# What's your favorite rendition of "Baby It's Cold Outside"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023 "2009-12-12T20:49:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/41 "2009-12-14T03:16:04Z")
One of my favorites that hasn’t been mentioned is the [Ann-Margret and Al Hirt version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVfrtmzpOuY&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/42 "2009-12-14T03:48:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I prefer Marcel Marceau’s version myself. I’m speechless. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/43 "2009-12-14T04:05:33Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I’m speechless. Hear, hear! ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/44 "2009-12-14T04:57:39Z")
I like the version by Karen Morrow and Charles Nelson Reilly on the _Hollywood Christmas_ CD. Interestingly enough, Charles Nelson Reilly sings what is ordinarily the woman’s part. \< Insert jokes here. \> ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/45 "2009-12-14T05:01:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I prefer Marcel Marceau’s version myself. Hard to sing when you’re being hung upside down in the scorpion pit. The Patrician got that right… ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/46 "2009-12-14T05:47:03Z")
I’m not sure how it got on my iPod, but the version by [Royal Crown Revue](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVCzaMy6xY4) is quite nice. The female part is sung by Vicky Tafoya, whoever that is, she’s good. The shower scene version from Elf is great, too. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/47 "2009-12-14T14:43:39Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > Wow, thanks for that!! Holy crap, she does that predatory don’t-bother-putting-up-a-fight-I’m-going-to-have-you-eventually thing really well, doesn’t she? Nice reversal of the gender roles in that one. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/48 "2009-12-14T15:39:25Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > **Ray Charles** and **Betty Carter**. Can’t be touched. Yeah - I came into post this. I didn’t realize there was any question. I gotta check out Ella and Louis Jordan, but Brother Ray and Betty are amazing… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/49 "2009-12-14T15:56:34Z")
None of them. I hate this song. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/50 "2009-12-15T19:10:20Z")
I have to admit it’s hard to choose between Ray Charles, Dean Martin and Ella. I’d also like to throw in Buster Poindexter’s tribute to the Louis Armstrong. I like it better than the one it riffed on. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/51 "2009-12-16T05:52:06Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > **Ray Charles** and **Betty Carter**. Can’t be touched. You know, I really want to like that one. I do. Ray is awesome. No question. But Betty’s voice just sounds thin and whiny to me – it lacks a certain suppressed naughtiness that the song needs. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/52 "2009-12-16T14:34:43Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > **Ray Charles** and **Betty Carter**. Can’t be touched. Second this motion. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/53 "2009-12-16T14:35:21Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > You know, I really want to like that one. I do. > > Ray is awesome. No question. But Betty’s voice just sounds thin and whiny to me – it lacks a certain suppressed naughtiness that the song needs. Here’s where we disagree. I don’t think the woman is _supposed_ to be naughty. The man is trying to corrupt her. And Brother Ray is _very_ good at conveying that. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/54 "2009-12-16T14:59:25Z")
> [@Slade](#): > > The version Brian Setzer did with Ann Margaret is pretty good. Hear a brief extract here: [http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Cold-Outside-Duet-Ann-Margaret/dp/B000RG8VBM](http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Cold-Outside-Duet-Ann-Margaret/dp/B000RG8VBM). This is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/55 "2009-12-16T15:13:25Z")
Maybe y’all can help me figure out who did a version of this that I used to have on a mix tape an ex made. It was off an album by a female singer (I think singer/songwriter) who I remember being known well enough, but she wasn’t massively popular in the mainstream. This was off an album she put out in the mid 90s of older cuts she’d recorded but never polished completely or released, I think. (In the liner notes, I remember her suggesting that the listener eat potato chips to cover up some of the production sounds on the recordings.) Anyway, the version was between her and a male singer who sort of mumbled the whole thing. You could hear her trying not to laugh at certain points, since he was definitely playing it for chuckles. He sounded older, using sort of a New York Jewish radio comedian style if I remember correctly. Anybody? Ring any bells? This is driving me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/56 "2009-12-26T16:09:06Z")
[Here’s a version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quaLQm_JhxU) I just recorded at the Hagen Family Christmas Concert. And [here’s a slightly higher quality version.](http://doorbell.net/video/12-19-09cold_hq.wmv) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/57 "2009-12-29T02:36:46Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > Maybe y’all can help me figure out who did a version of this that I used to have on a mix tape an ex made. It was off an album by a female singer (I think singer/songwriter) who I remember being known well enough, but she wasn’t massively popular in the mainstream. This was off an album she put out in the mid 90s of older cuts she’d recorded but never polished completely or released, I think. (In the liner notes, I remember her suggesting that the listener eat potato chips to cover up some of the production sounds on the recordings.) > > Anyway, the version was between her and a male singer who sort of mumbled the whole thing. You could hear her trying not to laugh at certain points, since he was definitely playing it for chuckles. He sounded older, using sort of a New York Jewish radio comedian style if I remember correctly. > > Anybody? Ring any bells? This is driving me nuts. Wild guess: Blossom Dearie and Bob Dorough? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/58 "2009-12-29T03:26:36Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > I don’t think the woman is _supposed_ to be naughty. The man is trying to corrupt her. Of course she’s supposed to be naughty. She’s not getting up and leaving; she’s not even moving away from him; she’s not slapping his face. She’s not trying to change his mind or get away from him. She’s making up all these bogus reasons why she shouldn’t stay . . . and she’s making sure she sticks with the bogus reasons, because she really wants to stay as much as he wants her to. But she has to be “lady-like” and at least give the impression of resisting. If she really wanted to leave, she would have. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/59 "2009-12-29T03:32:19Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I’m fond of the rendition by [Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiWdNY0IlQY) – two fine singers. I’d love to hear the whole song by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. Anyone have a link? This appears to be the version on the radio. I could never get into this song, there’s only a handful of Christmas songs I actively don’t like and this is one of them. It always just seems so, sloppy. (The other songs are the Muppet version of 12 Days of Christmas but that’s just because from my office all I can here is Miss Piggy saying “5 golden rings” every three seconds and the Hippopotamus song, which, oddly, I didn’t hear once this year.) ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023/60 "2009-12-29T17:50:51Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Wild guess: Blossom Dearie and Bob Dorough? Thanks, but I don’t think so. This was a younger singer than that. In her late 30s/early 40s at the end of the 90s? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-rendition-of-baby-its-cold-outside/521023.md?page=4)