"Isn't It a Pity?" is a song composed by

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...

, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, written for the unsuccessful 1933 musical '' Pardon My English''. It was introduced by

George Givot George David Givot (February 18, 1903 – June 7, 1984) was a Russian Empire-born American comedian and actor on Broadway and in vaudeville, movies, television and radio. He was known for speaking in a comedic fake Greek dialect and was styled th ...

and Josephine Huston.

Notable recordings

Victor Arden Victor Arden was the stage name for an American pianist named Lewis John Fuiks (8 March 1893 — 31 July 1962)DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Compa ...

- Phil Ohman & Their Orchestra (vocal by

Scrappy Lambert Harold "Scrappy" Lambert (May 12, 1901 – November 30, 1987, in New Brunswick, New Jersey) was an American Big band, dance band vocalist who appeared on hundreds of recordings from the 1920s to the 1940s. At Rutgers University he was a cheer ...

) - recorded on December 8, 1932, for Victor Records (catalog No. 24206). * Eddy Duchin & His Central Park Casino Orchestra - recorded on January 18, 1933, for Brunswick Records (catalog No. 6476). * Sarah Vaughan - ''

Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin ''Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin'' is a 1958 studio album by Sarah Vaughan, of the music of George Gershwin. Vaughan would release another all-Gershwin album, ''Gershwin Live!'', in 1982. Track listing # "Isn't It a Pity?" – 3:53 # "Of Th ...

'' (EmArcy, 1958) *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

- ''

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book'' is a box set by American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald that contains songs by George and Ira Gershwin with arrangements by Nelson Riddle. It was produced by Norman Granz, Fitzgerald' ...

'' (1959) *

Mitzi Gaynor Mitzi Gaynor (born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber; September 4, 1931) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Her notable films include '' We're Not Married!'' (1952), '' There's No Business Like Show Business'' (1954), '' The Birds ...

- ''Mitzi Gaynor Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin'' (Verve, 1959). * Beverly Kenney - ''Born to be Blue'' (1959). *

Mabel Mercer Mabel Mercer (3 February 1900 – 20 April 1984) was an English-born cabaret singer who performed in the United States, Britain, and Europe with the greats in jazz and cabaret. She was a featured performer at Chez Bricktop in Paris, owned ...

- ''Once in a Blue Moon'' (1959) * Johnny Mathis - ''

The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway ''The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway'' is a double album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released in September 1960 by Columbia Records. Despite the order of the words in the title, the ballads actually make up sides one and two wh ...

'' (1960) * Mel Tormé - '' That's All'' (1965) and ''Mel Tormé and Friends'' (1981). * Carol Sloane - '' But Not For Me'' (1986) *

Michael Feinstein Michael Jay Feinstein (born September 7, 1956) is an American singer, pianist, and music revivalist. He is an archivist and interpreter for the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988 he won a Drama Desk Special Award for cele ...

w/ Rosemary Clooney - '' Pure Gershwin'' (Asylum, 1987) *Mel Tormé and Cleo Laine - '' Nothing Without You'' (1992) * Shirley Horn - '' Here's to Life'' (1992) *

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...

- ''

A Love Like Ours ''A Love Like Ours'' is the twenty-eighth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand. It was released in North America on September 21, 1999, and Europe on September 20, 1999. It is her 23rd Top 10 album in the US. This was Streisand's f ...

'' (1999) * Stacey Kent - '' Dreamsville'' (2001) * Russell Watson and

Victoria Hart Victoria Hart (born 25 November 1988) is a California-born English jazz-pop singer. Billboard Biography/ref> Career Early years Hart studied vocals at London music school Vocaltech (Part of Tech Music Schools). Shortly afterward Hart recorde ...

- ''The Lost Gershwin'' (2008).

References

{{authority control Songs with music by George Gershwin Songs with lyrics by Ira Gershwin Ella Fitzgerald songs 1933 songs