Swing in London: Billy Cotton & His Orchestra - Puttin' On The Ritz, 1930

[1920sbuff]

So nice to hear a lesser know, but brilliant version of this famous song!

[dzheger]

I enjoyed the sparkling and dynamic version and the ritzy Royal Couple. I love the song but since I saw Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein it has always made me giggle.

[240252]

@dzheger I love Mel Brooks version. He almost "killed" that tune forever. The situation just like it happened in Poland in 1970s with famous Chopin's Funeral March. One of cabaret authors sung that tune in a very funny way with his lyrics written as if they were sung by the dead who makes nasty comments from within his coffin about the ceremony, his wife, relatives etc. It was so damn funny that even today, when that sad sad march is played I almost giggle.

[tango3721]

Hello Grzegorz - Thanks for your "vote of confidence" in my dancing abilities. This tune is very fast to execute - but with a good partner - it can be a lot of fun. Irving Berlin composed a lot of awesome tunes. The movie with Fred Astair was really good. He was dancing with Ginger Rogers - they were divine! Have a super day and thanks a million!

[240252]

@tango3721 I always adored dancers and singers who were able to syncopate and to tap or sing quickly and with no mistake that strange and really difficult "scat" rhythm. I. Berlin has really composed the masterpiece.

[amarys2art]

All your videos are wonderful and this is one of them!

[240252]

@amarys2art Thank you! And Clark Gable is wonderful too. I think, he was the "ritziest" actor in the history.

[barbcard]

Lively and sophisticated. That's exactly what we need these days: ritz, not glitz. Is there a word for"ritz" in Polish?

[240252]

@barbcard The closest to "ritz" would be "wykwint" (a mixture of  the best taste and the highest sophistication)

[genia106]

Now this is DIVINE DECADANCE.....in only the PUREST way! :-)

My Darling Divinely Decadent Grezgorz,

Love the Divinely Decadent Clark and this SONG!

Grzegorz, meet me at the Savoy for some DIVINE DECADENCE... :-)

Loved this... A million STARTS!

[240252]

@genia106 Oh, it's divine, indeed. Please, let me light my dunhil, sip slowly that dry martini and gin and feed my eyes with delight of watching Gable in his charming taps, dance tricks, winks, blinks and giggles..

[abendstunde49]

Great version of this great song! I especially the section that begins about 2:10.

[240252]

@abendstunde49 Yes, it becomes crazy when that hot banjo gets on the front and dominates the rhythmic

[wickirsinn]

Thanks for sharing - Nice photos - Good music!

[240252]

@wickirsinn Thanks. Yes, the tune is simply great. Unfortunately, it is the last version of "Puttin On The Rotz" I have. If you browse a little through my collection you'll find a few more fanta\tic and little known renditions of that evergreen.

[bill3murr]

i loved it when gable did a version of this in the movie "idiots delight" while norma shearer looked on...what a hoot! great photos...fashion from the long lost age of class and glamor....but the great music(cotton's version is very good) and the photos of a bygone era still delight. thank you.

[240252]

@bill3murr Oh, I simply love that scene when he makes that sexy tap dance with his cane and girls' band while Norma Shearer makes her seducing faces towards him. Do you know, it is available in You Tube? I sometimes watch it when I am fed up and tired and it always gives me a spin

[HarborGuy]

Almost as well done as the Original "Broadway Melody of l929.......thank you much!

[240252]

@HarborGuy Hello and thank you! Both these tunes" - Puttin On The Ritz and "Broadway melody" are my absolute favorites! I could listen and listen to them in all possible renditions, existing in the world.