(I Don't Know Why) But I Do

"(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" is an R&B song written by Paul Gayten and Bobby Charles (as Robert Guidry), and performed by Clarence "Frogman" Henry.

"(I Don't Know Why) But I Do"
Single by Clarence "Frogman" Henry
from the album You Always Hurt the One You Love
B-side"Just My Baby and Me"
ReleasedFebruary 1961
StudioCosimo (New Orleans, Louisiana)[1]
GenreR&B
Length2:15
LabelArgo
Songwriter(s)
Clarence "Frogman" Henry singles chronology
"On Bended Knee"
(1961)
"(I Don't Know Why) But I Do"
(1961)
"You Always Hurt the One You Love"
(1961)
Music video
"I Don't Know Why I Love You But I Do" (live) on YouTube

Original version

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It was Henry's biggest U.S. hit, reaching No. 4 in early 1961. The B-side on the single release was "Just My Baby and Me".

On its initial release in December 1960, the U.S. release on the Argo record label was titled "I Don't Know Why". However, about ten weeks later, Argo announced that due to confusion arising from the song being mistaken for the 1931 song called "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)", they changed the name of this song to "But I Do".[2] The UK release on the Pye label and the Australian release on the Coronet label were both titled "But I Do". The UK version spent 19 weeks in the charts and peaked at No. 3 in the first week of May 1961.[3]

The song was made popular again after its use in a 1993 UK television commercial for the Fiat Cinquecento,[4] appearances in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, the 1999 film Mickey Blue Eyes, and a 2019 commercial for Expedia and its ability to provide dog-friendly hotel accommodations.[5]

Chart history

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Bobby Vinton cover

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"But I Do"
 
Single by Bobby Vinton
B-side"When You Love"
ReleasedDecember 1972
GenrePop
Length2:21
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Paul Gayten/Robert Guidry
Bobby Vinton singles chronology
"Sealed with a Kiss"
(1972)
"But I Do"
(1972)
"Hurt"
(1973)

Bobby Vinton covered "But I Do" in 1972. His version reached No. 82 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 71 on the Cash Box chart in early 1973.[12] It also reached No. 27 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[13]

The song also charted in Canada on both the Pop chart (No. 72) and Adult Contemporary (No. 23) chart, where it made its best showing.[14][15]

Chart history

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Chart (1972–73) Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles[14] 72
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[15] 23
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 82
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[13] 27
US Cash Box Top 100[12] 71

References

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  • "Billboard". Billboard Hot 100 airplay and sales charts. Retrieved June 11, 2006.
  1. ^ Broven, John (September 12, 2014). "Cosimo Matassa". Ace Records. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Billboard March 13, 1961". Books.google.com. 13 March 1961. p. 40.
  3. ^ a b Rice T, Rice J, Read M & Gambaccini P, Guinness Book of Hits of the 60s. Guinness, London, 1984, p.75 (ISBN 0-85112-416-X)
  4. ^ "Clarence "Frogman" Henry - (I Don't Know Why) But I Do". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Expedia TV Commercial, 'Pet Friendly Spa Weekend' Song by Clarence "Frogman" Henry". Archived from the original on 2020-02-03.
  6. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - April 4, 1961". Chumtribute.com.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 253.
  8. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 4/22/61". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Sixties City - Pop Music Charts - Every Week Of The Sixties". Sixtiescity.net. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1961/Top 100 Songs of 1961". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1961". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Cash Box Top 100 2/10/73". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  13. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 248.
  14. ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1973-03-13. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  15. ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1973-03-03. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  16. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X