- Music written by
- Johnny Mercer
- Lyrics written by
- Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstedt
- Copyright date
- 1959
- Language
- English
- ISWC
-
T-070.908.085-2 ASCAP, ISWC, JASRAC
- Comments
- The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces, when somebody breaks yours heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.
- Published by
-
COMMANDER PUBL
GEMA
W B MUSIC CORP ASCAP
- Licensing
- Request a synchronization license
Versions
I Wanna Be Around written by Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstedt English
I Wanna Be Around written by Johnny Mercer instrumental
Title | Performer | Release date | Info | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
i | I Wanna Be Around | Earl Grant | June 1963 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | The Bernie Lowe Orchestra | November 1963 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | The Dave Pell Octet | 1963 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Ernie Heckscher and His Fairmont Orchestra | 1963 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Ray Anthony | 1963 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Grady Martin and The Slewfoot Five | January 1964 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Ralph Sharon Trio | 1965 | ||
i | アイ・ワナ・ビー・アラウンド [I Wanna Be Around] | Keitaro Miho & His Group | November 10, 1969 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Ray McVay and His World Ballroom Dancing Championship Orchestra | 1969 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Bobby Wellins Quartet | 2000 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Jon Brosseau | 2007 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Waverly Seven | 2007 | ||
i | I Wanna Be Around | Harry Allen | 2007 | ||
i | I Want to Be Around | Monty Alexander | March 2008 |
J'aimerais être là written by Maurice Tézé French
Title | Performer | Release date | Info | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
J'aimerais être là | Sacha Distel | October 1962 | First release |