RUTH ETTING - ALL OF ME

ALL OF ME

RUTH ETTING

SONGWRITERS: GERALD MARKS & SEYMOUR SIMONS

COUNTRY: U.S.A.

ALBUM: ALL OF ME

LABEL: TAKE TWO RECORDS

GENRE: JAZZ

YEAR: 1931

 "ALL OF ME" is a popular song and jazz standard written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931.

First performed by Belle Baker over the radio and recorded in December 1931 by Ruth Etting, it has become one of the most recorded songs of its era, with notable versions by Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Mildred Bailey, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson in 1941, the Count Basie Orchestra, Harry James, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan (for the 1957 album, Swingin' Easy), Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine in 1947, Dinah Washington at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, Shirley Bassey in 1962, The Blue Diamonds, Della Reese, Johnnie Ray, Django Reinhardt, Erroll Garner, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dove, Jean Frye Sidwell, Michael Bublé, Miss Montreal in 2012 and The Rockin' Berries. Ani DiFranco covered the song in 2012 for the Documentary, Love, Marilyn. It is also covered by Eric Clapton on his 2013 album Old Sock with Paul McCartney. The first line of the song was sung by Eddie Cantor in the 1933 motion picture "Roman Scandals" which also starred Ruth Etting who first recorded it. In an episode of the 1970s television show Sanford and Son, Redd Foxx (joined by Scatman Crothers on guitar) sings a short but memorable version. "All of Me" is also performed in the Muppet Show episode guest starring Paul Williams. The song is featured prominently in the 1984 Steve Martin/Lily Tomlin film of the same name.

In more recent years, it has been recorded by Pia Zadora, Anne Murray and Jason Danieley. Also, a punk rock rendition of the song was recorded by NOFX. The song was a major hit on records by Paul Whiteman and Louis Armstrong in 1932, and was successfully revived by Johnnie Ray in 1952. Chelsea Krombach performed the song for her debut album Look for the Silver Lining. Laurence Juber has also performed and recorded this song in an all acoustic version played by him. It was featured on his álbum PCH in 2007. Michael Bublé has released a cover of it on his album, Crazy Love, to be re-released. It is the title track on the 2011 debut album of Australian Singer Liam Burrows.

You took my kisses and all my love

You taught me how to care

Am I to be just remnant of a one side love affair

All you took

I gladly gave

There is nothing left for me to save

All of me

Why not take all of me

Can't you see

I'm no good without you

Take my lips

I want to loose them

Take my arms

I'll never use them

Your goodbye left me with eyes that cry

How can I go on dear without you

You took the part that once was my heart

So why not take all of me.