Love Me or Leave Me (Donaldson and Kahn song) Love Me or Leave Me (Donaldson and Kahn song) "Love Me or Leave Me" is a popular song written in 1928 by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song was introduced in the Broadway play "Whoopee!", which opened in December 1928. Ruth Etting's performance of the song was so popular that she was also given the song to sing in the play "Simple Simon", which opened in February 1930. The original version of the song, the biggest-selling at the time, was recorded by Ruth Etting on December 17, 1928. It was issued by Columbia Records as catalog number
Love Me or Leave Me (Donaldson and Kahn song) was released 1955 by HMV Records as catalog number B-309 (78rpm) and 7M-309 (45rpm). Both releases were with the flip side "I Love To Love". Singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone also recorded the song on her debut album "Little Girl Blue" (1958) and "Let It All Out" (1966). The version was released as a single in 1959 by Bethlehem Records as catalog number 11021 and by Australian Parlophone Records as catalog number A-8008, with the flip side "I Loves You Porgy". It also shows Simone's seldom-heard side as a Classical pianist when she played a solo in the style of J.S. Bach's