{{Infobox musical composition | name = "My Greatest Mistake" | type = Song | composer = Jack Fulton (w&m) and Jack O'Brien (w&m) | key = E{{music|flat}} major | genre = Popular, torch song | form = AABA | written = 1940 | meter = Moderately slow (with expression) | time = {{music|time|4|4}} | publisher = Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc. }} "'''My Greatest Mistake'''" is a popular song written in 1940 by Jack Fulton and Jack "Bones" O'Brien.<ref name="ASCAP-Directory" /> {{TOC limit|2}}
== Comments == The original piano and vocal score is in E{{music|flat}} major. The song was Jack Fulton's first hit. Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., of New York was the publisher. J. R. Lafleur & Son, Ltd. (Boosey & Hawkes), of London was the sole selling agent for the British Empire, except Canada, Newfoundland, and Australia. J. Albert & Son of Sydney was the selling agent for Australia.
=== ASCAP boycott === "My Greatest Mistake" was one of some 1,250,000 songs under an ASCAP license. In 1940, ASCAP attempted to double its fees to broadcasters for the airing of licensed songs. For ten months – January 1, 1941, to October 29, 1941 – radio broadcasters, namely NBC and CBS, banned all music licensed by ASCAP. Given the timing of the launch of "My Greatest Mistake," the ASCAP boycott, according to O'Brien, stunted the momentum of the song's rise in popularity for 13 recordings that were released before the boycott.
== Selected discography == === Pre-ASCAP ban === {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} {{Ordered list | list_style_type = upper-alpha | start = 1|Larry Clinton's Bluebird Orchestra {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=1 |Bluebird 10784-A<br />Terry Allen (vocalist)<br />Recorded June 24, 1940, New York<ref name="Larry-Clinton 1940 Jun 24" group=lower-alpha /><br />Side A matrix: 051556-1<br />{{OCLC|77628941}}<br />([https://archive.org/details/78_my-greatest-mistake_larry-clintons-bluebird-orchestra-terry-allen-jack-fulton-jack_gbia0012036a audio] at Internet Archive) }}|Orrin Tucker and His Orchestra {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=2 |Columbia 35622<br />Orrin Tucker (vocalist)<br />Matrix: WCO 28040<br />Recorded July 24, 1940, New York<br />{{OCLC|768494360}} }}|Frankie Masters {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=3 |Okeh 5658<br />Marion Francis (vocalist)<br />{{space|4}}''(née'' Marion Francis Charlesworth; 1917–2011)<br />Matrix: 26957<br />Recorded June 25, 1940<ref name="Frankie-Masters 1940 Jun 25" group=lower-alpha /> }}|Duke Ellington {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=4 |Victor 26719-A<br />Matrix 054624-1<br />{{space|4}}Also released as His Master's Voice B. 9129<br />{{space|4}}Matrix OA. 054624-1<br />(no vocal)<br />Recorded July 24, 1940, New York<ref name="Ellington 1940 Jul 24" group=lower-alpha /><br />{{OCLC|956509404}}<br />({{YouTube|CInzQjJKjr0|Audio}}) |Jazz Supreme (It)JS704<br />NBC Red broadcast (local station WMAQ)<br />Panther Room, basement of the Hotel Sherman, Chicago<br />September 10, 1940<ref name="Ellington 1940 Sep 10" group=lower-alpha /> }}|Harry Roy {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=6 |Regal Zonophone<br />MR 3392<br />Matrix (on label): CAR 5906<br />Recorded November 1940, London }}|London Piano-Accordion Band {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=7 |Regal Zonophone<br />MR 3423<br />Matrix (on label): CAR 5949 }}|Harry James<br />Dick Haymes (vocalist on all three recordings) {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=8 |Radio Broadcast, Eastwood Gardens, Detroit, June 30, 1940 |Varsity 8389<br />Side A matrix 1889<br />{{space|4}}Also released as Hit 7064<br />{{space|4}}Side A matrix 1889<br />Recorded August 12, 1940, New York<br />({{YouTube|JxIf1heF_Iw|audio}}) |Hep (E)88<br />Radio Broadcast<br />Dancing Campus, Liberty Lake, World's Fair, New York<ref name="DancingCampus-info" group=Note /><br />September 6, 1940<br />{{OCLC|919190428}}<br />{{LCCN|2015625696}} }}|Dick Todd {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=11 |Bluebird 10822<br />Matrix BS 051591-1<br />Recorded August 6, 1940, New York<br />({{YouTube|CVnzvfFvJ_0|audio}}) }}|Dick Robertson {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=12 |Decca 3378-A<br />Dick Robertson (vocalist)<br />Matrix: 68015A<br />New York, August 27, 1940, New York<br />{{OCLC|173216584|173216607|80746185}} }} }} {{Ordered list | list_style_type = upper-alpha | start = 11|The Ink Spots {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=13 |Brunswick 03081-B (catalog number) (1940)<br />Matrix (label – Side B): 67990<br />Matrix (runout, stamped – Side B): 67990A 1 TT<br />{{space|4}}Also released as Decca 3379-A<br />{{space|4}}Matrix (label – Side A): 67990<br />Recorded August 20, 1940, New York<ref name="Decca-Discogs-Ruppli" /><br />{{OCLC|173216607|171137901}}<br />({{YouTube|Q4A_z6tr8aE|audio}})<br />([https://archive.org/details/78_my-greatest-mistake_ink-spots-jack-fulton-jack-obrien_gbia0009008a audio] at Internet Archive) }} }} {{Div col end}}
=== Post-ASCAP ban === {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} {{Ordered list | list_style_type = upper=alpha | start = 12|The Ink Spots {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=14 |Decca 25237 (matrix / runout)<br />3379 A (catalog number)<br />Released Aug 1947<br />{{space|4}}In a compilation album:<br />{{space|4}}''Ink Spots, Volume II''<br />Decca A-594<br />{{OCLC|48384290}} |Verve MGV2039<br />Recorded September 25, 1956, Los Angeles }}|Willard McDaniel {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=16 |Crown 129<br />Matrix: JB-427<br />Recorded 1954, Los Angeles }}|''Ben Webster''{{indent|4}}''With the Ralph Burns Orchestra'' {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=17 |Norgan EPN 142<br />Recorded September 9, 1955, New York<ref name="Ben-Webster 1955 Sep 9" group=lower-alpha /><br />({{YouTube|wsvsFFr4MEY|audio}}) }}|Daniel Romano<br />From the album:{{indent|4}}''Workin' For The Music Man'' (2012) {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|start=18 |You've Changed (label) YC-006<br />{{OCLC|676770797}}<br />({{YouTube|PHFt2k7-B5E|audio}}) }} }} {{Div col end}}
== Copyrights == {{Ordered list|list_style_type=lower-roman|start=1 |"My Greatest Mistake"<br />Jack Fulton (w&m)<br />Jack O'Brien (w&m)<br />© 26 July 1940<br />Class E (published) 85979<br />Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., New York<ref name="Copyright Cat 1940 EP85979" group=lower-roman /><br />Renewal 415380; 4 August 1967<ref name="Copyright Cat 1967 R415380" group=lower-roman /><br />(copyright expires 4 August 2034) }}
=== Library holdings === * {{OCLC|222508119|47206681}}
=== Publisher plates === * H. 15250
=== Arrangements === * Arrangement by Charles E. Hathaway, Jr. (1901–1966)<br />[http://www.esm.rochester.edu/ensembles/files/Microsoft-Word-George-Manning-Swing-Band-Collection.pdf George Manning Swing Band Collection]<br />Box 5/55; No. 353 A, page 13, year 1940<br />Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester<br />{{OCLC|880173015}}
== Lyrics == {{Div col|colwidth=50em}} {{Poem quote |text= I've done a lot of things that we're right and though they brought regret There's only one thing that I'm sorry for And that's the day we met
My greatest mistake was falling in love Falling in love with you My greatest mistake was dreaming of you And thinking my dreams would come true
It was easy to see You never loved me Though I hoped and I prayed Someday it could be
My greatest mistake My greatest heartache Was falling in love with you
Darlin', you know my greatest mistake was falling in love And I mean falling in love with a beautiful gal like you, mmm You know I made another mistake, just dreaming of you And being foolish enough to think that all my dreams was bound to come true
You know, shoulda been easy for me to see That, honey child, you never loved me Course, I hoped and I prayed That maybe someday, it could be
My greatest mistake My greatest heartache Was falling in love with you }} {{Div col end}}
==Notes and references == === Notes === {{reflist|group=Note|50em|refs=
<ref name="DancingCampus-info">Mike Todd, a theatrical producer and impresario, ran the four largest and most popular attractions at the 1939 New York World's Fair, three of which were cabarets. The first, he took over George Jessel's Old New York and transformed it into Gay New Orleans – a three-acre park; the second he converted the Hall of Music into the Streets of Paris; the third he created the Old Time Op'ry House on the midway; the fourth, he built the Dancing Campus, reportedly the world's biggest outdoor dance arena, featuring big bands nightly with a floor large enough for 12,000 dancing patrons.</ref>
}}
=== Recording personnel === {{reflist|group=lower-alpha|50em|refs=
<ref name="Larry-Clinton 1940 Jun 24">'''Larry Clinton Band''': June 24, 1940, New York: Larry Clinton (trumpet, tuba, trombone, arranger, leader); Bob Alexy ''(né'' Robert James Alexy; 1910–1985), Ivor Lloyd ''(né'' Ivor Mark Lloyd; 1911–1988), Jack Palmer ''(né'' Joseph J. Palmieri; 1912–2000) (trumpets); George Mazza, Al George ''(né'' Alfred A. George; 1910–1977), Jimmy Curry (trombones); Steve Benoric (1912–1976), Ben Feman ''(né'' Benjamin C. Feman; 1908–1994) (clarinets, alto saxes); Frank Ludwig ''(né'' Francis Ludwig Reudelhuber; 1915–1988), Don Hammond ''(né'' William Don Hammond; 1914–1964) (clarinets, tenor saxes); Bill Straub (piano); George Rose ''(né'' George August Rose; 1909–1978) (guitar); Hank Wayland (double bass); Charlie Blake (drums); Terry Allen (vocalist)</ref>
<ref name="Ellington 1940 Jul 24">'''Duke Ellington Band''': July 24, 1940, RCA-Victor, New York, recording session at Studio 2, 155 East 24th Street, Manhattan: Rex Stewart (conductor); Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams (trumpets); Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton (trombones); Juan Tizol (valve trombone); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Johnny Hodges (alto & soprano sax); Otto Hardwick (alto sax, clarinet); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Harry Carney (baritone & alto sax, clarinet); Duke Ellington (piano); Fred Guy (guitar); Jimmie Blanton (bass); Sonny Greer (drums) <div style="margin-left:2em">([http://www.depanorama.net/40.htm "A Duke Ellington Panorama: 1940 Discography"], The Duke Ellington Society, Washington, D.C.)</div></ref>
<ref name="Ellington 1940 Sep 10">'''Duke Ellington Band''': September 10, 1940, NBC Blue broadcast, Hotel Sherman, Panther Room: (same personnel as Ellington's July 24, 1940, session at RCA-Victor Studio 2 in New York)</ref>
<ref name="Ben-Webster 1955 Sep 9">'''Ben Webster''' with the '''Ralph Burns Orchestra''': September 9, 1955, New York: Danny Bank (flute, clarinet); Albert Epstein (1921–2016; clarinet, English horn, bass clarinet); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Hank Jones (piano); Harold Coletta, Martin Donegan, Leo Kruczek (1908–1977), Harry Lookofsky, Gene Orloff, Tosha Samaroff ''(aka'' Zama Dworman; ''né'' Salmon Dworman; 1906–2005), Paul Winter (violins); Burt Fisch (viola); Abe Borodkin, George Ricci (brother of Ruggiero Ricci), Lucien Schmit (cellos); Chet Amsterdam ''(né'' Chester G. Amsterdam; 1926–2010), Wendell Marshall (bass); Osie Johnson (drums); Ralph Burns (arranger; conductor)</ref>
<ref name="Frankie-Masters 1940 Jun 25">'''Frankie Masters Band''' (partial list): Frankie Masters (director, trombone); "Bud" Shiffman ''(later'' "Buddy Shaw;" ''né'' Herman Shiffman; 1912–2010) (lead alto sax); Vincent Claude Ferrini (1914–2013) (alto sax); Carl C. Bean (1909–1969) (tenor sax); Howard John Barkell (1903–1971) (bari sax, piano, guitar, drums, bass); Marion Francis (vocals); The Masters Voices (vocals)</ref>
}}
=== Copyrights === {{reflist|group=lower-roman|100em|refs=
<ref name="Copyright Cat 1940 EP85979">Original copyright: ''Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 3 Musical Compositions,'' New Series, Library of Congress, Copyright Office<div style="margin-left:2em">[https://books.google.com/books?id=mStjAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1030&lpg=PA1030&dq=%22greatest+mistake Vol. {{space|1}}35, Part 2, July 1940, No. 7] (1941), p. 1030</div></ref>
<ref name="Copyright Cat 1967 R415380">Copyright renewal: ''Catalog of Copyright Entries, Music: Current and Renewal Registrations,'' Third Series, Library of Congress, Copyright Office<div style="margin-left:2em">[https://books.google.com/books?id=uz8hAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA2357&lpg=PA2357&dq=%22greatest+mistake Vol. {{space|1}}21, Part 5, No. 2, Sec. 1, July-December 1967] (1968), p. 2357</div></ref>
}}
=== References === {{reflist|100em|refs=
<ref name="ASCAP-Directory">[https://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/music-search/music-songs-composers%20-%200474.htm "O'Brien, Jack (John Roger O'Brien),"] ''ASCAP Biographical Dictionary of Composers, Authors and Publishers,'' p. 374</ref>
<ref name="Decca-Discogs-Ruppli">''Decca Labels: A Discography,'' compiled by Michel Ruppli, Greenwood Press (1996); {{OCLC|36344113}}<div style="margin-left:2em">(originally published in hardcover by Greenwood Press, now an imprint of ABC-CLIO)</div></ref>
}}
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Category:1940 songs Category:American songs Category:Pop ballads Category:1940s jazz standards Category:Pop standards Category:Jazz compositions in E-flat major Category:Songs written by Jack Fulton