Puttin' on the Ritz

The Irving Berlin classic. Me fiddling around in a jazzy cover. Multiple vocals, a little guitar, and one persistent shaker. An amalgam of all the ssets of lyrics used since it was originally written.

PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ

(Irving Berlin)

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

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

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

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 Arrow collars
White 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
Puttin' on the Ritz

[DUO]

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
Puttin' on the Ritz
Puttin' on the Ritz
Puttin' on the Ritz

• play
• pause
• min volume
• max volume

posted by grubi (7 comments total)

This is ace! You sing it with quite the panache :)

I have one criticism which is that I find the reverb on the guitar a bit incongruous - the vocals and percussion are both pretty dry so it stands out a bit.

The shakers are so ace though. Just the right amount. This ought to be on a soundtrack somewhere!
posted by greenish at 5:52 AM on August 2, 2013

I find the reverb on the guitar a bit incongruous - the vocals and percussion are both pretty dry so it stands out a bit.

I was wondering how that would come across. Originally the vocals had the reverb too, but I went with the old crooner style (not just a little influenced by Taco's famous cover) on the vocals and liked it so much. I removed the reverb on the guitars but it came across too "tight" and seemed to compete a bit with the vocals.

I might clean it up a bit in the future -- this was mostly the product of another bout of insomnia. :-)

This ought to be on a soundtrack somewhere!

From your lips to God's ears, greenish!
posted by grubi at 9:25 AM on August 2, 2013

This is pretty excellent.
posted by COBRA! at 10:10 AM on August 2, 2013

Great to hear shakers: I'm a big shakers fan!

Funny, I've been playing this tune lately, too! As a drummer, that is, with a guy I play with here in Tokyo, name of Steve Gardner. Here's a version of it we did on a riverboat cruise party just the other night!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:51 PM on August 2, 2013

flapjax: that's awesome! Very lively. Can't help but dance in my seat hearing that.
posted by grubi at 1:32 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

Nice job -- the vocal almost sounds like a vintage recording (in a good way).
posted by edlundart at 9:13 PM on August 8, 2013

The words to this song are so clever.
posted by AppleSeed at 2:28 PM on August 18, 2013