Love For Sale
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Cole Porter |
| Lyricist | Cole Porter |
| Year Written | 1930 |
| About Love For Sale | |
| “Love For Sale” was written in 1930 for the Broadway musical The New Yorkers. The song was sung by a prostitute advertising her services. The song was considered rather scandalous at the time. In fact, for the production of The New Yorkers, it was supposed to be sung by the white star Kathryn Crawford, but the song was assigned to to an African-American singer instead. In spite of being banned from play on the radio, “Love For Sale” has had many fine recordings, including those by Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Miles Davis | |
Lyrics
When the only sound in the empty street,
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop
She opens shop.
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town.
That her smile becomes a smirk,
She goes to work.
Love for sale,
Appetizing young love for sale.
Love that’s fresh and still unspoiled,
Love that’s only slightly soiled,
Love for sale.
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who’s prepared to pay the price,
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love
in their childish way,
She knows every type of love
Better far than they.
If you want the thrill of love,
She’s been through the mill of love;
Old love, new love
Every love but true love.
Love for sale.
Appetizing young love for sale.
If you want to buy her wares.
Follow her and climb the stairs
Love for sale.
Love for sale.
Session / Album Information
1957
Love For Sale was recorded on October 24, 1957 and released in 1957 on the album The Beat of My Heart. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording also released on:
- Pacific LP 12″: — Just One Of Those Things [Australia]
- 1957: Philips LP 12″: BBL 7219 — The Beat Of My Heart
- 1962: CBS LP 12″ (Mono): BPG 62201 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1869 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- 1962: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62201 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8669 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- 1969: Harmony LP 12″: HS 11340 — Just One Of Those Things
- 1969: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9891 — Love Story: 20 All-Time Great Recordings
- 1970: Hallmark LP 12″: SHM 646 — Just One Of Those Things [UK]
- 1971: CBS LP 12″: 66297 — Love Songs (UK)
- 1980: CBS LP 12″: 32732 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
- 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5241 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [Japan
- 1990: Columbia CD: CK 08669 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- 1993: Columbia House Music Collection CD: 2C2 7926 — The Great American Composers: Cole Porter
- 2008: Not Now Music CD: NOT3CD010 — Three Original Hit Albums [UK]
- 2011: Disc #11 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK11) The Beat of My Heart