Song of the Day: "Love for Sale"

Hey, Porter: Slick versions by Ella Fitzgerald and Elvis Costello, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Aretha and Billie, Stephane Grappelli and Miles Davis.

Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books and now writer/director of award-winning films. He was also a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy.

Bit of a change of pace today. Was listening to an old Stephane Grappelli record—vinyl, baby—and reminded of the great and timeless “Love for Sale.” The Cole Porter standard from 1931, a prostitute’s call, was called “in bad taste” by the press and banned from radio back in the day. It may be best known to younger folks today via Lady Gaga’s version but there have been hundreds of covers, many of them instrumentals, over the decades. I’ve assembled a varied grouping below, then our daily political potshot cartoon. Subscribe, it’s still free!

Queen Ella. No one’s done it better.

Here’s the Grappelli from the mid-’70s that inspired all this.

A few years later, in contrast—Mr. Elvis Costello, in a reverential take. Maybe this what attracted Diana Krall.

Now the popular Gaga/Tony Bennett duet, via MTV unplugged no less.

Two of the greats: Aretha, and then….

…..Billie. You know you were great when just the first name is enough ID.

Let’s close it out on the one extended version, peak Miles with Coltrane and friends.

Cartoon of the Day