“This Can’t Be Love” is from a 1938 Broadway show called The Boys from Syracuse, based on Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. The Shakespeare offering is a “farcical comedy” involving “a series of wild mishaps based on mistaken identities leading to wrongful beatings, a near-seduction, and false accusations of infidelity, theft, madness, and demonic possession.”
The Boys from Syracuse was composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart, written, produced and directed by George Abbott. It opened on November 23, 1938 and ran for 235 total performances.
According to Jazz Standards, “[i]t was Rodgers’ idea to use Shakespeare as a basis for the show, and the success of the production was based on the acting, the witty dialogue, and the humorous songs.”
Marcy Wescott and Eddie Albert sang “This Can’t Be Love” in the original. Of note is that “Falling in Love with Love” is from the same production.
Much to choose from in terms of artists who covered it: Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dave Brubeck, Ben Webster, Dinah Washington, Art Tatum, Shirley Horn, Red Garland. And that’s just a quick look.
This is Rosemary Clooney with the Earl Shelton Orchestra from 1951.