(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons

Updated on Oct 11, 2024

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Written c. 1940 Composer(s) Best		Published 1945 Language English
Lyricist(s) Best (or Watson: disputed)

"(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.) list Deek Watson, former founding member of The Ink Spots, as a co-writer. Best later stated that Watson had nothing to do with the creation of the song, but Watson maintained in his late 1960s 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.