(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons

The credits and Leeds Publishing Company list Watson as a co-writer. That should be the end of any controversy. However, later, Best claimed, without any proof whatsoever, that Watson had nothing to do with the creation of the song,[1] but Watson maintained in his late 1960s autobiography[2] 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 was published in 1945 and released by Watson's quartet with Joe King as lead vocalist on the Manor Records label (catalog No. 1041A).[3] Best who was always at odds with Watson, and began recording behind Watson's back with another band, after the publishing clearly listed the two names as composer (Best) and lyricist (Watson), had claimed that he'd originally written the lyrics for a little girl as a 12 year old boy, simply does not hold water, since a 12 year old would have no idea about being sentimental, as if two kids could have had a long history. Best and fans of Best had a list of petty complaints and accusations about and against Watson, which would seem to point to there being friction between the two Brown Dots members, rather than there being any validity to such things.

The biggest-selling version by The King Cole Trio 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.[4]

• 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.[4]
• 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.[4]
• The recording by Charlie Spivak (vocal by Jimmy Saunders) was released by RCA Victor 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.[4]
• Ella Fitzgerald & The Delta Rhythm Boys' version reached the No. 8 spot in the charts in 1947.[5]
• Art Kassel and His "Kassels-in-the-air" (vocal by Jimmy Featherstone) - their recording was also a chart hit peaking at No. 15 in 1947.[6]
• Sam Cooke recorded an early soul version. Released in 1957, it peaked at 17 on the pop charts, and 15 on the R&B charts. (Sam Cooke discography)
• James Brown's disco version in 1976 charted at No. 70 R&B.[7]

• Dean Martin – Cha Cha de Amor (1962)
• Five Star – Heart and Soul (Five Star album) (1994)
• Linda Ronstadt – For Sentimental Reasons (1986)
• Nat King Cole[8] – The Nat King Cole Story (1961)
• Rod Stewart – Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III (2004)
• Sammy Davis Jr. – The Nat King Cole Songbook (1965)
• Vera Lynn – Yours (1961)[9]
• James Brown – Gettin' Down to It (1969)
• Jacky Terrasson – Reach (1995)

• Billboard Most-Played Race Records of 1946
• List of number-one singles of 1947 (U.S.)