Cocktails for Two
Encyclopedia
"Cocktails for Two" is a song from the Big Band
era, written by Arthur Johnston
and Sam Coslow
. The song debuted in the movie Murder at the Vanities
(1934), where it was introduced by singer and actor Carl Brisson. Duke Ellington
's version of the song was recorded in 1934 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
The song seems to refer to the ending of Prohibition in the United States
. Mentioned discreetly in the song's introduction is that people could be "carefree and gay once again". The song was written in 1934, and the 21st Amendment
, which ended Prohibition, was ratified a year earlier in 1933.
recorded the song in Swedish
, for Odeon
, in 1934.
"Cocktails for Two" is best remembered today due to the comic, sound effects-laden version by Spike Jones and His City Slickers
. The Slickers first recorded it in 1944 with Carl Grayson supplying the vocal. It was their biggest all-time hit, reaching number 4 on the charts, according to Joel Whitburn. According to recording industry insiders, one of the song's composers, Sam Coslow, hated Jones' irreverent treatment. But even so, the recording's success earned him large royalties. Tommy Dorsey
recorded a swing version for Victor (#26145) on October 31, 1938 and Bing Crosby
recorded a version for CBS radio on June 20, 1955.
used the introduction of the song in an episode of his 1957 radio show
, without the main portion of the song. Freberg asked Billy May
, the orchestra leader
, why he stopped after the introduction, and May said it was all he was allowed to perform, due to licensing
restrictions.
From mid-2006, Spike Jones' version was featured in a British advertising campaign for Schweppes
.
Young, Jordan R. (2005). Spike Jones Off the Record: The Man Who Murdered Music. Albany: BearManor Media ISBN 1-59393-012-7 3rd edition.
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
era, written by Arthur Johnston
Arthur Johnston (composer)
Arthur Johnston was a composer known for such works as “Mandy, Make Up Your Mind,” "Pennies From Heaven," and many others...
and Sam Coslow
Sam Coslow
Sam Coslow was an American songwriter, singer, film producer, publisher, and market analyst. Coslow was born in New York City. He began writing songs as a teenager...
. The song debuted in the movie Murder at the Vanities
Murder at the Vanities
Murder at the Vanities is a musical film based on the 1933 Broadway musical with music by Victor Young, made in the pre-Code era, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Mitchell Leisen, stars Carl Brisson, Jack Oakie, Kitty Carlisle, Gertrude Michael, Toby Wing, and Jessie Ralph...
(1934), where it was introduced by singer and actor Carl Brisson. Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
's version of the song was recorded in 1934 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
The song seems to refer to the ending of Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
. Mentioned discreetly in the song's introduction is that people could be "carefree and gay once again". The song was written in 1934, and the 21st Amendment
Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which had mandated nationwide Prohibition...
, which ended Prohibition, was ratified a year earlier in 1933.
Alternative versions
Zarah LeanderZarah Leander
Zarah Leander was a Swedish actress and singer.Leander began her career in the late 1920s, and by the mid 1930s her success in Europe, particularly in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, led to invitations to work in the United States...
recorded the song in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
, for Odeon
Odeon Records
Odeon Records was a record label founded in 1903 by Max Straus and Heinrich Zuntz of the International Talking Machine Company in Berlin, Germany. It was named after a famous theatre in Paris, whose classical dome appears on the Odeon record label....
, in 1934.
"Cocktails for Two" is best remembered today due to the comic, sound effects-laden version by Spike Jones and His City Slickers
Spike Jones
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
. The Slickers first recorded it in 1944 with Carl Grayson supplying the vocal. It was their biggest all-time hit, reaching number 4 on the charts, according to Joel Whitburn. According to recording industry insiders, one of the song's composers, Sam Coslow, hated Jones' irreverent treatment. But even so, the recording's success earned him large royalties. Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
recorded a swing version for Victor (#26145) on October 31, 1938 and Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
recorded a version for CBS radio on June 20, 1955.
In popular culture
Stan FrebergStan Freberg
Stanley Victor "Stan" Freberg is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, and advertising creative director whose career began in 1944...
used the introduction of the song in an episode of his 1957 radio show
The Stan Freberg Show
The Stan Freberg Show was a weekly radio comedy show that ran on the CBS Radio Network for only fifteen episodes in 1957 from July 14 through October 20...
, without the main portion of the song. Freberg asked Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
, the orchestra leader
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
, why he stopped after the introduction, and May said it was all he was allowed to perform, due to licensing
Music licensing
Music licensing is the licensed use of copyrighted music. Music licensing is intended to ensure that the creators of musical works get paid for their work. A purchaser of recorded music owns the media on which the music is stored, not the music itself...
restrictions.
From mid-2006, Spike Jones' version was featured in a British advertising campaign for Schweppes
Schweppes (brand)
Schweppes is a beverage brand that is sold around the world. It includes a variety of carbonated waters and ginger ales. Its marketing campaign made heavy use of an onomatopoeia in their commercials: "Schhhhh......
.
Further reading
Coslow, Sam (1977). Cocktails for Two. New York: Arlington House. ISBN 0-87000-392-5.Young, Jordan R. (2005). Spike Jones Off the Record: The Man Who Murdered Music. Albany: BearManor Media ISBN 1-59393-012-7 3rd edition.