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 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.

Alternative versions

Zarah Leander 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.

In popular culture

Stan Freberg 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.

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.