"My Foolish Heart" is a popular song and jazz standard that was published in 1949.
The music was composed by Victor Young, and the lyric was written by Ned Washington. The song was introduced by the singer Martha Mears in the 1949 film of the same name. The song failed to escape critics' general laceration of the film. Time wrote in its review that "nothing offsets the blight of such tear-splashed excesses as the bloop-bleep-bloop of a sentimental ballad on the sound track." Nevertheless, the song was nominated for an Oscar, losing out to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Frank Loesser.
The song was also a popular success, with two recordings of the song listed among the top 30 on the Billboard charts in 1950. Gordon Jenkins's recording of "My Foolish Heart", Sandy Evans, vocal, reached the Top Ten on the charts. However, Billy Eckstine's version became a million-seller, spending 19 weeks on the charts and peaking at number 6.
Bing Crosby debuted his version on radio on The Bing Crosby – Chesterfield Show, broadcast Wednesday March 22, 1950.
Allan Jones with orchestra conducted by Frank Cordell recorded it in London on July 14, 1950. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog numbers B 9948 and IP 607.,
Elkie Brooks on her 1984 Screen Gems album.
Carmen McRae on her 1981 CD Recorded Live at Bubba's
In 2004, the song was featured in "The Murder at the Vicarage," an episode of the television series Marple.
The original recording was in G major with stringed instruments. Frank Sinatra sang the song in A flat major and Bill Evans performed it in B flat major. Bill Evans performed it in A major on his album Waltz for Debby. Evans accompanied Tony Bennett's cover of the song in their 1975 album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.
Jazz pianist Eliane Elias included the composition in her 2008 album Something for You: Eliane Elias Sings & Plays Bill Evans.
Frank Sinatra recorded the song in 1988, making it his last solo recording.
