Frank Ifield - I Remember You (1962)

(Victor Schertzinger - Johnny Mercer)
UK
#1 UK #5 USA #1 Sydney #2 Melbourne #1 Brisbane #1 Adelaide #1 Perth

Born in England to Australian parents, Frank Ifield started his career in Australia but returned to England in 1959 where he was produced for Columbia by Norrie Paramor. At his website, Frank refers to himself as an "English born Australian".

Although I Remember You was his only major national hit in the USA (#5), it was followed by a series of hits in the UK and Australia, usually pop rearrangements of Tin Pan Alley or country standards, notably Lovesick Blues/She Taught Me To Yodel (1962, #1 UK, #44 USA), Wayward Wind (1963, #1 UK), and I'm Confessin' (1963, #1 UK, #58 USA).

The distinctive harmonica on I Remember You is by Harry Pitch, whose diverse credits include Mr Bloe's cult instrumental classic Groovin' With Mr Bloe (#2 UK, 1970) and the theme to Last of the Summer Wine, the British comedy series.

Further reading: The informative official website.

The Beatles - I Remember You (1962)

(Victor Schertzinger - Johnny Mercer)
Germany

Recording of a performance in Hamburg, released in 1977 on the album Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962.

Harry James & His Orchestra - I Remember You (1942)

(Victor Schertzinger - Johnny Mercer)
USA

78 rpm record on Columbia label, recording session 29 January 1942.

Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra - I Remember You (1942)

(Victor Schertzinger - Johnny Mercer)
USA

78 rpm record on Decca label, #4132, recording session 10 December 1941, with vocals by Bob Eberly.

Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra also appeared in The Fleet’s In (see below).

Dorothy Lamour And Others With The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra - I Remember You (1942)

(Victor Schertzinger - Johnny Mercer)
USA
Original version: soundtrack

In the film The Fleet’s In, released 24 January 1942, directed by the song’s co-writer Victor Schertzinger.

Bob Eberly, Helen O’Connell and Chorus are credited with vocals in addition to Dorothy Lamour: full details at classicmoviemusicals.com.

Recorded by numerous artists: there is a list of nearly thirty at The Johnny Mercer Educational Archives (JohnnyMercer.com).

Image: L to R, Helen O’Connell, Jimmy Dorsey, Bob Eberly

Ada Jones - I Remember You

(Harry Von Tilzer - Vincent Bryan)
USA
Red herring

Same title but not the same song as "I Remember You" by Frank Ifield.

1908-1909? This has been cited as the original version, but it is a different song.

Ada Jones seems to have recorded this more than once, including as a duet with Billy Murray on Victor (1909: Victor discography at Online Discographiocal Project).

British-born Ada Jones (1873-1922) was a popular singer, a pioneer in the history of recorded music. She was the first woman to be recorded regularly, beginning in the late 1890s.

References, further reading: 1. Tim Gracyk’s biography of Ada Jones at his Phonographs and Old Records website. 2. On the inconclusive dating of this record: (i) The Internet Archive has a downloadable mp3 of Ada Jones singing "I Remember You", from a Columbia Indestructible cylinder, #1004. That audio file is dated ‘circa 1906’ but that may be too early in view of the song’s stage debut in 1908. (ii) Furthermore, Columbia Indestructible cylinders were issued from 1908, says The Columbia Graphophone and Grafonola – A Beginner’s Guide; or from 1909, says Tim Gracyck, when Columbia replaced wax cylinders with celluloid cylinders manufactured by The Indestructible Record Company

Louise Dresser [in ‘the Girls Of Gottenberg’] - I Remember You (1908)

(Harry Von Tilzer - Vincent Bryan)
USA
Red herring

Same title but not the same song as "I Remember You" by Frank Ifield.

Song apparently added to the American production of The Girls of Gottenberg, a show originally staged in Britain. See Harry Von Tilzer, His Life and Music at the Parlor Songs website, where you can also read the lyrics.

Thank you to honeydhont and Joop Jansen.