"Maybe" is a

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

song written by Allan Flynn and Frank Madden that was published in

1940 A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January *January ...

Recordings in 1940

The first version to chart was recorded on June 11, 1940 by the

Ink Spots The Ink Spots were an American pop vocal group who gained international fame in the 1930s and 1940s. Their unique musical style presaged the rhythm and blues and rock and roll musical genres, and the subgenre doo-wop. The Ink Spots were widely a ...

featuring Bill Kenny and released by

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

as catalog number 3258, with the A-side " Whispering Grass".Decca records in the 3000 to 3499 series
/ref> The recording reached #2 on the chart that year. The Ink Spots' version of the song was also used as the opening theme for the first game of the Fallout franchise. The game's sequels, '' Fallout 3'', '' 4'' and '' 76'', also use this song on their in-game radios. Another charting version was recorded by Dinah Shore on June 25, 1940, and released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10793, with the flip side " The Nearness of You".Bluebird records in the 10500 to 10999 series
/ref> This version reached #17 on the charts. Bobby Byrne and his orchestra also charted with the song that year, reaching #19. His version was recorded on July 19, 1940, with a vocal by Jimmy Palmer, and released by Decca as catalog number 3392A. The flip side was "One Look at You". A recording by the Sammy Kaye orchestra, with Tommy Ryan as vocalist, was recorded on May 31, 1940 and released by

Victor The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...

as catalog number 26643. The flip side was "

Blueberry Hill "Blueberry Hill" is a popular American song published in 1940, best remembered for its 1950s rock and roll version by Fats Domino. The music was written by Vincent Rose, the lyrics by Larry Stock and Al Lewis. It was recorded six times in 1940 ...

". The Bob Chester orchestra, with a vocal by Dolores O'Neill, also recorded the song. Their version, recorded May 17, 1940 was released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10752. The flip side was "Pushin' the Conversation Along". Another 1940 recording, on June 3, was done by Gene Krupa and released by OKeh as catalog number 5643, with the flip side " I'll Never Smile Again".OKeh records in the 5600 to 5999 series
/ref> Other 1940 recordings were done by British vocalists Vera Lynn and Anne Shelton.

1952 revival

The song was revived as a duet by

Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian-American singer, actor and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signing ...

and

Eddie Fisher Edwin Jack Fisher (August 10, 1928 – September 22, 2010) was an American singer and actor. He was one of the most popular artists during the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show, ''The Eddie Fisher Show''. Actress Eli ...

, recorded on May 13, 1952,Perry Como discography entry for "Maybe"
/ref> which was released by RCA Victor Records, with the flip side "Watermelon Weather," as a 78 rpm single (catalog number 20-4744)RCA Victor Records in the 20-4500 to 20-4999 series
/ref> and a 45 rpm single (catalog number 47-4744) in the United States reaching #3 on the charts in 52. This recording with the same flip side was also issued by HMV Records in the United Kingdom as a 78 rpm single, catalog number B-10289. At that time, a cover recording was also made by Frankie Carle, released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-4919, with the flip side " Walkin' My Baby Back Home".

Other recordings

* Bunny Berigan * Doc Cheatham * Ella Fitzgerald (1968, on her Capitol album "30 By Ella") * Marty Grosz * Dick Haymes *

Elliot Lawrence Elliott Lawrence Broza (February 14, 1925 – July 2, 2021), known professionally as Elliott Lawrence, was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. Son of the broadcaster Stan Lee Broza, Lawrence led his first dance band at age 20, but he pl ...

* Brenda Lee (1965) *

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

(1957) * Smokey Pleacher (1962) *The Migil 5 (1964) *

Jimmy Roselli Michael John "Jimmy" Roselli (December 26, 1925 – June 30, 2011) was one of the most significant Italian-American pop singers of his time, during an era of competition from such performers as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Perry Como, ...

(1967) *

Kate Smith Kathryn Elizabeth Smith (May 1, 1907 – June 17, 1986) was an American contralto. Referred to as The First Lady of Radio, Smith is well known for her renditions of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" & "When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain". ...

References

{{authority control 1935 songs The Ink Spots songs Dinah Shore songs Male vocal duets Okeh Records singles Bluebird Records singles Decca Records singles