You Took Advantage of Me
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"You Took Advantage of Me" is a 1928 popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart, for the musical Present Arms (1928), where it was introduced by Joyce Barbour and Busby Berkeley[1] as the characters Edna Stevens and Douglas Atwell.[2] The characters were formerly married, but still have romantic feelings for each other.[3] On opening night, Berkeley forgot the lyrics and had to scat and hum the entire second verse.[4] Berkeley also claimed that his nonsense lyrics for the improvised second verse left Hart "almost apoplectic", but the audience was amused and Hart later forgave him.[3] The song was subsequently included in the 1930 film Leathernecking, an adaptation of Present Arms.[5]
| "You Took Advantage of Me" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Published | 1928 |
| Genre | Showtune |
| Composer(s) | Richard Rodgers |
| Lyricist(s) | Lorenz Hart |
Rodgers described the song as a "sassy and unregretful number" which audiences liked far more than traditional contemporary love songs.[6] In his book The Poets of Tin Pan Alley, Philip Furia wrote that the song depicted a "...wittily self deprecating character who was perfectly suited to lyrics that were at once intricately rhymed yet casually conversational."[6]
One of the earliest recordings of the song was Paul Whiteman's 1928 hit version, known especially for the performances of Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer.[7][8] The song was a particular favorite of the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII). In fact, he once asked singer Morton Downey to perform the song eleven times during a show at the Café de Paris in London.[9][10][11][12] The song can be sung by either gender, but has traditionally been sung by women.[6]
Notable recordings
- Irving Kaufman & Vaughn De Leath (1928)
- Paul Whiteman's Orchestra with Bing Crosby (recorded April 25, 1928)[13]
- Miff Mole and His Little Molers (1928)
- Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli (1937)
- Snoozer Quinn (1948)
- Keely Smith (1949)
- Anita O'Day (1950)
- Judy Garland in the "Born in a Trunk" sequence from A Star Is Born (1954)
- Elaine Stritch in the revival of the show On Your Toes for which it was added in 1954 and for her solo album Stritch.
- Carmen McRae (1956) CABU Jazz Masters - Une Anthologie 1954-1956 - used as the title credits role in the movie Real Genius (1985)
- June Christy - The Misty Miss Christy (1956)
- Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook (1956)[14]
- Billie Holiday - Last Recordings (1959)
- Rosemary Clooney - Rosie Solves the Swingin' Riddle! (1960)
- Tony Bennett - My Heart Sings (1961)
- Ann-Margret -Bachelors' Paradise (1963)
- Al Hirt - That Honey Horn Sound (1965)[15]
- Bobby Short - Bobby Short Celebrates Rodgers & Hart (1975) (Short sings both verses in this recording)
- Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass - Fitzgerald and Pass... Again (1976)
- Linda Ronstadt with Nelson Riddle - Lush Life (1984)
- Roseanna Vitro - Listen Here (1984)
- Lee Wiley - Hot House Rose (1996)
- The Supremes - The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart (2002 expanded re-release edition)[16]
- The Hi-Lo's - A Musical Thrill (2006)
- Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio - My Foolish Heart (2007, live)[17]
- Megan Mullally on her 2007 album Free Again!.[18] This version was also featured on the soundtrack to Fame (2009).
References
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