Ella Fitzgerald — Puttin' On The Ritz
Album: Sings The Irving Berlin Songbook, Vol. 1Avg rating:
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Length: 2:14
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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 narrow collars
White spats and lots of dollars
Spending every dime
For a wonderful time
Now, 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 daycoat
Pants with stripes and cutaway 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 Rockefellers
Walk with sticks or "umberellas"
In their mitts
Puttin' on the Ritz
------ short instrumental break ------
Tips his hat just like an English chappie
To a lady with a wealthy pappy
Very snappy
You'll declare it's simply topping
To be there and hear them swapping
Smart tidbits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Up and down Park Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare
With their noses in the air
High hats and narrow collars
White spats and lots of dollars
Spending every dime
For a wonderful time
Now, 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 daycoat
Pants with stripes and cutaway 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 Rockefellers
Walk with sticks or "umberellas"
In their mitts
Puttin' on the Ritz
------ short instrumental break ------
Tips his hat just like an English chappie
To a lady with a wealthy pappy
Very snappy
You'll declare it's simply topping
To be there and hear them swapping
Smart tidbits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Comments (58)add comment
SUPERB!! ICONIC!! Thanx RP! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySszeu4H4QI
"the big band with according to pieces' Joe Pass (G), Tommy Flanagan (p), Keeter Betts (b), Bobby Durham (Dr.), Roy Eldridge (tp), Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts), Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass (Herb Geller, Art Farmer...) "
Props to Ella, but I still think of Taco and Young Frankenstein, in that order, everytime I hear this!
junebaby65 wrote:
"Enormous shwanzstuecke!"
What Knockers!!!!!!!!
"Enormous shwanzstuecke!"
Art_Carnage wrote:
I came on the forums just to see this picture.
I came on the forums just to see this picture.
ANYTHING Ella's done makes me weak in the knees.
Ahhh....a dark night club, the big band's playing for the gorgeous torch/blues singer who's wearing a black, slinky evening dress slit ALL the way up the side, wearing your best suit with the new silk tie, sipping martini's, smoking expensive cigars, your date all gussied up and smelling like expensive French perfume.........what happened to class?
All we have now is s____ like Vegas. How classy is that?
Toni Price to Lang to Tunstall, Bill's on a torch singer/blues roll on a Friday PM. Must be getting ready for happy hour.
Go Bill Go.
Good as it gets!
this is a good example one of the reasons i listen and subscribe - where else can you go to find this mixed in ... its just great to hear this
thanks B and R ...
The Fred Astaire version of this is 100-fold better, even if the words are a little less PC. His subtle play with putting words around the beat is rivaled only by Sinatra, and in this song he really swings. Makes Ella sounds like Doris Day. Great song, though.
This voice is unmistakable - and wonderful.
If the recording seems flatish, please remember when it was recorded!
meydele wrote:
I'm kind of fond of the Gene Wilder/Peter Boyle version, myself.
NOTHING will ever top that. I laughed until I nearly pissed myself.
meydele wrote:
I'm kind of fond of the Gene Wilder/Peter Boyle version, myself.
You can't beat Young Frankenstein. And how about that high note that Maddy Kahn hit when she was first p*rked by the monster with his humungous sewn-on c*ck?
Servo wrote:
No offense to Ella, but it sounds like she phoned this one in. Give me the Gene Wilder & Peter Boyle version any day. I'm serious!
you have to admit though, this arrangement (or song for that matter) doesn't give her much room to stretch her legs.
When Ella puts it on, a Ritz has been put on indeed.
One of the greatest singers of all time.
"Would you like to have a roll in ze hay?"
Servo wrote:
No offense to Ella, but it sounds like she phoned this one in.
I'd still rather hear Ella on the phone than almost any other singer live and in person.
I want to hear Peter/the monster make that weird crying howling noise.
I wonder if that is that is where the idea for Timmy and the Lords of the underworld gag came from.
Servo wrote:
No offense to Ella, but it sounds like she phoned this one in. Give me the Gene Wilder & Peter Boyle version any day. I'm serious!
Just thinking the same thing.
Agent510 wrote:
Never thought I'd knock the great Ella Fitzgerald, but the Taco version rules all. It's got lightsabers! And tap-dancing!
Boy, it pains me to write this but I agree with you.
Let's give Ella a pass on this one.
No offense to Ella, but it sounds like she phoned this one in. Give me the Gene Wilder & Peter Boyle version any day. I'm serious!
Never thought I'd knock the great Ella Fitzgerald, but the Taco version rules all. It's got lightsabers! And tap-dancing!
The Clark Gable version of this, from "Idiot's Delight" is high-larious....totally different from Ella's smootheness. I love Ella to death, but there's something about a more raw delivery that adds a kind of endearingly winking, theatrical, edge to the lyrics.
karen wrote:
Just wondering how many people can't listen to this song anymore without thinking of Young Frankenstein?
Hah, I asked one of my boss that exact same question.
I don't think anyone who liked that movie can hear this song the same now.
I like Ella but my fave is Dinah Washington. I got into jazz singers in college.
How about Taco's version of this, in the eighties?
(click here)
thewiseking wrote:
not a great version. inelegant. overarranged.
much prefer stripped down early versions; ex, Astaire.
I'm kind of fond of the Gene Wilder/Peter Boyle version, myself.
Ella Fitzgerald walks on water...but this sounds like Doris Day to me. Can't help it...
Super duper
Moonflower31 wrote:
Got to give a big smile to Peter Boyle too!
PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ!!!!!
not a great version. inelegant. overarranged.
much prefer stripped down early versions; ex, Astaire.
What Knockers!!!!!!!!
Ella does a version of Puttin' on the Ritz?!?!?!
It can't get much better than that.
Growing up in the household of children of the 40's, big band was the rock of the day...Ella was about the first female singer I ever heard. I love it!!! Got to give a big smile to Peter Boyle too!
Ella was awsome but I can't get Gene wilder out of my head. (click here)
mattt wrote:
I realize that what I'm about to say verges on blasphemy, but...but...I can't help it. I like Paco's version better.
There. I've said it. Do your worst.
Paco? I thought it was Taco. Anyway, I like all of the versions -- including the Young Frankenstein one. I guess that's the mark of a song you just can't ruin. (C'mon William Hung, give it a shot!)
mattt wrote:
I like Paco's version better.
I think you mean Taco - (click here)
mattt wrote:
I realize that what I'm about to say verges on blasphemy, but...but...I can't help it. I like Paco's version better.
There. I've said it. Do your worst.
OMG!!!, YOU HORRIBLE PERSON...actually, I agree with you, but I think, pretty sure actually its Taco, unless we are thinking of different versions.
This song is over since Young Frankenstein . I can't even rate it.
Improved lyric: "Trying hard to look like Tommy Cooper"
"Just like that!"
karen wrote:
Just wondering how many people can't listen to this song anymore without thinking of Young Frankenstein?
I certainly can't!
karen wrote:
Just wondering how many people can't listen to this song anymore without thinking of Young Frankenstein?
*raises hand*
In fact, I giggled throughout the entire song.
I realize that what I'm about to say verges on blasphemy, but...but...I can't help it. I like Paco's version better.
There. I've said it. Do your worst.
Young Frankenstein all the way!!!!
"What Knockers!"
"Why thank you, Dr"
COOPER DOOPER!!!
Art_Carnage wrote:
Awesome
That's Eye-gor.... :P
MM13 wrote:
Excuse me, but that's Fronkensteen!
Do you say "Froederick?"
Honeybee wrote:
Such a lovely voice.
This song will always remind me of Young Frankenstone...I mean, Frankenstein.
Excuse me, but that's Fronkensteen!
Art_Carnage wrote:
:D
I thought of Istanbul... by They Might be Giants
I love Ella's versatile, silky voice. However, I can't listen to this song without hearing Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle singing it... footstomps and guttural wails included!
Such a lovely voice.
This song will always remind me of Young Frankenstone...I mean, Frankenstein.
No listener comments on this song yet.
Why not be the first?
Is there anything left to say about either Ella or this song, that hasn't already been said?
Just wondering how many people can't listen to this song anymore without thinking of Young Frankenstein?
Ella Fitzgerald - "The Man I love" Live-studio (1974):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySszeu4H4QI
"the big band with according to pieces' Joe Pass (G), Tommy Flanagan (p), Keeter Betts (b), Bobby Durham (Dr.), Roy Eldridge (tp), Eddie Lockjaw Davis (ts), Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass (Herb Geller, Art Farmer...) "
Thank You for the info!