Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone

"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.

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.

1931 recordings

Early hit versions in 1931 were by Gene Austin and Bert Lown.

Other notable recordings

• Ethel Waters – recorded February 10, 1931 for Columbia Records (catalog No. 2409D).
• Doris Day – in her album Lullaby of Broadway (1951).
• The Mills Brothers with Tommy Dorsey and His Sentimentalists (1951).
• Johnnie Ray (1953) This charted briefly in the No. 29 spot.
• Billie Holiday – included in her album Velvet Mood (1956).
• Bing Crosby (1957)
• Bill Haley & His Comets – for the album Rockin' the Oldies (1957).
• Kay Starr – included in her album Losers, Weepers (1960)
• Dean Martin – for his album This Time I'm Swingin'! (1960).
• Mose Allison – for his album Takes to the Hills (1961).
• Frank Sinatra – for his album Swing Along with Me (1961).
• Sammy Davis Jr. – included in the album The Sounds of '66 (1966).
• 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).
• Ella Fitzgerald – with Count Basie & His Orchestra, in the album A Perfect Match (1979).
• Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie – on the 1981 live recorded album Precious Friend.
• 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).
• Jerry Lee Lewis – included in the compilation box set ' issued in 1993.
• Willie Nelson – for his album Moonlight Becomes You (1994).
• Barney Bigard – in the album Barney Bigard in Chronology 1944-1945 (1997).
• Dean Martin and Robbie Williams – included in the album Forever Cool (2007)
• Deana Martin – included on her album Volare, released in 2009 by Big Fish Records.
• The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band in 2009