"Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" is a song published in 1930. It was written by Sam H. Stept with lyrics by Sidney Clare. The original publication also credited singer Bee Palmer as co-composer.[1]
Background
The lyrics are an admonishment between parting lovers, where the singer asks the other to either speak nicely of her, or not at all.[2]
1931 recordings
Early hit versions in 1931 were by Gene Austin and Bert Lown.[3]
Other notable recordings
- Ethel Waters – recorded February 10, 1931 for Columbia Records (catalog No. 2409D).[4]
- Doris Day – in her album Lullaby of Broadway (1951).[5]
- The Mills Brothers with Tommy Dorsey and His Sentimentalists (1951).[6]
- Johnnie Ray (1953)[7] This charted briefly in the No. 29 spot.[8]
- Billie Holiday – included in her album Velvet Mood (1956).[9]
- Bing Crosby (1957)[10]
- Bill Haley & His Comets – for the album Rockin' the Oldies (1957).[11]
- Kay Starr – included in her album Losers, Weepers (1960)[12]
- Dean Martin – for his album This Time I'm Swingin'! (1960).[13]
- Mose Allison – for his album Takes to the Hills (1961).[14]
- Frank Sinatra – for his album Swing Along with Me (1961).[15]
- Sammy Davis Jr. – included in the album The Sounds of '66 (1966).[16]
- Connie Francis – included in her album Connie & Clyde – Hit Songs of the 30s (1968).
- Helen Humes – for her album Songs I Like To Sing! (1961).
- Ann-Margret – for her album The Vivacious One (1962).
- Ray Price – included in the album Portrait of a Singer (1985).
- Piano Red – in the album Percussive Piano "Dr. Feelgood" (1976).
- Leon Redbone – for his album Champagne Charlie (1978).[17]
- Ella Fitzgerald – with Count Basie & His Orchestra, in the album A Perfect Match (1979).[18]
- Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie – on the 1981 live recorded album Precious Friend.[19]
- Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys – this can be found on the album The Tiffany Transcriptions Vol. 3: Basin Street Blues (1984).
- Rita Reys – included in the album Live at the Concertgebouw (1986).
- Harry Connick Jr. and Carmen McRae – included in the album 20 (1988).[20]
- Jerry Lee Lewis – included in the compilation box set All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology issued in 1993.[21]
- Willie Nelson – for his album Moonlight Becomes You (1994).[22]
- Barney Bigard – in the album Barney Bigard in Chronology 1944-1945 (1997).
- Dean Martin (virtual duet with Robbie Williams) – included in the album Forever Cool (2007)[23]
- Deana Martin – included on her album Volare, released in 2009 by Big Fish Records.
- The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band in 2009
Film appearances
- This song is sung by Norma Shearer's character Mary Haines in the 1939 film The Women as a joke when she leaves her girl friends alone at tea while she takes a call from her philandering husband Stephen Haines.[24]
- The song was used in the film House of Strangers (1949) when it was performed by Dolores Parker at the restaurant.
- In the 1950 film The Breaking Point, it was sung by Patricia Neal at the bar.
- In Lullaby of Broadway (1951), it was sung by Gladys George.
- The song was also sung by the character Michigan J. Frog in the 1955 Warner Bros. animated short, One Froggy Evening.
In popular culture
- Television anchor Edwin Newman sang the song during his hosting of Saturday Night Live in 1984.
- Jamie Cullum also performed the song on the last Michael Parkinson chat show in December 2007.
References
- Stept, Sam H.; Sidney, Clare; Bee, Palmer; Harry, Connick Jr; Brothers, The Mills; Ella, Fitzgerald; Frank, Sinatra; Carmen, McRae; Billie, Holiday (5 April 2010). "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "Billie Holiday - Please, Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone Lyrics". Metrolyrics.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 568. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- "Mills Brothers And Tommy Dorsey And His Sentimentalists - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "Johnnie Ray -". 45cat.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 362. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- "Songs P-Q | Billie Holiday Songs". www.billieholidaysongs.com. Retrieved 2025-08-17.