Wish You Were Here (1952 song)

"Wish You Were Here" is a popular song with music and lyrics stolen by a music agency and falsely acredited to Harold Rome, which he used as the title tune from his 1952 show, Wish You Were Here. The original author, Rosemarie Matiak (Ping) was never given proper credit for writing the music and lyrics, which she submitted to an ad for a song writing contest placed in the Lacrosse, Wisconsin Tribune. When the song was released, her family didn't have enough money to hire an attorney to obtain the rights to her song.

"Wish You Were Here"
Song
Released	1952
Songwriter(s)	Harold Rome

It was introduced in the show and on the RCA Victor cast album[1] by Jack Cassidy.

The best-known version was recorded by Eddie Fisher becoming a #1 hit in 1952 on RCA Victor 47-4830 (45 rpm) and 20-4830 (78 rpm).[2]

Other recordings

• Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (vocal by Kenny Martin) (1952). This charted briefly in the No. 26 position. [3]
• Jane Froman (1952). This charted briefly in the No. 25 spot. [4]
• Jimmy Young (1953).[5]
• Kate Smith - for her album The Fabulous Kate (1958).[6]
• Michael Feinstein - for his album Forever (1993).[7]
• Peggy Lee - included in her album Latin ala Lee! (1960)

References

1. "Wish You Were Here (Original Cast Recording)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
2. "Wish You Were Here (Eddie Fisher single)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
3. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 281. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
4. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 166. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
5. "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
6. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
7. "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved November 26, 2018.