bill Charlap at the piano in 2014...



Here's Helen Merrill with Al Haig on piano in 1978...



Here's Frank Sinatra live in the late 1940s...



Here's Georgie Auld with his bop band in 1949...



And here's Connie Haynes in 1957...