Brenda Lee recorded the song early in 1960, but her label held it from release for several months out of concern that a 15 year-old girl was not mature enough to sing about unrequited love. When the song finally was released on April 30, 1960, it was considered to be the flip side of the more uptempo "That's All You Gotta Do". Although the latter was a chart success in its own right, reaching no.6 in the United States, it was "I'm Sorry" that became the big smash hit and the standard. The languishing love ballad jumped at the top position in the United States and went to no.7 in Canada, no.12 in United Kingdom, no.25 in Germany, no.2 in Belgium and no.14 in the Netherlands.