In 1956, Ella Fitzgerald was at a turning point in her career. Her manager, , had just formed Verve Records specifically to provide her with a platform to record the definitive versions of the American Songbook.
The song was written by and Lorenz Hart for the 1940 musical Pal Joey . Unlike the "happier" musicals of that era, Pal Joey was gritty and cynical, featuring an anti-hero who used women for his own gain.
Lorenz Hart’s original lyrics were highly provocative for 1940, including lines like "Horizontally speaking, he’s at his very best" and "Thank God, I can be oversexed again" . In 1956, Ella Fitzgerald was at a turning
The song is sung by Vera Simpson , a wealthy, married socialite who has fallen for the "heel" Joey (originally played by a young Gene Kelly ).
Despite her personal shyness, Ella delivered the "racy" lines with a sophisticated, slightly detached humor that captured the character of Vera perfectly—satirical, sexy, and world-weary. The Cinematic Shift Unlike the "happier" musicals of that era, Pal
For her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Song Book , she chose to record the unabridged version . At over seven minutes long, it remains one of the few recordings to include the full, original Broadway "patter" lyrics.
When the song became a pop hit in 1950 (most notably by Doris Day), it was heavily censored for radio, removing nearly all the witty, adult-themed verses. Ella’s Definitive Recording Despite her personal shyness, Ella delivered the "racy"
The story of Ella Fitzgerald's version of "" is a blend of theatrical scandal and a landmark moment in recording history. While many remember the song as a gentle romantic standard, it was originally a risqué Broadway number that Ella famously "restored" to its full, uncensored glory. The Broadway Scandal
