PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ
From the film "Puttin' On The Ritz" (1930)
(Irving Berlin)
Harry Richman (Film Soundtrack) - 1930
Earl Burtnett & His Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orch. - 1930
Leo Reisman & His Orch. (vocal: Lew Conrad) - 1930
Fred Astaire - 1930
Jan Garber & His Jazz Band 1930
Ben Selvin & His Orch. - 1930
Clark Gable (feat. in the film "Idiot's Delight") - 1939
Benny Goodman & His Orch. - 1939
Fred Astaire (feat. in the film "Blue Skies") - 1946
Ella Fitzgerald - 1958
Judy Garland - 1960
diana Trask - 1961
Mel Tormé - 1962
Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen - 1962
André Previn Trio - 1963
Gene Wilder & Peter Boyle
(feat. in the film "Young Frankenstein") - 1974
Nancy Harrow - 1979
Taco Ockerse - 1983
Neil Diamond - 1998
Patrice Williamson - 2001
Also recorded by:
Ray Anthony; Irving Berlin; Bing Crosby; Scooter Lee;
Alfredo & His Band; Kenny Baker; The Swingle Singers;
Margie Gibson; Johnny Mathis; The Pasadena Roof Orch;
Stéphane Grappelli:................. and many others.
Have you seen the well-to-do
Up and down Park Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare
With their noses in the air
High hats and arrowed collars
Wide spats and lots of dollars
Spending every dime
For a wonderful time
If you're blue and you don't know
Where to go to, why don't you go
Where fashion sits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Different types, who wear a day coat
Pants with stripes, and cut away coat
Perfect fits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Dressed up like a million dollar trooper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper
Super-duper!
Come, let's mix where Rockerfellers
Walk with sticks, or umber-ellas
In their mitts
Puttin' on the Ritz
Spangled gowns upon a beauty
Of hand-me-downs, on clown and cutie
All misfits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Strolling up the avenue so happy
All dressed up just like an English chappie
Very snappy!
You'll declare it's simply topping
To be there, and hear them swapping
Smart tidbits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Puttin' on the Ritz
Puttin' on the Ritz
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ALTERNATE VERSE:
Tips his hat just like an English chappie
To a lady with a wealthy pappy
Very Snappy!
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IRVING BERLIN'S ORIGINAL LYRICS
The original version of Berlin's song referred to the then-popular
fad of well-to-do white New Yorkers visiting African American jazz
music venues in Harlem. Berlin later revised the lyrics because of
the racial references and to make it more generally applicable to
going out on the town in style:
Have you seen the well-to-do
Up on Lennox Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare
With their noses in the air
High hats and arrow collars
White spats and fifteen dollars
Spending ev'ry dime
For a wonderful time
If you're blue and
You don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where Harlem sits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Spangled gowns upon the bevee of high browns
From down the levee
All misfits
Puttin' on the Ritz
That's where each and ev'ry Lulu-Belle goes
Ev'ry Thursday evening with her swell beaus
Rubbing elbows
Come with me and we'll attend
The jubilee, and see them spend
Their last two bits
Puttin' on the Ritz
** Some lyric explanations:
Lennox Avenue - A main thoroughfare in Harlem.
High browns - A variation of the phrase "high yellow", referring to
someone of mixed racial background, usually with the inference that
they're putting on airs beyond their social station.
Lulu-Belle - A generic nickname for a black maid.
Ev'ry Thursday evening - Typically, the maid's night off.
(Contributed by Debbie Davis - August 2002)
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