The Best Things in Life Are Free (1927 song)

"The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a popular song written by the songwriting team of Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown (lyrics) and Ray Henderson (music) for the 1927 musical Good News. It enjoyed a revival during the period from 1947 to 1950, when it was covered by many artists.

The song first enjoyed chart success in 1927 with the recordings by George Olsen and Frank Black.

Jo Stafford revived the song in 1947, bringing the song to a new genre.

Dinah Shore covered the song in 1948; her single reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Jo Stafford was another who had chart success with the song reaching the No. 21 spot, also in 1948.

The vocal group The Ink Spots covered the song in 1948; their version reached #10 on the Billboard U.S. R&B chart.

Saxophonist Hank Mobley played the song on the 1961 album Workout.

Sam Cooke sang the song on the 1964 live album Sam Cooke at the Copa.

Saxophonist Lou Donaldson played the song on the 1970 live album Fried Buzzard.

Bing Crosby included the song on his 1975 album That's What Life Is All About.

The song was included in both film adaptations of Good News, in 1930 and 1947; the 1947 film featured the song several times, sung by June Allyson, Mel Tormé, and Peter Lawford.

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