| Composer | Jimmy McHugh |
| Lyricist | Dorothy Fields |
| Year Written | 1928 |
About This Song
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for the 1928 revue Blackbirds of 1928, produced by Lew Leslie. The song was the first big hit for this songwriting pair. It has been a widely recorded jazz and popular standard, with recordings by Ukulele Ike, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Anita O’Day, and many others.
View lyrics
Who knows, some day I will win too
I’ll begin to reach my prime
Now though I see what our end is
All I can spend is just my time
I can’t give you anything but love, baby
That’s the only thing I’ve plenty of, baby
Dream a while, scheme a while
We’re sure to find
Happiness, and I guess
All those things you’ve always pined for
Gee, I’d like to see you looking swell, my little baby
Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn’t sell, baby
Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby
I can’t give you anything but love
Till that lucky day you know darned well, baby
I can’t give you anything but love
Recordings
1950
Tony Bennett recorded “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” on April 17, 1950. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.
CO 43129
Release History
| 1950 | Columbia 78: 38856 |
| 1950 | Columbia 45: 4-39060 |
1951 to current
| 1951 | Columbia 45: 4-39187 |
| 2000 | Blue Jackel CD: 8427328030137 — Blue Velvet and Other Early Hits |
| 2001 | Blue Moon CD: BMCD 8001 — Blue Velvet and Other Early Hits [Spain] |
| 2004 | Solo CD: 1214 — Blue Velvet And Other Early Hits |
| 2004 | Blue Moon CD: BMCD 3013 — Blue Velvet And Other Early Hits [Spain] |
| 2007 | Proper CD: PROPERBOX 121 — Young Tony |
| 2011 | Columbia The Complete Collection — Disc 3 The Columbia Singles |
1956
Tony Bennett recorded “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” on September 13, 1956. Ray Conniff wrote the arrangement.
CO 56607
Release History
| 1957 | Columbia LP 12″: CL 938 — Tony (1957) |
| 1958 | Columbia LP 12″: CS 8652 — Tony’s Greatest Hits |
| 2008 | Not Now Music CD: NOT3CD010 — Three Original Hit Albums [UK] |
| 2011 | Columbia The Complete Collection — Disc 10 — Tony |