Puttin' On The Ritz - The Clevelanders, 1930

The Clevelanders - Puttin' On The Ritz, Imperial 1930 (UK )

NOTE: I was not able to identify the band. The pseudonym "Clevelanders" was used by various hot dance bands, including Harry Reser. This band, however, does not sound Harry Reser's style at all.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roaring
• Twenties
• Fred
• Astaire
• America
• hot
• dance
• band
• jazz
• age
• USA
• New
• York
• flapper
• Ritz
• Hotel
• old
• record
• gramophone
• 78rpm
• shellac
• amerykańska
• orkiestra
• taneczna
• stare
• piosenki
• płyty
• 78
• obr
• min
• szelak
• winyl

[lockruff]

I always use "ritzy" rather than "upscale" which reminds me of "upsize" and "upsell". Ritzy has a more natural sound to it. The others sound like "Newspeak" I was singing this at work tonight and all of the twenty- and thirty- somethings were looking at me with a quizzical look. Then I really confused them by mentioning the Marx Brothers.;)

[240252]

Thank you Lockruff for that interesting and rather bitter comment. I also quite often face such problems with the comunication with younger generations in Poland. E.g. when I called a vacuum cleaner "electrolux" - they didn't know what I meant. Electrolux was a firm (Swedish, I think) producing such home devices in 1920/30 and my parents commonly used it (just as in 1970s in London my aunt commonly used the word "a hoover", "hoovering", "to hoover" - also deriving from the name of a company).

[VictrolaJazz]

I think I have this on Romeo!

[240252]

So you have an American version of this side. In 1920s it was common for recordings to be issued on multiple labels. Imperial was a British label. Probably they had a kind of a leasing exchange program between the labels.

[Eternalwinter11]

Great Art Nouveau!

[wattever333]

great choice of pics!

[HDAiken]

This song was re-written in the 1940's to turn Lenox Avenue (Harlem) into Park Avenue (downtown, rich and white). You have to listen to the words to know which version you're hearing.....

[HDAiken]

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 a bevy of high browns from down the levee, all misfits, puttin' on the Ritz.

That's where each and every lulubelle goes ev'ry Thursday evening with her swell beaus, rubbing elbows. Come with me and we'll attend their jubilee and see them spend their last two bits, puttin' on the Ritz"

[HDAiken]

It's a great song, but the images used here are wrong. Irving Berlin's lyrics refer to the flashy but cheap nights out in Harlem enjoyed by black Americans in the 1920's. The people for whom 15 dollars was a lot of money weren't the rich but chauffeurs and maids. 'Lullubell' was a nickname for any black maid, and 'high browns' were light-skinned, mixed race women. These were the people whose pictures should be associated with this version of the song.

[thardingau]

The band is Jack Albin and his Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra, probably moonlighting on a different record label.

[Georgewos]

I've always said this when viewing Your posts. You have the best pictures. Don't know where You find them but they are the the greatest..

[smurfswacker]

Nice lively version of this tune, with an excellent choice of illustrations. Its energy reminded me of the exchange between the Rhythm Boys in their version of the song: "Look at all those people puttin' on the ritz!" "You look. I'm too tired."

Performed by the Clevelanders, approved by Fantomas. Unbeatable combination!

[Shabannie]

I have always liked this song. I may use a version of it later in one of my videos. I love the art deco as well. This is very creative. I appreciate you sharing this with me.

[munecojim]

The artwork is stunning.