Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians - You Didn't Have to Tell Me (1931)

You Didn't Have to Tell Me (I Knew it All the Time)
Words and music by Walter Donaldson
Performed by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
Vocal refrain by Carmen Lombardo
Recorded January 13, 1931
Columbia 2379-D

This song was written by Walter Donaldson (1893 - 1947) who was one of the top composers of American popular music with a huge output during the 1920s with numerous hits including "My Buddy", "My Blue Heaven", "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby", "At Sundown," "Love Me or Leave Me", "Makin' Whoopee", "Little White Lies", "My Mammy" and "Your Driving Me Crazy." He collaborated often with lyricists like Gus Kahn, Sam Lewis, Joe Young, Edgar Leslie, Johnny Mercer, and Harold Adamson. In his early years he worked for a New York brokerage firm then as a pianist for a music publisher. During World War I he entertained the troops 19 months at Camp Upton, N Y and later worked for Irving Berlin's publishing company, then his own company, Donaldson, Douglas and Gumble in 1928. In the early 1930s he worked in Hollywood as a composer-arranger for movies.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Guy Lombardo
• Carmen Lombardo
• You Didn't Have to Tell Me
• 1931
• Walter Donaldson
• 78rpm
• foxtrot
• dance
• band
• 1920s
• 1930s
• Columbia
• 2379-D

[2reeler]

What a beautifu song from the early thirties! I like the butterfly at the end too! A beautiful video! thanks alot. Im so glad I danced to his band when I was a teen.

[bsgs98]

@2reeler Thanks for the comment. I had forgotten the butterfly and had to watch it again!

[2reeler]

@bsgs98 its clever how it takes off the sheet music! Hey, what is going to be your next upload? Its going to be number 350!! Thats a milestone of sorts! Must be fun to have so many songs up! Which one has the most hits of all? Carmens voice was so unique in an era of Rudy Vallee clones! Just great.!

[bsgs98]

@2reeler Most hits? Type in "Sophie Tucker" in the YT search box and see what's at the top of the list. It also works in Google search!

[Crockerish]

I cant help not liking this,and Carmen sounds so good on the vocal.

[bsgs98]

@Crockerish Carmen's vocals were so fundamental to the Lombardo sound.  Nobody could sing like him!

[pomeroy40144]

Carmen is my heartthrob. Thanks for this. Sigh......

[baghend]

@bsgs98 Yes- my favourite Lombardos are all the ones from the 30's with Carmen as vocalist- though Lebert did a fine job on "I'm Still Caring"

Nice arrangements, and Carmen's sweet sax.

Thanks for these pics- seeing Guy with grey hair- always a bit of s shock, seeing those old pics of the boys with that beautiful black hair.

-Bill

[baghend]

@bsgs98 I'm with you. For me, the definitive sound of the '30's.

p.s. love your stuff!

[2reeler]

@bsgs98 wow, that is truly amazing! congrats on so many !!