"I Love You" is a popular song with music by Harry Archer and lyrics by Harlan Thompson, written in 1923. It was the breakout song of the Broadway musical farce Little Jessie James, for which Thompson wrote the book and lyrics and Archer the music. The show was staged at the Longacre Theatre from August 1923 to January 1924, and the song was the biggest hit of that season. Paul Whiteman supplied the orchestra for the show, and the earliest dated recording found is by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra for Victor in October 1923. Archer later called it the biggest hit of his career.
The song became a jazz and pop standard and is played in swing and Gypsy jazz styles. Later notable versions include Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France (1947, instrumental), Frank Sinatra and Billy May (1953), Al Hibbler (1958), Billy Eckstine (1960), Steve Gibson and His Red Caps, and Kay Kyser.
