"Love Me or Leave Me" is a popular song written in 1928 by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song was introduced in the Broadway play Whoopee!, which opened in December 1928. Ruth Etting's performance of the song was so popular that she was also given the song to sing in the play Simple Simon, which opened in February 1930.
The original version of the song, the biggest-selling at the time, was recorded by Ruth Etting on December 17, 1928. It was issued by Columbia Records as catalog number 1680-D, with the flip side "I'm Bringing a Red, Red Rose", another Donaldson/Kahn composition. The song reached #2 on the charts in 1929.
Other versions which also enjoyed popularity at this time were by Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians, with a vocal by Carmen Lombardo (recorded March 20, 1929, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 1782D, with the flip side "I'm Still Caring") and by Leo Reisman and his orchestra (recorded April 22, 1929, released by Victor Records as catalog number 21966A, with the flip side "Sweet Chewaulka, Land of Sleepy Water").
A recording made December 12, 1947 by Bing Crosby and John Scott Trotter's orchestra was released in 1951 by Decca Records as catalog number 27667.
As the song was considered to be one of Etting's biggest hits, its title was chosen for the 1955 biographical movie about her life, in which Doris Day played Etting. Day's recording of the song, from the soundtrack, became a major hit for her. The same year, Sammy Davis Jr. and Lena Horne also experienced success with their versions of the song.
Davis's version was released by Decca Records as catalog number 29484, with the flip side "Something's Gotta Give". It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 28, 1955 and lasted 12 weeks on the chart. On the Disk Jockey chart, it peaked at #20; on the Best Seller chart, at #12. (However, another source gives the highest position as #9, but lists this as a position for the combined two sides of the record, "Love Me or Leave Me" and "Something's Gotta Give.")
Horne's was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-6073. It reached the Billboard magazine Disk Jockey chart on July 9, 1955, its only week on the chart, at #19. In the United Kingdom, it was released 1955 by HMV Records as catalog number B-309 (78rpm) and 7M-309 (45rpm),. Both releases were with the flip side "I Love To Love".
Singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone also recorded the song on her debut album Little Girl Blue (1958) and Let It All Out (1966). The version was released as a single in 1959 by Bethlehem Records as catalog number 11021 and by Australian Parlophone Records as catalog number A-8008, with the flip side "I Loves You Porgy". It also shows Simone's seldom-heard side as a Classical pianist when she played a solo in the style of J.S. Bach's Inventions in the middle of the song.
Ella Fitzgerald included her rendition on her 1962 Verve release Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson which won a Grammy Award in 1963.
The Badgers (released by Broadway Records as catalog number 1285, with the flip side "Rainbow Man")
Elkie Brooks (released 1984 on Screen Gems)
Earl Burtnett's Biltmore Trio (recorded April 1, 1929, released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 4336, with the flip side "A Garden in the Rain")
June Christy - A Friendly Session, Vol. 3 (2000) with the Johnny Guarnieri Quintet
Perry Como (released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-2662, with the flip side "What'll I Do?")
Bing Crosby (released on The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56))
Johnny Dankworth - Too Cool For The Blues (2010)
Miles Davis (released on his album Walkin')
Dixieland Swingsters (recorded August 2, 1937, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 7160, with the flip side "Fiddleobia")
Billy Eckstine (released by MGM Records as catalog number 11984, with the flip side "Only You")
Les Elgart and his orchestra (released by Columbia Records as catalog number 40525, with the flip side "When Yuba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba")
Chick Endor with Leonard Joy (recorded March 20, 1929, released by Victor Records as catalog number 21922, with the flip side "Good Little, Bad Little You")
Sammy Fain (recorded February 6, 1929, released by Harmony Records as catalog number 843-H, with the flip side "Wedding Bells")
Anita O'Day (recorded January 31, 1951, released by Verve)
Bryan Ferry (released on As Time Goes By October 25, 1999)
Pat Flowers (released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-2930, with the flip side "Shoe Shine Shuffle")
Erroll Garner (piano solo; recorded February 29, 1952, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39749, with the flip side "With Every Breath I Take")
Benny Goodman and his orchestra (recorded December 18, 1933, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 2871-D, with the flip side "Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me?"; re-recorded August 21, 1936, released by Victor Records as catalog number 25406, with the flip side "Exactly Like You")
Teddy Grace (recorded September 1, 1938, released by Decca Records as catalog number 2050B, with the flip side "Crazy Blues")
Bob Haring and his orchestra (recorded April 15, 1929, released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 4342, with the flip side "My Sin")
Edgar Hayes Quintet (recorded September 7, 1937, released by Decca Records as catalog number 1444, with the flip side "So Rare")
Eddie Heywood and his orchestra (recorded February 26, 1944, released by Commodore Records as catalog numbers 577A and 7524, both with the flip side "I Can't Believe that You're in Love with Me")
Billie Holiday (recorded August 7, 1941, released by OKeh Records as catalog number 6369, with the flip side "Jim")
Olivia Newton-John
Der Herr Kam Über Sie - Love Me Or Leave Me (7") (1986)
Frances Langford with Earle Hogen (recorded June 1946, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 3029B, with the flip side "That Wonderful Worrisome Feeling")
In 1986 Australian recording artist Kate Ceberano recorded a version for her album Kate Ceberano and her Septet.
Sam Lanin's Dance Orchestra (recorded June 3, 1929, released by Banner Records as catalog number 6410, with the flip side "Sure Enough Blues", and by Domino Records as catalog number 4350 and Regal Records as catalog number 8805, both with the flip side "Ol' Man River"; also released under the name Miami Society Orchestra by Oriole Records as catalog number 1604, with the flip side "Not for a Day but Forever" and by Jewel Records as catalog number 5628, with the flip side "Sure Enough Blues"; also released under the name Mills Merry Makers by Lincoln Records as catalog number 3168 and by Romeo Records as catalog number 943, both with the flip side "I'm Lonely Since You Went Away")
Peggy Lee recorded a version on her album Black Coffee.
Virginia Lee (recorded February 16, 1929, released by Gennett Records as catalog number 6773, with the flip side "That's the Good Old Sunny South")
Henry Levin's Dixieland Octet (recorded August 11, 1941, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 11278, with the flip side "All Alone")
Majestic Dance Orchestra (H. Salter, leader) (vocal: A. Lawrence; recorded April 1929, released by Pathé Records as catalog number 36978 and by Perfect Records as catalog number 15159, both with the flip side "I'm Just a Vagabond Lover")
Mel and Stan (recorded September 1947, released by Majestic Records as catalog number 11030, with the flip side "Mother's Only Sleeping")
Jane Monheit recorded a version on her album Taking a Chance on Love.
Ella Mae Morse (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1922, with the flip side "Blacksmith Blues")
Gerry Mulligan recorded a version with Chet Baker in 1953 released by Pacific Jazz
Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra (recorded April 27, 1929, released by Supertone Records as catalog number 2254 and by Vocalion Records as catalog number 1272, both with the flip side "Wake Up, Chill'un, Wake Up")
Jimmie Osborne (released by King Records as catalog number 1012, with the flip side "It's Me Who Has To Suffer")
Chuck Penny (released by Tops in Music Records as catalog number 109, with the flip side "Gimme, Gimme All the Time"
Sue Raney - Sue Raney Vol.2 (2004)
Hazel Scott (recorded October 1947, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 37996, with the flip side "Soon")
Lee Sims (piano solo; recorded June 1929, released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 4422, with the flip side "Lover, Come Back to Me!")
Bill Staffon and his orchestra (recorded August 1, 1935, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 6082, with the flip side "White Star of Sigma Nu")
Rod Stewart - Fly Me To The Moon ... The Great American Songbook - Volume V (2010)
Cal Tjader (recorded October 21, 1953, released by Savoy Records as catalog number 1117, with the flip side "Tangerine")
The Top Bananas, contemporary Brighton-based stilt swing band
Sarah Vaughan with Ted Dale Orchestra (released by Musicraft Records as catalog number 539, with the flip side "Gentleman Friend")
John Vincent's Californians (recorded June 3, 1929, released by Conqueror Records as catalog number 7369, with the flip side "Ol' Man River")
Thomas "Fats" Waller (piano solo; recorded August 2, 1929, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10263, with the flip side "Valentine Stomp" and by Victor Records as catalog number 22092, with the flip side "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling")
Ted Weems and his orchestra (vocal: Snooky Lanson; recorded March 1949, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 5305, with the flip side "Sleepy Hollow")
The Youth (released 1969 by Deram Records (United Kingdom) as catalog number 226, with the flip side "Meadow of My Love "
Lester Young - recorded January 13, 1956, with Teddy Wilson, and released by Verve Records in 1959 on Pres and Teddy.
