I'm Just Wild About Harry
| "I'm Just Wild About Harry" | |
|---|---|
Cover page for "I'm Just Wild About Harry", 1921 | |
| Single by Marion Harris with Isham Jones Orchestra | |
| B-side | My Cradle Melody |
| Published | July 1, 1921 by M. Witmark & Sons, New York |
| Released | August 1922 |
| Recorded | July 1922 |
| Studio | Brunswick Studios, New York City |
| Genre | Popular music, Broadway show tune |
| Length | 2:50 |
| Label | Brunswick 2309 |
| Composer | Eubie Blake |
| Lyricist | Noble Sissle |
| Audio sample | |
Instrumental version of "I'm Just Wild About Harry" by the Vincent Lopez Orchestra (Edison 50988), recorded May 17, 1922. Duration 3:54.
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"I'm Just Wild About Harry" is a song written in 1921 with lyrics by Noble Sissle and music by Eubie Blake for the Broadway show Shuffle Along.
"I'm Just Wild About Harry" was the most popular number of the production, which was the first financially successful Broadway play to have African-American writers and an all African-American cast. The song broke what had been a taboo against musical and stage depictions of romantic love between African-Americans.
Originally written as a waltz, Blake rewrote the number as a foxtrot at performer Lottie Gee's request. The result was a simple, direct, joyous, and infectious tune enhanced onstage by improvisational dancing. In 1948, Harry S Truman selected "I'm Just Wild About Harry" as his campaign song for the United States presidential election of 1948. Its success in politics led to a popular revival.