This week’s tune has a somewhat checkered history. It began life as an instrumental, Little Buttercup. A cheerful title for a song that was renamed I’ll Never Be The Same whose versions skew torchy and melancholy.

I’ll Never Be The Same  was composed by Frank Signorelli and Marty Malneck. Gus Kahn’s lyrics were added to the mix in 1932.

The featured image comes from the classic gangster musical biopic, Love Me Or Leave Me starring Doris Day and Jimmy Cagney. Doris played singer Ruth Etting but didn’t croon this tune in the flick. That’s why we begin with the real, not reel Ruth Etting:

Here’s a jazz dream team of Billie Holiday, Lester Young, and Teddy Wilson.

I’ve been listening a lot to Louis and Oscar. This version inspired this post.

Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson?

Keely Smith and Nelson Riddle. Say no more.

Was Duke Robillard the same after recording this tune? Discuss amongst yourselves.

Finally, a 21st Century version by the Divine Diana Krall:

What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without jazz instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This week we go old school with Benny Goodman followed by Coleman Hawkins.

That’s it for this week. Let’s raise a glass to the brave people of Minneapolis who are staring down fascism as I write this. It’s what Louis and Oscar would want. Never argue with them.