264:
963:
245:
The song has its roots in blues music and originally dealt with a marijuana smoker reminiscing about lost financial opportunities. As it was rewritten, it takes on the perspective of the female partner, who chastises her man for his irresponsible ways, complaining that her other lovers provide her
29:
780:
868:
402:
Lee often stated that Green's recording was influential to her music. In a 1971 interview she said, "I had the record, and I used to play it over and over in my dressing room, which was next to Benny
Goodman
410:... he said, 'I think you really like that song.' I said, 'Oh, I love it.' He said, 'Would you like to sing it?'" Lee said yes, so Goodman had an arrangement made of it for Lee to sing.
1331:
1282:
1030:
1149:
263:
1338:
234:
were members of the band). McCoy later rewrote the song, refining the composition and lyrics. The new tune, titled "Why Don't You Do Right?", was recorded by
1261:
1426:
828:
1352:
1317:
740:
1170:
1542:
1370:
438:
999:
1058:
836:
555:
617:
523:
1412:
1756:
1303:
1184:
1037:
844:
1205:
1468:
1447:
894:
1766:
1535:
1324:
1254:
1086:
1051:
1044:
1746:
1721:
1440:
922:
1736:
1634:
1563:
1454:
433:
1620:
733:
465:
772:
713:
1751:
1606:
1345:
1296:
1275:
1023:
395:
270:
1741:
1528:
1475:
1391:
1268:
966:
796:
246:
with more money: "Why don't you do right, like some other men do? Get out of here and get me some money too."
421:
1247:
992:
940:
908:
852:
444:
197:
661:
1510:
1433:
1093:
1079:
726:
1761:
1731:
1651:
1581:
1503:
1482:
1289:
496:
28:
1726:
1677:
1233:
1107:
1716:
1588:
1384:
1212:
1163:
860:
812:
634:
1627:
1377:
1198:
1135:
985:
173:
1405:
1461:
901:
613:
551:
519:
296:
48:
609:
602:
1695:
1121:
581:
414:
377:
363:
239:
227:
177:
169:
162:
133:
1613:
1240:
947:
268:
Benny
Goodman and His Orchestra with Peggy Lee, performing "Why Don't You Do Right?" in
1226:
1191:
1142:
1114:
1072:
820:
764:
547:
539:
280:
219:
207:
40:
36:
1710:
1656:
1489:
1310:
887:
749:
686:
390:
284:
223:
189:
119:
1661:
358:
114:
1419:
1219:
1685:
1669:
1496:
1128:
1100:
330:
231:
137:
82:
1690:
1065:
707:
371:
203:
127:
1177:
1156:
1008:
571:
399:, it sold over one million copies, and brought her to nationwide attention.
386:
288:
235:
185:
181:
166:
781:
Original Benny
Goodman Trio and Quartet Sessions, Vol. 1: After You've Gone
804:
788:
639:
176:, it is considered a classic "woman's blues" song and has become a
470:
154:
87:
718:
335:
158:
91:
981:
869:
The Benny
Goodman Sextet Featuring Charlie Christian: 1939–1941
722:
584:. Event occurs at 0:21, 0:54, 1:26, 2:29 (choruses). B-8714-A.
977:
662:"John Gilliland Collection, 1955-1991 | Music Library"
385:
One of the best-known versions of the song was recorded by
222:
jazz band recorded "The Weed Smoker's Dream". The original
595:
593:
591:
413:"Why Don't You Do Right?" reached number four on both the
393:
on July 27, 1942, in New York. Featured in the 1943 film,
608:(2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.
192: – and made one of her signature songs.
188:
recorded the next year – accompanied by
1644:
1598:
1573:
1555:
1520:
1362:
1015:
932:
879:
756:
369:
357:
341:
329:
321:
306:
294:
279:
256:
125:
113:
97:
81:
73:
58:
46:
35:
21:
1332:The Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring
1283:Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota
601:
1150:Basin Street East Proudly Presents Miss Peggy Lee
242:. The recording was an early jazz and blues hit.
226:release listed the songwriters as "McCoy-Moran" (
1031:Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas
1339:Love Held Lightly: Rare Songs by Harold Arlen
993:
734:
516:The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
8:
184:recorded a popular rendition in 1941, which
1000:
986:
978:
829:The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert
741:
727:
719:
262:
253:
27:
18:
161:-influenced pop song usually credited to
1353:The Best of Peggy Lee: The Capitol Years
457:
278:
34:
691:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004
580:(Song recording). Camden, New Jersey:
491:
489:
7:
962:
518:. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 13.
439:Who Framed Roger Rabbit (soundtrack)
1427:Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)
709:Peggy Lee - Why Don't You Do Right?
544:The Great Jazz and Pop Vocal Albums
195:The song appeared in the 1988 film
16:Blues song popularized by Peggy Lee
1371:I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)
1059:Peggy Lee Sings with Benny Goodman
837:Peggy Lee Sings with Benny Goodman
14:
497:"Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #9"
961:
845:The Benny Goodman Treasure Chest
895:Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)
693:. Record Research. p. 232.
1536:The Folks Who Live on the Hill
1413:Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)
1325:Miss Peggy Lee Sings the Blues
1:
1455:Baubles, Bangles, & Beads
1038:Songs from Pete Kelly's Blues
1564:The Chesterfield Supper Club
1548:"I Love Being Here with You"
434:List of 1930s jazz standards
1206:Then Was Then – Now Is Now!
773:Swinging 34 Vols. 1 & 2
666:Findingaids.library.unt.edu
149:" (originally recorded as "
1783:
1262:Bridge Over Troubled Water
240:William "Big Bill" Broonzy
153:" in 1936) is an American
1476:Hallelujah, I Love Him So
1024:Rendezvous with Peggy Lee
957:
600:Murrells, Joseph (1978).
577:"Why Don't You Do Right?"
261:
257:"Why Don't You Do Right?"
206:as the singing voice for
26:
1448:Just One of Those Things
1392:The Way You Look Tonight
797:From Spirituals to Swing
604:The Book of Golden Discs
466:"Why Don't You Do Right"
238:in 1941, with guitar by
77:Chicago, October 2, 1936
1757:Who Framed Roger Rabbit
1399:Why Don't You Do Right?
941:The Benny Goodman Story
909:Taking a Chance on Love
853:Benny Goodman in Moscow
635:"Peggy Lee – Biography"
501:Digital.library.unt.edu
325:New York, July 27, 1942
302:"Six Flats Unfurnished"
198:Who Framed Roger Rabbit
147:Why Don't You Do Right?
1434:The Old Master Painter
916:Why Don't You Do Right
514:Russell, Tony (1997).
214:Composition and lyrics
1767:Decca Records singles
1582:The Guy Mitchell Show
1511:Is That All There Is?
1318:Close Enough for Love
1255:Is That All There Is?
202:performed by actress
22:"Weed Smoker's Dream"
1747:Songs about cannabis
1722:1930s jazz standards
1108:Beauty and the Beat!
1737:Benny Goodman songs
1164:Blues Cross Country
1094:Things Are Swingin'
861:Benny Goodman Today
250:Peggy Lee recording
174:chord substitutions
151:Weed Smoker's Dream
1635:Pete Kelly's Blues
1628:Lady and the Tramp
1607:Stage Door Canteen
1378:Blues in the Night
1136:Christmas Carousel
396:Stage Door Canteen
271:Stage Door Canteen
1704:
1703:
1682:
1674:
1666:
1346:Moments Like This
1276:Where Did They Go
1234:Somethin' Groovy!
975:
974:
546:. New York City:
422:Harlem Hit Parade
383:
382:
143:
142:
1774:
1752:1936 in cannabis
1696:Rosemary Clooney
1680:
1673:(second husband)
1672:
1664:
1462:Let Me Go, Lover
1385:We'll Meet Again
1269:Make It with You
1213:Guitars a là Lee
1122:All Aglow Again!
1002:
995:
988:
979:
965:
964:
933:Related articles
743:
736:
729:
720:
710:
695:
694:
683:
677:
676:
674:
672:
658:
652:
651:
649:
647:
630:
624:
623:
607:
597:
586:
585:
582:Bluebird Records
568:
562:
561:
536:
530:
529:
511:
505:
504:
493:
484:
483:
481:
479:
462:
409:
405:
378:Kansas Joe McCoy
374:
353:
352:
348:
317:
315:
299:
266:
254:
228:Kansas Joe McCoy
170:twelve-bar blues
163:Kansas Joe McCoy
134:Kansas Joe McCoy
130:
109:
108:
104:
69:
67:
51:
31:
19:
1782:
1781:
1777:
1776:
1775:
1773:
1772:
1771:
1742:Peggy Lee songs
1707:
1706:
1705:
1700:
1681:(third husband)
1665:(first husband)
1640:
1621:The Jazz Singer
1614:Jasper in a Jam
1594:
1589:What's My Line?
1569:
1551:
1516:
1406:It's a Good Day
1358:
1248:A Natural Woman
1241:2 Shows Nightly
1171:Sugar 'n' Spice
1011:
1006:
976:
971:
953:
948:The Swing Kings
928:
875:
752:
747:
708:
704:
699:
698:
685:
684:
680:
670:
668:
660:
659:
655:
645:
643:
632:
631:
627:
620:
599:
598:
589:
570:
569:
565:
558:
550:. p. 252.
540:Friedwald, Will
538:
537:
533:
526:
513:
512:
508:
495:
494:
487:
477:
475:
464:
463:
459:
454:
430:
407:
403:
370:
350:
346:
345:
313:
311:
295:
275:
252:
216:
126:
106:
102:
101:
65:
63:
47:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1780:
1778:
1770:
1769:
1764:
1759:
1754:
1749:
1744:
1739:
1734:
1729:
1724:
1719:
1709:
1708:
1702:
1701:
1699:
1698:
1693:
1688:
1683:
1675:
1667:
1659:
1654:
1648:
1646:
1642:
1641:
1639:
1638:
1631:
1624:
1617:
1610:
1602:
1600:
1596:
1595:
1593:
1592:
1585:
1577:
1575:
1571:
1570:
1568:
1567:
1559:
1557:
1553:
1552:
1550:
1549:
1546:
1539:
1532:
1524:
1522:
1518:
1517:
1515:
1514:
1507:
1504:Spinning Wheel
1500:
1493:
1486:
1479:
1472:
1465:
1458:
1451:
1444:
1437:
1430:
1423:
1416:
1409:
1402:
1395:
1388:
1381:
1374:
1366:
1364:
1360:
1359:
1357:
1356:
1349:
1342:
1335:
1328:
1321:
1314:
1307:
1304:Live in London
1300:
1293:
1286:
1279:
1272:
1265:
1258:
1251:
1244:
1237:
1230:
1227:Extra Special!
1223:
1216:
1209:
1202:
1195:
1192:In Love Again!
1188:
1181:
1174:
1167:
1160:
1153:
1146:
1139:
1132:
1125:
1118:
1115:Latin ala Lee!
1111:
1104:
1097:
1090:
1083:
1080:The Man I Love
1076:
1073:Miss Wonderful
1069:
1062:
1055:
1048:
1041:
1034:
1027:
1019:
1017:
1013:
1012:
1007:
1005:
1004:
997:
990:
982:
973:
972:
970:
969:
958:
955:
954:
952:
951:
944:
936:
934:
930:
929:
927:
926:
919:
912:
905:
898:
891:
883:
881:
877:
876:
874:
873:
865:
857:
849:
841:
833:
825:
821:Swedish Pastry
817:
809:
801:
793:
785:
777:
769:
765:A Jazz Holiday
760:
758:
754:
753:
748:
746:
745:
738:
731:
723:
717:
716:
703:
702:External links
700:
697:
696:
687:Whitburn, Joel
678:
653:
625:
618:
587:
563:
557:978-0307379078
556:
548:Pantheon Books
531:
524:
506:
485:
456:
455:
453:
450:
449:
448:
441:
436:
429:
426:
381:
380:
375:
367:
366:
361:
355:
354:
343:
339:
338:
333:
327:
326:
323:
319:
318:
308:
304:
303:
300:
292:
291:
277:
276:
267:
259:
258:
251:
248:
220:Harlem Hamfats
215:
212:
208:Jessica Rabbit
141:
140:
131:
123:
122:
117:
111:
110:
99:
95:
94:
85:
79:
78:
75:
71:
70:
60:
56:
55:
52:
44:
43:
41:Harlem Hamfats
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1779:
1768:
1765:
1763:
1760:
1758:
1755:
1753:
1750:
1748:
1745:
1743:
1740:
1738:
1735:
1733:
1730:
1728:
1725:
1723:
1720:
1718:
1715:
1714:
1712:
1697:
1694:
1692:
1689:
1687:
1684:
1679:
1676:
1671:
1668:
1663:
1660:
1658:
1657:Benny Goodman
1655:
1653:
1650:
1649:
1647:
1643:
1637:
1636:
1632:
1630:
1629:
1625:
1623:
1622:
1618:
1616:
1615:
1611:
1609:
1608:
1604:
1603:
1601:
1597:
1591:
1590:
1586:
1584:
1583:
1579:
1578:
1576:
1572:
1566:
1565:
1561:
1560:
1558:
1554:
1547:
1544:
1540:
1537:
1533:
1530:
1526:
1525:
1523:
1519:
1512:
1508:
1505:
1501:
1498:
1494:
1491:
1490:I Go to Sleep
1487:
1484:
1480:
1477:
1473:
1470:
1466:
1463:
1459:
1456:
1452:
1449:
1445:
1442:
1438:
1435:
1431:
1428:
1424:
1421:
1417:
1414:
1410:
1407:
1403:
1400:
1396:
1393:
1389:
1386:
1382:
1379:
1375:
1372:
1368:
1367:
1365:
1361:
1355:
1354:
1350:
1348:
1347:
1343:
1341:
1340:
1336:
1334:
1333:
1329:
1327:
1326:
1322:
1320:
1319:
1315:
1313:
1312:
1308:
1306:
1305:
1301:
1299:
1298:
1294:
1292:
1291:
1287:
1285:
1284:
1280:
1278:
1277:
1273:
1271:
1270:
1266:
1264:
1263:
1259:
1257:
1256:
1252:
1250:
1249:
1245:
1243:
1242:
1238:
1236:
1235:
1231:
1229:
1228:
1224:
1222:
1221:
1217:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1208:
1207:
1203:
1201:
1200:
1196:
1194:
1193:
1189:
1187:
1186:
1182:
1180:
1179:
1175:
1173:
1172:
1168:
1166:
1165:
1161:
1159:
1158:
1154:
1152:
1151:
1147:
1145:
1144:
1140:
1138:
1137:
1133:
1131:
1130:
1126:
1124:
1123:
1119:
1117:
1116:
1112:
1110:
1109:
1105:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1096:
1095:
1091:
1089:
1088:
1084:
1082:
1081:
1077:
1075:
1074:
1070:
1068:
1067:
1063:
1061:
1060:
1056:
1054:
1053:
1049:
1047:
1046:
1042:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1021:
1020:
1018:
1014:
1010:
1003:
998:
996:
991:
989:
984:
983:
980:
968:
960:
959:
956:
950:
949:
945:
943:
942:
938:
937:
935:
931:
924:
920:
917:
913:
910:
906:
903:
899:
896:
892:
889:
888:Jersey Bounce
885:
884:
882:
878:
871:
870:
866:
863:
862:
858:
855:
854:
850:
847:
846:
842:
839:
838:
834:
831:
830:
826:
823:
822:
818:
815:
814:
810:
807:
806:
802:
799:
798:
794:
791:
790:
786:
783:
782:
778:
775:
774:
770:
767:
766:
762:
761:
759:
755:
751:
750:Benny Goodman
744:
739:
737:
732:
730:
725:
724:
721:
715:
711:
706:
705:
701:
692:
688:
682:
679:
667:
663:
657:
654:
642:
641:
636:
629:
626:
621:
619:0-214-20512-6
615:
611:
606:
605:
596:
594:
592:
588:
583:
579:
576:
573:
567:
564:
559:
553:
549:
545:
541:
535:
532:
527:
525:1-85868-255-X
521:
517:
510:
507:
502:
498:
492:
490:
486:
474:
473:ACE Repertory
472:
467:
461:
458:
451:
446:
445:Why Don't You
442:
440:
437:
435:
432:
431:
427:
425:
423:
419:
417:
411:
400:
398:
397:
392:
391:Benny Goodman
388:
379:
376:
373:
372:Songwriter(s)
368:
365:
362:
360:
356:
344:
340:
337:
334:
332:
328:
324:
320:
309:
305:
301:
298:
293:
290:
286:
285:Benny Goodman
282:
273:
272:
265:
260:
255:
249:
247:
243:
241:
237:
233:
229:
225:
224:Decca Records
221:
218:In 1936, the
213:
211:
209:
205:
201:
199:
193:
191:
190:Benny Goodman
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
139:
135:
132:
129:
128:Songwriter(s)
124:
121:
118:
116:
112:
100:
96:
93:
89:
86:
84:
80:
76:
72:
61:
57:
54:"Little Girl"
53:
50:
45:
42:
38:
30:
25:
20:
1762:Disney songs
1732:1942 singles
1678:Dewey Martin
1662:Dave Barbour
1633:
1626:
1619:
1612:
1605:
1587:
1580:
1562:
1529:Black Coffee
1398:
1351:
1344:
1337:
1330:
1323:
1316:
1309:
1302:
1295:
1288:
1281:
1274:
1267:
1260:
1253:
1246:
1239:
1232:
1225:
1220:Big $ pender
1218:
1211:
1204:
1197:
1190:
1183:
1176:
1169:
1162:
1155:
1148:
1141:
1134:
1127:
1120:
1113:
1106:
1099:
1092:
1087:Jump for Joy
1085:
1078:
1071:
1064:
1057:
1052:Dream Street
1050:
1045:Black Coffee
1043:
1036:
1029:
1022:
946:
939:
915:
867:
859:
851:
843:
835:
827:
819:
811:
803:
795:
787:
779:
771:
763:
690:
681:
669:. Retrieved
665:
656:
644:. Retrieved
638:
633:Bush, John.
628:
603:
578:
575:
566:
543:
534:
515:
509:
500:
476:. Retrieved
469:
460:
415:
412:
401:
394:
384:
269:
244:
217:
196:
194:
150:
146:
144:
1727:Blues songs
1686:Jo Stafford
1670:Brad Dexter
1652:Discography
1543:Kansas City
1521:Other songs
1497:Big Spender
1483:I'm a Woman
1185:I'm a Woman
1143:Olé ala Lee
1129:Pretty Eyes
1101:I Like Men!
813:Smoke Rings
478:February 3,
406:... Finally
232:Herb Morand
172:with a few
138:Herb Morand
1717:1936 songs
1711:Categories
1691:Patti Page
1574:Television
1290:Let's Love
1199:Pass Me By
1066:Sea Shells
646:August 26,
452:References
204:Amy Irving
1420:Bali Ha'i
1178:Mink Jazz
1157:If You Go
1009:Peggy Lee
572:Lil Green
416:Billboard
387:Peggy Lee
289:Peggy Lee
236:Lil Green
186:Peggy Lee
182:Lil Green
180:. Singer
167:minor key
923:Symphony
805:Up Swing
789:Air Play
689:(2004).
640:AllMusic
574:(1941).
542:(2007).
428:See also
420:and the
364:Columbia
322:Recorded
307:Released
178:standard
74:Recorded
59:Released
1645:Related
1363:Singles
1297:Mirrors
967:Commons
714:YouTube
671:May 30,
503:. 1972.
424:chart.
312: (
64: (
1016:Albums
872:(1989)
864:(1970)
856:(1962)
848:(1959)
840:(1957)
832:(1950)
824:(1948)
816:(1944)
808:(1944)
800:(1938)
792:(1936)
784:(1935)
776:(1934)
768:(1928)
757:Albums
616:
554:
522:
408:
404:
342:Length
297:B-side
281:Single
274:(1943)
98:Length
49:B-side
37:Single
1599:Films
1556:Radio
1469:Fever
1441:Lover
1311:Peggy
902:Sleep
880:Songs
471:ASCAP
418:chart
359:Label
331:Genre
287:with
155:blues
120:Decca
115:Label
88:Blues
83:Genre
673:2021
648:2011
614:ISBN
552:ISBN
520:ISBN
480:2018
389:and
336:Jazz
314:1942
310:1942
230:and
165:. A
159:jazz
157:and
92:jazz
66:1936
62:1936
712:on
283:by
39:by
1713::
664:.
637:.
612:.
610:28
590:^
499:.
488:^
468:.
351:12
210:.
136:,
107:19
90:,
1545:"
1541:"
1538:"
1534:"
1531:"
1527:"
1513:"
1509:"
1506:"
1502:"
1499:"
1495:"
1492:"
1488:"
1485:"
1481:"
1478:"
1474:"
1471:"
1467:"
1464:"
1460:"
1457:"
1453:"
1450:"
1446:"
1443:"
1439:"
1436:"
1432:"
1429:"
1425:"
1422:"
1418:"
1415:"
1411:"
1408:"
1404:"
1401:"
1397:"
1394:"
1390:"
1387:"
1383:"
1380:"
1376:"
1373:"
1369:"
1001:e
994:t
987:v
925:"
921:"
918:"
914:"
911:"
907:"
904:"
900:"
897:"
893:"
890:"
886:"
742:e
735:t
728:v
675:.
650:.
622:.
560:.
528:.
482:.
447:"
443:"
349::
347:3
316:)
200:,
145:"
105::
103:3
68:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
