Puttin' on the Ritz - Irving Berlin

Puttin' On The Ritz

Puttin' On the Ritz" is a song written by Irving Berlin. He wrote it in May 1927 and first published it on December 2, 1929. It was registered as an unpublished song August 24, 1927 and again on July 27, 1928. It was introduced by Harry Richman and chorus in the musical film Puttin' On the Ritz (1930). According to The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin, this was the first song in film to be sung by an interracial ensemble. The title derives from the slang expression "to put on the Ritz", meaning to dress very fashionably. This expression was in turn inspired by the opulent Ritz Hotel in London.

Hit phonograph records of the tune in its original period of popularity of 1929–1930 were recorded by Harry Richman and by Fred Astaire, with whom the song is particularly associated. Every other record label had their own version of this popular song (Columbia, Brunswick, Victor, and all of the dime store labels). Richman's Brunswick version of the song became the number-one selling record in America.

The song received renewed popularity in 1982 when Taco, a Dutch musician, recorded and released a new version of the song. Taco's version was accompanied by a music video, which aired on MTV and other music video networks and programs.

Puttin on the Ritz

A better chart. D52, look it over to learn something ;-) :
- time sig at beginning
- section letters to distinguish them
- not only that, IN will only play at beginning of song, then chorus repeats will play AABA
- 1st and 2nd ending for the two A-sections (empty measures or space won't play)
- double-bar lines visually separate sections (and in some styles, like "rock", will have a fill - experiment with both end-&-beginning double-bar lines, or just end...)
- end bar at end

Puttin' on the Ritz

Thanks for the post, it's a very cute song. Unforgettable version: sung by monster in "Frankenstein Junior"!