What'll I Do - Wikipedia

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Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Written by Irving Berlin 1923 For the Janet Jackson song, see Whoops Now / What'll I Do.

"What'll I Do"
Sheet music cover, 1923
Single by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra
Written	1923
Published	1923 Irving Berlin Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Released	May 1924[1]
Recorded	March 18, 1924 take 8[2]
Studio	New York City
Venue	Music Box Revue 1923
Genre	Show tune
Length	2.46
Label	Victor 19299[3]
Songwriter	Irving Berlin
Audio sample
Recording of What'll I Do, performed by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra (1924) file help

"What'll I Do" is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1923.[4] It was introduced by singers Grace Moore and John Steel late in the run of Berlin's third Music Box Revue and was also included in the following year's edition.[5]

Recordings

[edit]

• Nat King Cole recorded the song for his album Unforgettable (1952).[6]
• Julie London recorded her version in 1955, released in 1956 on her album, Lonely Girl.[7]
• Johnny Mathis sings the song on his 1957 album Warm.[8]
• Frank Sinatra featured his cover of the standard on his album All Alone (1962).[9]
• Lena Horne on her Lena on the Blue Side (1962)[10]
• Johnny Tillotson released his version on the LP, It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin' (1962) EP and single B-side on the release of "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On".[11]
• The Fleetwoods released their cover as a single in 1963, though it did not chart.[12]
• The Peddlers' recording was released on a single in March 1967.[13]
• Nancy Sinatra has a cover version on her 1967 album Sugar.[14]
• Harry Nilsson included the song on his album of American standards, A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973), arranged by Gordon Jenkins.[15]
• Cher included the song on her album Dark Lady (1974).[16]
• Chet Baker recorded his cover on his album She Was Too Good To Me (1974),
• Linda Ronstadt, with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, featured the song on her first album of popular standards in 1983, What's New,[17] produced by Peter Asher. Ronstadt had first attempted this and several other torch songs during experimental 1981 sessions in New York City, encouraged by producer Jerry Wexler.[18]
• Rosemary Clooney released a version on her album Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Irving Berlin (1984).[19]
• Elkie Brooks covers the song on her album Screen Gems (1984).[20]
• Michael Crawford, with the London Symphony Orchestra, recorded a version for his album Songs from the Stage and Screen (1987).[21]
• Pink Martini performs the song on the album Get Happy (2013).[22]
• Bob Dylan covered the song for his album of standards Shadows in the Night (2015).[23]
• The song is included on Seth MacFarlane’s fifth album, Once in a While (2019).[24]
• Darcelle XV (with Pink Martini) released the song on their single The Rose (2022).

In popular culture

[edit]

• The song was used as a generalized theme in Nelson Riddle's Academy Award-winning period score for the film The Great Gatsby (1974) starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, sung by William Atherton.
• It was sung by Mary Steenburgen in the film The Butcher's Wife (1991).
• Bea Arthur sang it in The Golden Girls episode "Journey to the Center of Attention".[citation needed]
• The song was used as the theme tune to the British sitcom Birds of a Feather, performed by William Atherton and later by its lead stars Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson.
• An instrumental version of the song was used under the closing scene of "I Do, Adieu" (1987), the fifth-season finale of the sitcom Cheers.
• On the season 2 episode 6, "War and Peace", of the sitcom Northern Exposure the character Nickolai Appolanov played by Elya Baskin sang a version of the song.[citation needed]
• The Johnny Mathis version of the song was also used in the closing scene of "The Jet Set", the eleventh episode in the second season of Mad Men.
• Adam Hurrey performed a version of the song in the style of football supporters as part of the "Football Cliches" podcast in May 2022.[25]
• Puddles Pity Party sings a refrain from the song as a coda to his rendition of Chris Cornell's "When I'm Down".

Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Victor 19299 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
2. ^ "Victor matrix B-29599. What'll I do / Paul Whiteman Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
3. ^ "VICTOR 78rpm numerical listing discography: 19000 - 19500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
4. ^ Lyman, Darryl (1996). Jewish Heroes & Heroines: Their Unique Achievements. Jonathan David. p. 183. ISBN 0824603885.
5. ^ "American Classics - Music Box Revues 1921-1924" (history), webpage: AmClass-IBerlin Archived 2006-12-06 at the Wayback Machine.
6. ^ "What'll I Do? - Nat King Cole | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic.
7. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
8. ^ "Warm - Johnny Mathis | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
9. ^ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
10. ^ "allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
11. ^ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
12. ^ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. 1963. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
13. ^ Record Mirror, March 25th, 1967 - Page 4 PEDDLARS WITH NINA
14. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
15. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
16. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
17. ^ "www.allmusic.com". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
18. ^ "Ronstadt, Wexler on Unreleased 1981 Album 'Keeping Out of Mischief'". Stephen K. Peeples. September 30, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
19. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
20. ^ "What'll I Do? - Elkie Brooks | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic.
21. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
22. ^ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
23. ^ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
24. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
25. ^ "Football Cliches - A show about the language of football". podfollow. Retrieved 2022-05-13.

External links

[edit]

• Works related to What'll I Do at Wikisource

v t e Nat King Cole
Discography
Studio albums	The King Cole Trio Nat King Cole at the Piano King Cole for Kids Penthouse Serenade Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love The Piano Style of Nat King Cole After Midnight Just One of Those Things Love Is the Thing Cole Español St. Louis Blues The Very Thought of You To Whom It May Concern Welcome to the Club A Mis Amigos Tell Me All About Yourself Every Time I Feel the Spirit Wild Is Love The Magic of Christmas The Nat King Cole Story The Touch of Your Lips Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays Ramblin' Rose Dear Lonely Hearts More Cole Español Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer Where Did Everyone Go? Nat King Cole Sings My Fair Lady Let's Face the Music! I Don't Want to Be Hurt Anymore L-O-V-E
Compilation albums	Harvest of Hits Top Pops Unforgettable 10th Anniversary Album Ballads of the Day This Is Nat King Cole The Beautiful Ballads 20 Golden Greats For Sentimental Reasons Love Songs
Tribute albums	All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio Dear Mr. Cole Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole The Nat King Cole Songbook P.S. Mr. Cole A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole With Respect to Nat You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) Nat King Cole & Me Jerry Vale Sings the Great Hits of Nat King Cole
Songs	"That Ain't Right "All for You" "Straighten Up and Fly Right" "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" "It's Only a Paper Moon" "The Frim-Fram Sauce" "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" "What'll I Do" "Nature Boy" "Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea" "Don't Blame Me" "For You My Love" "I Almost Lost My Mind" "Mona Lisa" "Orange Colored Sky" "Frosty the Snowman" "Too Young" "Red Sails in the Sunset" "Unforgettable" "Somewhere Along the Way" "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" "Because You're Mine" "Pretend" "I Am in Love" "Lover, Come Back to Me" "Answer Me, My Love" "Tenderly" "Smile" "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" "A Blossom Fell" "That's All There Is to That" "Night Lights" "To the Ends of the Earth" "Ballerina" "When I Fall in Love" "Stardust" "Send for Me" "Looking Back" "Acércate Más (Come Closer to Me)" "Non Dimenticar" "You Made Me Love You" "Just as Much as Ever" "Let There Be Love" "Ramblin' Rose" "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" "That Sunday, That Summer" "People" "L-O-V-E" "Let's Face the Music and Dance"
Family	Maria Cole (wife) Carole Cole (daughter) Natalie Cole (daughter) Eddie Cole (brother) Ike Cole (brother) Freddy Cole (brother) Lionel Cole (nephew)

v t e Perry Como
Albums	Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music (1946) A Sentimental Date with Perry (1948) Supper Club Favorites (1949) TV Favorites (1952) Hits from Broadway Shows (1953) Around the Christmas Tree (1953) I Believe (1953) So Smooth (1955) We Get Letters (1957) Saturday Night with Mr. C (1958) When You Come to the End of the Day (1958) Como Swings (1959) Season's Greetings from Perry Como (1959) For the Young at Heart (1960) Sing to Me Mr. C (1961) By Request (1962) The Best of Irving Berlin's Songs from Mr. President (1962) The Songs I Love (1963) The Scene Changes (1965) Lightly Latin (1966) Perry Como in Italy (1966) The Perry Como Christmas Album (1968) Look to Your Heart (1968) Seattle (1969) It's Impossible (1970) I Think of You (1971) And I Love You So (1973) Perry (1974) Just Out of Reach (1975) The Best of British (UK and Canada) (1977) Where You're Concerned (US) (1978) Perry Como (1980) So It Goes / Goodbye for Now (1983) Today (1987)
Live albums	Perry Como in Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas (1970) Perry Como Live on Tour (1981) Perry Como's Christmas Concert (1994)
Compilation albums	Como's Golden Records (1955) Relaxing with Perry Como (1956) 40 Greatest Hits (1975) A Legendary Performer (1976) On the Radio – The Perry Como Shows 1943 (2009) At the Supper Club (2010) At the Supper Club Part II (2011) At the Supper Club Part III (2011)
Songs	"'A' You're Adorable" "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" "And I Love You So" "As Time Goes By" "Bali Ha'i" "Because" "Beyond Tomorrow" "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" "Blue Room" "A Bushel and a Peck" "Can't Help Falling in Love" "Caterina" "Catch a Falling Star" "Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep)" "Confessin'" "Days of Wine and Roses" "Deep in the Heart of Texas" "Delaware" "Dig You Later (A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba)" "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" "Dream Along with Me (I'm on My Way to a Star)" "A Dreamer's Holiday" "El Cóndor Pasa" "Far Away Places" "Feelings" "Fly Me to the Moon" "For the Good Times" "Forever and Ever" "Forget Domani" "Give Me Your Hand" "Glendora" "The Gypsy in My Soul" "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" "Hello, Young Lovers" "Here, There and Everywhere" "Home for the Holidays" "Hoop-Dee-Doo" "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)" "A House Is Not a Home" "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore" "I Dream of You (More Than You Dream I Do)" "I May Never Pass This Way Again" "I Think I Love You" "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" "I'll Be Home for Christmas" "If (They Made Me a King)" "It's a Good Day" "It's Been a Long, Long Time" "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" "Juke Box Baby" "Kewpie Doll" "Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)" "Long Ago (and Far Away)" "The Lord's Prayer" "Magic Moments" "Mandolins in the Moonlight" "Maria" "Moon River" "More" "No Other Love" "Papa Loves Mambo" "Please Mr. Sun" "Prisoner of Love" "Round and Round" "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" "Say You're Mine Again" "Seattle" "The Shadow of Your Smile" "Some Enchanted Evening" "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" "The Songs I Love" "Stop! And Think It Over" "Surrender" "Till the End of Time" "They Say It's Wonderful" "Unchained Melody" "Wanted" "The Way You Look Tonight" "Weave Me the Sunshine" "What'll I Do" "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" "Young at Heart"
Related	Perry Como discography Perry Como television and radio shows Beat the Band The Chesterfield Supper Club List of songs recorded by Perry Como Goodman Ace Mitchell Ayres Ray Charles Frank Gallop Nick Perito
Category

v t e Irving Berlin
Musicals	Theatre Annie Get Your Gun As Thousands Cheer Call Me Madam The Canary The Century Girl The Cocoanuts The Cohan Revue of 1918 Face the Music Holiday Inn Louisiana Purchase Miss Liberty Mr. President Music Box Revue Stop! Look! Listen! This Is The Army Top Hat Watch Your Step White Christmas Wise Guy Yip Yip Yaphank Ziegfeld Follies Film Alexander's Ragtime Band Annie Get Your Gun Blue Skies Call Me Madam Carefree The Cocoanuts Easter Parade Follow the Fleet Hallelujah Holiday Inn On the Avenue Second Fiddle There's No Business Like Show Business This Is the Army Top Hat White Christmas
Songs	1910s "Alexander's Ragtime Band" "At the Devil's Ball" "Daddy, Come Home" "Follow the Crowd" "For Your Country and My Country" "God Bless America" "Goodbye, France" "I Want to Go Back to Michigan" "I'm Gonna Pin My Medal on the Girl I Left Behind" "I've Got My Captain Working for Me Now" "Let's All Be Americans Now" "Mandy" "The Near Future" "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" "Play a Simple Melody" "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" "San Francisco Bound" "Someone Else May Be There While I'm Gone" "Stay Down Here Where You Belong" "That International Rag" "That Mysterious Rag" "They Were All Out of Step But Jim" "When I Lost You" "You'd Be Surprised" 1920s "All Alone" "All by Myself" "Always" "Blue Skies" "How About Me?" "I Love a Piano" "Lazy" "Puttin' On the Ritz" "Remember" "Say It with Music" "The Song Is Ended (but the Melody Lingers On)" "What'll I Do" "With You" 1930s "Change Partners" "Cheek to Cheek" "Easter Parade" "Get Thee Behind Me Satan" "Heat Wave" "How Deep Is the Ocean?" "How's Chances?" "I Never Had a Chance" "I Used to Be Color Blind" "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket" "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" "Isn't This a Lovely Day?" "It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow" "Let Yourself Go" "Let's Face the Music and Dance" "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee" "No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)" "Now It Can Be Told" "Reaching for the Moon" "Say It Isn't So" "Slumming on Park Avenue" "Supper Time" "This Year's Kisses" "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" "You're Laughing at Me" 1940s "All of My Life" "Any Bonds Today?" "Anything You Can Do" "A Couple of Swells" "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly" "The Girl That I Marry" "Happy Holiday" "Heaven Watch the Philippines" "I Got Lost in His Arms" "I Got the Sun in the Mornin' (and the Moon at Night)" "I'm an Indian Too" "Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk" "Moonshine Lullaby" "My Defenses Are Down" "Steppin' Out with My Baby" "There's No Business Like Show Business" "They Say It's Wonderful" "White Christmas" "Who Do You Love, I Hope?" "You Can Have Him" "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song" 1950s "The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me)" "Count Your Blessings" "It's a Lovely Day Today" "Sisters" "You're Just in Love"
Related	Ellin Berlin (wife) Mary Ellin Barrett (daughter)

v t e Judy Garland songs
1930s	"Good Morning" "Over the Rainbow" "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)"
1940s	"Among My Souvenirs" "Be a Clown" "The Boy Next Door" "A Couple of Swells" "Easter Parade" "F.D.R. Jones" "For Me and My Gal" "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" "How About You?" "I Wish I Were in Love Again" "It's a Great Day for the Irish" "Johnny One Note" "Journey to a Star" "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" "On the Sunny Side of the Street" "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" "The Wearing of the Green" "The Trolley Song"
1950s	"April Showers" "Carolina in the Morning" "Confessin'" "Day In, Day Out" "Get Happy" "How About Me?" "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby" "I Concentrate on You" "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" "Just You, Just Me" "Last Night When We Were Young" "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" "More Than You Know" "The Man That Got Away" "Swanee" "Stormy Weather" "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" "Theme from San Francisco" "What'll I Do"
1960s	"After You've Gone" "Almost Like Being in Love" "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)" "Down with Love" "Do It Again" "Fly Me to the Moon" "A Foggy Day" "Hey, Look Me Over" "I Happen to Like New York" "If Love Were All" "Moon River" "Oh Shenandoah" "Somewhere" "That's Entertainment!" "This Can't Be Love" "You Go to My Head"

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Other	MusicBrainz work

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=What%27ll_I_Do&oldid=1329075556" Categories:

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