Saturday, 8 November 2025

pop trivia: How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

Lita Roza (1926-2008) was an English singer best known for her 1953 recording “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?”, which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles chart. She was the first British woman to have a No. 1 hit in the UK chart.

However, she hated the song.

When Lita died in August 2008, her obituary in the Liverpool Daily Post recorded her thoughts on the doggie in the window. ”It was rubbish, rubbish, rubbish!" After recording it, she never performed it again.

But, she loved dogs and after her death records show Lita left around £300,000 to 11 charities including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the Blue Cross, and the Cinnamon Trust.

4 comments:

  1. That is a lovely story. My husband and I just listened to Lita Roza and Patti Page sing this song and they both did the song justice! Patti's recording was also a big hit in the States in 1953. I was only one year old and I remember some family lore around the record my mother purchased of Patti's recording. It involved my mom accidentally locking my father's keys in his car after they went to the record store to buy the disk. Therefore he said he always disliked the song. ha ha

    Look up a YouTube of Patti singing her version or just go here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rJo9yJxd5M

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    1. Thanks Angie. The British loved Patti’s version too, as it hit the top 10.
      Back then, often two versions of the same song (sometimes more) were fighting it out for the No.1 spot!

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    2. You know I have wondered about that! For instance I was not aware of songbird Lita Roza and I enjoyed hearing her version.

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  2. They should have teamed up and sang a duet i reckon! Great collage but barking mad!

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