With music written by Ted Snyder and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, the song was published in 1923, when Isham Jones took it to #3. Other popular versions in 1923 were by Marion Harris, Original Memphis Five, Lewis James, and Irving Kaufman. It was also featured in the Marx Brothers film “A Night in Casablanca” (1946), directed by Archie Mayo and released by United Artists. It was also used in the 1950 film “Three Little Words” when it was sung by Gloria DeHaven.Since 1955, Francis had recorded 20 sides for MGM Records and only one (“The Majesty of Love”) charted at all. Due to her near-complete failure as a recording artist, MGM informed her that her contract would end after one more disc. With her music career on the line, Francis’s father suggested she record “Who’s Sorry Now,” convinced that it would have crossover appeal with both older listeners and teenagers if the song were given a modernized sound. Francis strongly objected to the idea on the grounds that selling the youth audience on an almost 35-year-old song was “ridiculous”, but she finally agreed to it as a favor to her father.
