It was covered by Mandy Gaines & The Wade Mikkola Quintet, The Tiger Lillies, Manu le prince, Stanley Black and His Orchestra and other artists. Douglas Byng body { Miss Otis' inability to "lunch today" is for Austin, and must, at some hidden level have been for Porter, a preacherly rhetorical device, a metaphor for the fact that Miss Otis' emotional life as well as her physical one has been violently destroyed. Miss Otis regrets she’s feeling the cold to-day, So Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to start to-day, (with acknowledgments to Cole Porter’s Song. album: For Ella, Notes: "Patti Austin is well qualified to record an album in the style of Ella Fitzgerald, having spent her career shadowing the paths taken by Fitzgerald and her contemporaries. She may be absent from her Spelling Bee. Madam. background-color: #FBECD5; There's me sitting. } Hearing Ethel Waters sing "Miss Otis Regrets" eliminates the possibility of the song as being "dry" or "droll." Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today. In just so many words, the following advertisement appeared in yesterday’s Harvard Crimson: These poems were written to share love for a departed husband and to express the sorrow felt at their loss. Natalie Douglas prefaces her performance with an iffy account of how the song was conceived, but after admitting its iffiness announces what matters to her is that Porter took a high-brow pharase he had heard and turned it into a low-brow song, which locates her with most of the performers here who all take us to the intersection of love and murder in order to witness humanity at its best and worst inextricably interwoven. With such soloists as trumpeter Warren Luening, trombonist Chauncey Welsch, flutist Gary Foster and tenors Bob Cooper and Pete Christlieb having short spots, Clooney performs a fine program (from iTunes review). “Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to lunch today—madam”—as if she were the most correct butler in the world making an announcement. We have our own lens machinery on the premises. Her heart leaps more obviously to her sleeve as she drags us out of a stuffy foyer to the pulpit of a church where she is the preacher bearing her soul over the demise of a member of her flock. For Sudhalter her performance of "Miss Otis" "straddles the fence between the worlds of jazz and blues on one side, and the rather more formal conventions of musical theater on the other" (Porter in the 1930s, p. 39). ), 1960 Whatever the origins/first performance etc. That’s pretty strong stuff coming from the man who wrote Anything Goes. We have our own lens machinery on the premises. Marlene Dietricht Easy Format by Husband for Getting Divorce. I gave it to him and he did it at one of Elsa Maxwell's parties, and he was the life of the party for the evening thereafter. The revue opened in London on Wednesday 3. The revue opened in London on Wednesday 3rd October 1934 at the Comedy Theatre. Diddle Diddle,” which Mr. Charlot launched last night at the Comedy Theatre, does not stand up very well. Mast reminds us that the song was written to win a bet with his friend Monte Woolley who claimed he could not write a song with such a title as "Miss Otis Regrets." It was first recorded by Ethel Waters in 1934. below, More Performances of "Miss Otis Regrets" in the. Borrowed material (images): Images of CD, DVD, book and similar product covers are used courtesy of either Amazon.com or iTunes/LinkShare with which CafeSongbook.com maintains an affiliate status. Gerald Mast classifies Porter as songwriter who told stories not a writer for shows that told stories, "like Irving Berlin . ), The phrase then occurs in the following obscure text, published in, Proposed Beer Drinking Bout of Crimson and Lampoon Suffers Blow. Porter's biographer William McBrien states unequivocally that Porter wrote "Miss Otis Regrets" for the the unproduced musical Ever More, which had Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Guy Bolton and was based on the stage play "The Spell" by Lilli Hatvany. As Richard Sudhalter says of Ella's performance, it may the the same aloofness that critics have often called her out for that gives her "Miss Otis" its poignancy: "Her [Fitzgerald's] approach is simple, even innocent -- she tells the story and accepts it on its terms. album: At the Sands. Ethel Waters (label and#): first charted 12/08/34, remained on charts for one week peaking at number #19. background-color: #FBECD5; Any other images that appear on CafeSongbook.com pages are either in the public domain or appear through the specific permission of their owners. Source: Joel Whitburn, […] She’s Unable to WALK Today Of all the performers here these two may be the best actors, sticking to their assigned tasks while at the same time revealing their inner feelings. And finally McBrien quotes Porter as follows: "You haven't heard anything until you've heard Monty Woolley sing ['Miss Otis Regrets']. And when you get along a little further you find out why Miss Otis finds herself unable to lunch today, madam. Sudhalter notes that Waters was taken to task by some jazz aficionados for affecting a sophisticated white persona in her Decca recording, but insists that she could be as much a savvy theater singer as a lady of the blues doing what her material required more than pandering. But unofficially, it is already understood—perhaps agreed is the better word—that the Duke, following in the footsteps of the fashionable Miss Otis, will regret. From Scamper 12/20/2018: I know I've heard this with a prologue, but I can't remember whose version OR the lyrics. Notes: Not only does the performance of "Miss Otis Regrets" on the 1992 album above differ from Clooney's 1962 recording of the song (listen below) on her album Thanks for Nothing where she takes the song at a slower pace and is accompanied by a guitar, 1962 Clooney version from her album YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL Otherwise it is the same track as on the album referenced above. accompanied by Paul Smith on piano. Woolley, never strong on resisting the chance for a dramatic exhibition, donned a butler's jacket and borrowed a maid's serving tray. verses on Robert Kimball in his Complete Lyrics tells the story about how it is a parody of a country and western song that Porter heard on the radio while at a party. New York: Routledge, The earliest transferred use of Miss Otis regrets that I have found is from this advertisement, published in the Bognor Regis Observer (Bognor Regis, Sussex, England) of Wednesday 12th December 1934: MISS OTIS REGRETS Such content is used under the rules of fair use to further the educational objectives of CafeSongbook.com. Pattie Austin also portrays the distinction between a character's demeanor and outer feelings, but more broadly. She has lost her glasses, and with characteristic lack of vision (having no spare pair) she has lost her way. But last evening down in Lover's Lane she strayed. Which means that the word has come out from University Hall by way of the grapevine that the proposed Crimson-Lampoon beer-drinking contest might better be forgotten. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Maybe he did or maybe he just wanted a good table. […] A solo effort, “Miss Otis Regrets,” by Douglas Byng (with a telephone), does credit to its author, Cole Porter, as one of the humorous high spots. 5, HIGH STREET, BOGNOR REGIS. 24 projects, in 27 queues overall rating of 4.4 from 10 votes. He explains the recent difficulties of his employer as an apology to someone who has come to the Otis manse expecting lunch. Miss Otis regrets she’s feeling the cold to-day can be found on his album Live at the Cafe Carlyle. The phrase then occurs in the following obscure text, published in The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) of Tuesday 8th January 1935: Proposed Beer Drinking Bout of Crimson and Lampoon Suffers Blow Anyone? So I handed over all 12p, one pair of nose hair clippers and one bent badge. 238-240 and Kimball, p. 193, hard cover Ed. } album: No Reservations, Notes: Despite her Fifth Avenue looks, Frances Faye exploded the stereotype of the standards singer — the type of vocalist apt to reverently croon a Cole Porter song as though she were a rector bowing her head while reciting from the Book of Common Prayer. (Please complete or pause one Likewise, the song became popular in Britain from its being interpreted—in particular—by the English comic singer Douglas Byng (1893-1987) in the revue Hi Diddle Diddle. Cole Porter wrote it. What distinguishes the song more than anything else is the wry tone which Porter employs to tell the story of a society lady's down and dirty demise in the most polite terms with a demure melody to go with it. It's a song that I wrote quite some time ago as a matter of fact it's on my breakout album to track mind. General relief was apparent both here and in the Balkans and other countries as a result of Premier Chamberlain’s, The paper said the statement was “sketchy, and of necessity,” as it was only an interim offer, concluding that “Mr. Somebody sang it to us at dinner the other night. […] This is one of the rare songs that almost casually provide a complete snapshot of their background universe. (Posting of comments is subject to the guidelines. video before starting another. So Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to start to-day Mast goes on to say, "Woolley's reading of the song in Night and Day (Listen and view above) remains its definitive version" (Mast, p. 194). […] Miss Otis Regrets. Cafe Songbook responds: The term used for the part of a popular songs' lyric that would be the equivalent of "prologue" or "introduction" is the (Please complete or pause one This is the ultimate feel-bad song, the tragic tale of … a songwriter not a musical dramatist." Somebody sang it to us at dinner the other night. So this morning, it’s Mr. Glaenzer, not Miss Otis, who regrets——. Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today. Click here to read Cafe Songbook lyrics policy. The musical impresario recently co-wrote … The earliest mention of Cole Porter’s Miss Otis Regrets that I have found is from the account by Nancy Randolph (Inez Callaway Robb – 1900-1979) of the party that Elsa Maxwell 1 gave in the Perroquet suite of the Waldorf-Astoria, New York City, on Sunday 17th December 1933—account published in the Daily News (New York City, N.Y.) of Tuesday 19th December 1933: The crowd shreiked [sic] over Cole Porter’s new song, “Miss Otis Regrets She is Unable to Lunch Today,” when Cole played and sang it with Elsa and Helen Broderick’s 2 assistance. "Miss Otis" came to be dedicated to party-giver extraordinaire Elsa Maxwell after she made a regular things of having one or another of her talented guests sing it at her Manhattan siorées. […] A solo effort, “Miss Otis Regrets,” by Douglas Byng (with a telephone), does credit to its author, Cole Porter, as one of the humorous high spots. In any event, the song was eventually used in a show, having been A Bobby Short recording of "Miss Otis Regrets" Madam McBrien, however, muddying the waters a bit more, says that several performers have claimed that Porter wrote "Miss Otis Regrets," specifically for them. Richard Sudhalter envisions the creation of "Miss Otis Regrets" as an example of how the spigot of Porter's creative juices were often opened in social situations. background-color: #FBECD5; Although she has worked in R&B-oriented adult pop much of the time, she is clearly in the tradition of Fitzgerald, and in 1988, she even recorded an album of standards that she tellingly titled The Real Me. Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today When she woke up and found that her dream of love was gone Madam She ran to the man who had led her so far astray And from under her velvet gown She drew a gun and shot her love down Madam Miss Otis regrets, she's unable to lunch today When the mob came and got her and dragged her from the jail Madam Had she strayed into No. (Video credit ), live on the Larry King Show The regrettable events of the evening before making it impossible for Miss Otis to keep her appointment. Madam (Miss Otis regrets) Regrets (Miss Otis regrets) Regrets (Miss Otis regrets) Miss Otis regrets, she's unable (Madam) To … She’s having her shoes CORRECTED to fit her feet at the Central. . And just as the rope is slipped about her lovely throat she raises her well-marcelled head and remarks to the ambient air: The crowd shreiked [sic] over Cole Porter’s new song, “Miss Otis Regrets She is Unable to Lunch Today,” when Cole played and sang it with Elsa and Helen Broderick’s, The song became popular in the USA in 1934 from its being interpreted by various artists. "Miss Otis Regrets" is a song composed by Cole Porter in 1934, and first performed by Douglas Byng in Hi Diddle Diddle, a revue which opened on October 3, 1934, at London's Savoy Theatre. Opticians to the Royal Household, Craigwell; the House of Norfolk, Arundel Castle; and the leading County Schools and Families. background-color: #FBECD5; Miss Otis Regrets was written about a woman who shoots "her lover down" in 1934 by Cole Porter. in winter weather } ), © 2009-2018 by CafeSongbook.com -- All Rights Reserved, as follows: "You haven't heard anything until you've heard Monty Woolley sing ['Miss Otis Regrets']. Dearest Ex-Husband, I expect my words to be ignored and ridiculed. . Another account has Porter's friend Monty Woolley betting the songwriter that he could not create a lyric to fit the title "Miss Otis Regrets." Diddle Diddle,” which Mr. Charlot launched last night at the Comedy Theatre, does not stand up very well. Porter's easy solution to the problem was to create a dramatic situation derived from the title line, a situation reminiscent of the Frankie and Johnny story of a man who has been murdered by his lover to whom he has been false. Radio programmes published in U.S. newspapers indicate that. 2002 But tomorrow she’ll be happy. It turns out that Miss Otis has shot a gentleman in defence of her honour, has been arrested, has been lynched by a raging mob, and therefore cannot come to luncheon. Fingering 100% Merino 175 yards / 50 grams 40350 projects. Learn more, including how we use cookies and how you can change your settings. “The Bystanders” evoked this song in Standing By . This is the same track found on the album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook. She ran to the man who had lead her so far astray. With the banks shut, the contents of my pocket—12p, a pair of nose hair clippers and a bent Soroptimists’ badge—would not suffice for, […] A voice asked: “My dear young lady. Waters, who made the recording that first put the song before the American public, gives us a traditional ballad at the center of which is a tragic story the full force of which is invested in her voice. We could have helped Miss Otis—may we not help you. She has lost her glasses, and with characteristic lack of vision (having no spare pair) she has lost her way. . interpolated into a London production, Hi Diddle Diddle (not a Porter show), which opened in The West End in October, 1934, where it was sung by Douglas Byng playing a stuffy butler who dryly announces that Miss Otis will not lunch today. It is sung by a very solemn, dignified butler at the telephone, and begins: Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to lunch to-day; But down Lovers’ Lane she strayed, Madam; Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to lunch to-day. live at Avo Session, Basel, Switzerland, November 7, 2007 with Olaf Polziehn, piano; Christian Von Kaphengst; Martijn Vink, drums. 1 Elsa Maxwell (1883-1963) was a U.S. columnist, songwriter and professional hostess, famous for her lavish and animated parties that feted the high-society and entertainment personalities of her day. verse; however, Cole Porter did not write a verse for "Miss Otis Regrets," so we would also be interested in knowing if anyone knows the version of the song with "prologue" heard by Scamper. Pop Memories 1890-1954: The History of American Popular Music, 1986. Nancy Randolph elaborated on the phrase on two occasions in the, “Do you realize,” he asked in an aggrieved tone of voice, “that it cost me more than $50 to send out that batch of, So this morning, it’s Mr. Glaenzer, not Miss Otis, who regrets——, An interesting use of the phrase occurs in the following from the. CafeSongbook.com makes no claims to rights of any kind in this content or the sources from which it comes. 5 The British Conservative statesman Arthur Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940) was Prime Minister from 1937 to 1940. Jan. 1994. that she will not be at her Bridge, Theatre or Sewing Party to-night. Although it may be easier to hear Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby Short as delivering a bit of bad news to an unsuspecting luncheon guest in a household where she or he is employed, there is no escaping the sadness in their conveyance of the tale. Likewise, the song became popular in Britain from its being interpreted—in particular—by the English comic singer Douglas Byng (1893-1987) in the revue, On Wednesday, September 12, 1934, at the Prince’s, Manchester, André Charlot produced the Walker-Nesbitt revue, “Hi Diddle Diddle,” prior to London presentation. The following review, for example, is from Our London Letter, dated Thursday 4th October 1934, published in The Western Morning News and Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette (Plymouth, Devon, England) of Friday 5th October 1934: “Hi! Video: See Bobby Short on the Cafe Songbook Main Stage (not the same track as on this album, though both are live performances). You, too, can walk without pain [&c.]. The paper said the statement was “sketchy, and of necessity,” as it was only an interim offer, concluding that “Mr. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Could you spare 10p for a cup of tea!” A solo effort, “Miss Otis Regrets,” by Douglas Byng (with a telephone), does credit to its author, Cole Porter, as one of the humorous high spots. She’s having her shoes CORRECTED to fit her feet at the Central. Then there's Cole Porter's Miss Otis, who honestly regrets "she's unable to lunch today, Madam." It was not a particular success, but the popularity of Miss Otis Regrets has managed to save the show from complete obscurity. She’s unable to start to-day . Nevertheless, "with her last gasp" before she is strung up by a lynch mob, she delivers her final line (the one that makes a stronger impression on us than her last action) in the language of her (and Porter's) upbringing: Miss Otis regrets she is unable to lunch today. In this video clip from Night and Day, the 1946 biopic of Cole Porter, Monty Woolley, playing himself, sings "Miss Otis Regrets" as Cary Grant, playing Porter, is at the piano. It was 'Miss Otis Regrets'." In London, […] the Daily Mail (conservative) commented that “the whole situation of policy deserves a far greater degree of clarification than was offered in the house of commons.” body { She opens on a high note, "Drunk with Love" — "Rotten liquor, mostly gin, in all the clubs that I stagger in, and 'round and 'round because I've found, he loves me drunk . However, the song was originally written for Ada "Bricktop" Smith to perform. Catch Phrases 193-4). 5 High Street she would have learned of our rapid replacement service and all would have been well. and afterward are not part of the song or the recording, only of the video. The Queen's favourite songs include Miss Otis Regrets and People Will Say We're In Love, Andrew Lloyd Webber has said. . The little intro. 2002 album For Ella. WINTER SHELL Published in The San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Texas) of Thursday 10th January 1935, this advertisement for Central Shoe Repair Co. also used the phrase: MISS OTIS REGRETS The revue opened in London on Wednesday 3rd October 1934 at the Comedy Theatre. In fact he was the first one ever to sing it. […] People Will Say We're In Love is a show tune from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!      Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to lunch to-day; (See McBrien, pp. The tune is a sort of dirge, with a little refined upward lilt at each “Madam” which makes it precious, and we think it’s a pretty good example of that sardonic and slightly sadistic humour you only find in America and in France. (Vintage Paperback Ed., 2000 shown). Granted, No Reservations is indeed packed with Cafe Society standards, but Faye was a garrulous singer, and rarely so entertainingly indelicate as she is here. The Related Products tab shows you other products that you may also like, if you like Miss Otis Regrets. It was first performed on stage by Douglas Byng in Hi Diddle Diddle, which opened October 3, 1934 at the Savoy Theatre, London. Notes: The original performance of the song was on stage in the 1934 London show Hi Diddle Diddle. Classically trained, he … Although Ella often sings the Josh White One of the dubious pleasures of occasionally presenting the early show for the hard of thinking on BBC Radio Merseyside (something of a change from my usual lunchtime slot) is that come my 8.30am handover to ‘Mrs Butler’s Eldest’, I am free to greet the day with a stroll around the city. We could have helped Miss Otis—may we not help you. Madam, Allisons=the Opticians her recordings, Porter did not create a verse for "Miss Otis Regrets.". The allusion is to Miss Otis Regrets, by the U.S. songwriter Cole Porter (1891-1964). […] Another good scene is a ditty by Cole Porter called “Miss Otis regrets,” to which Mr. Douglas Byng does ample justice. For Ella easily could be the sequel to that collection. And the morning on the city’s streets is quite an education. And the morning on the city’s streets is quite an education. For instead of Winter Shell ), 1962 and 1992 As a matter of fact, delicate, charming, little Miss Otis is very much engaged being lynched for “shooting her man,” as the phrase goes. As Sudhalter describes it he accompanied himself by "yodeling a parody, broad and rather wicked" of the radio cowboy's lament. Miss O Eb -tis re-grets, she's un-a Bb7 -ble to lunch to-day Eb Eb7, ma Ab6 -dam, Fm Miss O Eb -tis re-grets, she's un-a Eb/G -ble to lunch to-day. Cole Porter. 2 Helen Broderick (1891-1959) was a U.S. film and stage actress. Douglas performance above is part of her show dedicated to Cafe Society, a legendary club in NYC that during the late Thirties was the first to integrate both performers on stage as well as members of the audiences for which they performed. "Miss Otis Regrets" is a song by Cole Porter from 1934. "Miss Otis Regrets" is now a standard with a life completely its own. Hey everyone! } She may be absent from her.      Miss Otis regrets she’s unable to lunch to-day. Rebecca tries to check out her competition for Robin at a high society ball. Phone 144. background-color: #FBECD5; Bobby Short (Please complete or pause one Cole Porter composed this song in 1934. on the 1956 album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook Other sources seem less certain that it was written for this would-be show. Chamberlain—rather like the legendary Miss Otis—regrets he was unable to elaborate today. } All such images are linked to the source from which they came (i.e. body { Austin traveled to Köln, Germany, to record a program of songs associated with Fitzgerald with the WDR Big Band conducted by Patrick Williams" (from iTunes review). She celebrates the legacy of the 'girl singers' of the swing era in style although some of the selections (such as Dave Frishberg's "Sweet Kentucky Ham," "Let There Be Love" and "Wave") were certainly not around during the big-band era. video before starting another. (Please complete or pause one […] Another good scene is a ditty by Cole Porter called “Miss Otis regrets,” to which Mr. Douglas Byng does ample justice. Before she sings "Miss Otis Regrets," Natalie Douglas elaborates on the Bricktop story referenced above. video before starting another. This is because, he explains even more dryly that on the previous evening she shot her lover and was lynched. William McBrien Even the rather girlish quality of her voice seems to lend truth to the fable of love, betrayal, and revenge" (Porter in the 1930s, p. 39 -- Click here to hear Ella's version.). interpolatedinto it shortly after "Miss Otis Regrets" was composed. So I handed over all 12p, one pair of nose hair clippers and one bent badge. Miss Otis Regrets is an exceptional exception to that rule. ), 1954 You, too, can walk without pain [&c.]. His research reveals that Porter wrote it "not for one of his musical comedies but for the private entertainment of his friends" and confirms the Woolley connection by noting that the actor was fond of dressing up as a butler and singing the song, often at parties with Porter at the piano. Several accounts of the inspiration for the song are in circulation. And, in 1934, the U.S. singer and actress Ethel Waters (1896-1977) recorded the song on Decca with Victor Young and his Orchestra. Miss Otis Regrets – Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. The second-earliest transferred use of Miss Otis regrets that I have found is from this advertisement, published in several British newspapers on Monday 24th December 1934—for example in The Lancashire Daily Post (Preston, Lancashire, England): Miss Otis regrets