Cocktails for Two

"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 the Danish 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 alludes to Repeal, the ending of Prohibition in the United States. The introduction begins with:

The song was written in 1934, and the 21st Amendment, which ended Prohibition, was ratified in December of the previous year.

Spike Jones and His City Slickers: Cocktails for Two

16-second sample, as the musical mayhem begins

---

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Ellington's recording in 1934 of "Cocktails for Two" was by far the most popular of the year, and his second biggest hit of the year behind "Solitude" later on. Other popular version were also made by the orchestras of Johnny Green and Will Osborne, for the ARC (Green on Brunswick; Osborne on Melotone--among other labels), but possibly its best known version is the comedic sound effects-laden version by Spike Jones and His City Slickers a decade later. 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. Sam Coslow hated Jones' irreverent treatment. Even so, the recording's success earned him large royalties.

Jonathan and Darlene Edwards (a comedy act by Paul Weston and Jo Stafford) also lampooned the song on their first LP, The Piano Artistry of Jonathan Edwards, released in 1957.

Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1955 for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the box set The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56) issued by Mosaic Records (catalog MD7-245) in 2009.

Other covers include Zarah Leander's Swedish version for Odeon in 1934, Tommy Dorsey's swing version for Victor (#26145) on October 31, 1938, Keely Smith's version on her album Politely! (1958), and Ray Charles and Betty Carter for their album Ray Charles and Betty Carter (1961).

• 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. (3rd edition) Albany: BearManor MediaISBN 1-59393-012-7.