If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake

"If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" is a popular song written by Al Hoffman, Bob Merrill, and Clem Watts and published in 1950.

The big hit version in 1950 was recorded by Eileen Barton in January 1950. The recording was released by National Records as catalog number 9103. When the song became too big a hit for National to handle, it arranged with Mercury Records to help with distribution. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 3, 1950 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.

Cover versions

Another version was recorded by Georgia Gibbs. The recording was made on February 16, 1950 and released by Coral Records as catalogue number 60169. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 17, 1950 and lasted six weeks on the chart, peaking at #21.

A British version was recorded by Dame Gracie Fields in 1950, and has since been used on a British television advertising campaign.

Another version was recorded by Betty Harris and a choir, with Art Mooney's Orchestra. The recording was made on February 15, 1950 and released by MGM Records as catalogue number 10660.

Bing Crosby and Bob Hope recorded a version together that expanded on the standard lyrics to include verses about making a meal and preparing a goose.

In Australia, a version was recorded by June Hamilton in May, 1950 and released by Pacific Records as catalog number 10-0030.

This song was used on the first season (1969) of Sesame Street in a skit involving Ernie and Cookie Monster. When Cookie Monster asks Ernie for a cookie, Ernie bakes him a birthday cake instead, while singing the song. When Ernie takes the finished cake — candles and all — out of the oven, he tells Cookie to make a wish, and the monster exclaims: "I wish it was a cookie!" But he snuffs out the candles and gobbles up the cake anyway as Ernie finishes the song.

A version was used as the opening theme to Exit 57, a sketch comedy series that aired on Comedy Central and starred Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, Stephen Colbert, Mitch Rouse, and Jodi Lennon.

Manhattan band The Maxes recorded a version of the song in 2008 as part of a 12-song Al Hoffman collection titled "The Maxes Sing Al Hoffman."

The song appeared in the M*A*S*H season one episode "Henry Please Come Home".

Certain versions of the song include the lyrics If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake "this morning" instead of "how'd you do".

Greggs the bakers, a retail bakery chain in the United Kingdom is using this song as part of a television advertising campaign. This can be viewed at Greggs.co.uk.

Preceded by "Music! Music! Music!" by Teresa Brewer

U.S. Billboard Best Sellers in Stores number-one single April 15–22, 1950

Succeeded by "The Third Man Theme" by Anton Karas