The song was first performed by
Mary Martin for the 1943 film
Happy Go Lucky. The music was published by
Famous Music. A recording by
Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra was released by
Victor Records early in 1943. A reviewer for
The Billboard described the composition as "a light love ballad with an infectious lilt" and wrote: "Capably aided by the Four Lee Sisters, Monroe starts the side singing the verse and chorus. Band ensemble brings up the last half of another chorus, giving way on the last lines to allow Monroe and the harmonizing sister team to take it out." This was soon followed by a
Teddy Powell rendition for
Bluebird Records, featuring vocalist
Peggy Mann, which the reviewer described as "an impressive and lovely torch ballad on the blues side". These were followed by
Columbia's release of a
Kay Kyser version at the end of March 1943, which the reviewer wrote was "Set at a slow and soothing tempo that heightens the mood of the song".
The Billboard Music Year Book listed the Monroe, Dorsey, and Kyser releases among the "most popular juke box records" between September 5, 1942 and September 11, 1943, and the Monroe and Kyser versions among the "best selling records". For the music publishers, the song also appeared in the top ten "songs with most radio plugs" and "national best selling retail records" charts at times in 1943. ==Chet Baker==