I'm Just Wild About Harry
"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" | |
|---|---|
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(s) | Eubie Blake |
| Lyricist(s) | Noble Sissle |
| Audio sample | |
Instrumental version of "I'm Just Wild About Harry" recorded 17 May 1922. Duration 3:54.
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"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 the singer'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.