I Love You for Sentimental Reasons (song)

"(I Love You) for Sentimental Reasons" is a popular song written by Ivory "Deek" Watson & William "Pat" Best, the latter being a founding member of The Four Tunes. The credits and the publishing (Leeds Publishing Co.) correctly list Deek Watson, former founding member of The Ink Spots, as a co-writer. Oddly, Best later stated that Watson had nothing to do with the creation of the song. But Watson maintains, in his late 60's autobiography that he and Best wrote the song together, lyrics and music respectively.

Best was a member of Watson's group, The Brown Dots (the song originally was released by Watson's quartet with Joe King as lead vocalist). The song was published in 1945.

Hit versions

 * The biggest-selling version by Nat King Cole was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 304. It first reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on November 22, 1946, and lasted 12 weeks on the chart, peaking at number one.


 * The recording by Eddy Howard was released by Majestic Records as catalog number 7204. It first reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on January 10, 1947, and lasted five weeks on the chart, peaking at number six.


 * The recording by Dinah Shore was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 37188. It first reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on January 10, 1947, and lasted four weeks on the chart, peaking at number six.


 * The recording by Charlie Spivak was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1981. It first reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on January 10, 1947, and lasted 14 weeks on the chart, peaking at number seven.

List of notable recorded versions

 * Dexter Gordon (?)
 * The Brown Dots (1945)
 * Nat King Cole (1946)
 * Charlie Spivak (1946)
 * Ella Fitzgerald (1947)
 * Eddy Howard (1947)
 * Art Kassel (1947)
 * Django Reinhardt (1947)
 * Dinah Shore (1947)
 * Smiley Lewis (1954)
 * The Rivileers (1954)
 * Four Lovers (1956)
 * Sam Cooke (1957)
 * Jesse Belvin (1959)
 * Donnie Elbert (1960)
 * The Cleftones (1961)
 * The Spaniels (1961)
 * The Righteous Brothers (1962)
 * Dean Martin (1962)
 * Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells (1964)
 * Danny Kortchmar (1973)
 * James Brown (1976) - a disco version; charted #70 R&B
 * Linda Ronstadt (1986)
 * Natalie Cole (1991)
 * Laura Fygi (1993)
 * Five Star (1995)
 * Raul Malo (2004)
 * Rod Stewart (2004)
 * Glenn Frey (2012)
 * Jam Hsiao (2012)