50 years ago: “Puttin’ on the Ritz” hit #1

Puttin’ on the Ritz Harry Richman

Writer(s): Irving Berlin (see lyrics here) First Charted: February 15, 1930 Peak: 11 US, 6 GA, 7 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.63 video, 0.03 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Irving Berlin wrote “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in May 1927 and published it in December 1929. The phrase, which came from the upscale Ritz-Carlton, means “dressing fashionably.” SF Berlin referenced the trend at the time of poor, black Harlem residents to dress flashy and parade about, WK pretending to be wealthy. SF He later revised the song to reference affluent whites strutting on Park Avenue. WK The song was introduced by Harry Richman in the film of the same name in 1930. He also recorded the song and took it #1. It was the most successful of his six top-ten hits from 1926 to 1932. Richman was a former vaudeville pianist who went on to become a night club, Broadway, and film star. PM Earl Burtnett (#17) and Leo Reisman (#20) each charted with the song in 1930 as well. Fred Astaire also recorded the song that year, but it didn’t chart. He revived the song in 1946 for the movie Blue Skies. Clark Gable did his only song-and-dance number to “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in the 1939 movie Idiot’s Delight. SF It surfaced again in 1974 in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein in a scene featuring Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle as Dr. Frankenstein and his monster respectively, dancing and singing to the song. The song was an unlikely one-hit wonder in 1983 for the Dutch musician known as Taco (his real name). The million-selling synth-pop version reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. JA Irving Berlin was 95 years old at the time, making him the oldest living songwriter to reach the top 10. WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Harry Richman JA David A. Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 161. SF Songfacts PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc. Pages 369-70. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 11/20/2022.

About the Song: Irving Berlin wrote “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in May 1927 and published it in December 1929. The phrase, which came from the upscale Ritz-Carlton, means “dressing fashionably.” SF Berlin referenced the trend at the time of poor, black Harlem residents to dress flashy and parade about, WK pretending to be wealthy. SF He later revised the song to reference affluent whites strutting on Park Avenue. WK The song was introduced by Harry Richman in the film of the same name in 1930. He also recorded the song and took it #1. It was the most successful of his six top-ten hits from 1926 to 1932. Richman was a former vaudeville pianist who went on to become a night club, Broadway, and film star. PM Earl Burtnett (#17) and Leo Reisman (#20) each charted with the song in 1930 as well. Fred Astaire also recorded the song that year, but it didn’t chart. He revived the song in 1946 for the movie Blue Skies. Clark Gable did his only song-and-dance number to “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in the 1939 movie Idiot’s Delight. SF It surfaced again in 1974 in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein in a scene featuring Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle as Dr. Frankenstein and his monster respectively, dancing and singing to the song. The song was an unlikely one-hit wonder in 1983 for the Dutch musician known as Taco (his real name). The million-selling synth-pop version reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. JA Irving Berlin was 95 years old at the time, making him the oldest living songwriter to reach the top 10. WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Harry Richman JA David A. Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 161. SF Songfacts PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc. Pages 369-70. WK Wikipedia First posted 11/20/2022.