Puttin' On the Style

Puttin' On the Style was a 1957 hit for skiffle artist Lonnie Donegan. It was recorded live at the London Palladium and released as a double A side along with Gamblin' Man and reached #1 in the UK charts in June and July 1957, where it spent two weeks in this position. It was the last UK chart-topper to be solely issued in 78rpm format, as Pye Nixa did not release it on 7" single at the time (although it was later re-released as a 7"). The song was collected in the Catskills by Norman Cazden from Ernie Sagar in 1945 but it is probably quite a bit older. ("Abelard Songbook" p.120) Another version has also been collected from oral tradition in West Virginia. (John Cox, "Folksongs of the South")

"Puttin' On the Style" was a hit for Vernon Dalhart in the 1920s. A low quality recording of the song performed by the Quarrymen, John Lennon's group live on July 6, 1957 exists although it has never been released officially. It was recorded the same day that Lennon met his songwriting partner Paul McCartney, and is the earliest Beatles related recording that exists. The song was also satirised by Peter Sellers on his song "Puttin' on the Smile," which he presented in the guise of folk singer Lenny Goonagan.