Fred Astaire and George Gershwin became friends when Fred was still a teen and trying, with his sister Adele, to break from Vaudeville, where they grew up, to Broadway. Gershwin eventually wrote for Fred and Adele in a couple of his Broadway musicals Lady, Be Good and Funny Face. After over a decade on Broadway and with a hit record under his belt, Fred "graduated" (while Adele retired) to movies where he led the reinvention of the Hollywood musical. The long-playing record (our unit of measurement on this blog) was non-existent in those days so Fred Astaire made his greatest impact as a singer on singles and celluloid. Come 1953 after a nearly five-decade career, Fred Astaire paired up with Oscar Peterson and his band to freshly record every significant song of his career in a modern, wizen-voiced, and laid-back fashion. The recordings were released as The Astaire Story.
Here is the discography surrounding Fred Astaire's debut album:
Oh Gosh Oh Gee (1923 single with Adele Astaire)
Fascinating Rhythm (1926 single with Adele Astaire)
Hang on to Me (1926 single with Adele Astaire)
Swiss Miss (1926 single with Adele Astaire)
Funny Face (1928 single with Adele Astaire)
High Hat (1928 single)
Not My Girl (1929 single)
Puttin' on the Ritz (1930 single)
The Band Wagon (1931 experimental recording with Adele Astaire)
I Love Louisa (1931 single)
Night and Day (1933 single)
Flying Down to Rio (1934 single)
Cheek to Cheek (1935 single)
Isn't It a Lovely Day? (1935 single)
Never Gonna Dance (1936 single)
The Way You Look Tonight (1936 single)
Change Partners (1937 single)
They All Laughed (1937 single)
Nice Work if You Can Get It (1937 single)
They Can't Take That Away from Me (1937 single)
Things Are Looking Up (1937 single)
The Yam (1938 single)
So Near and Yet So Far (1941 single)
Dream Dancing (1941 single)
I'll Capture Your Heart (1942 single with Bing Crosby)
Holiday Inn (1942 soundtrack album)
Blue Skies (1946 soundtrack album)
Medley from the Film "Three Little Words" (1950 single with Red Skelton)
Easter Parade (1950 soundtrack album with Judy Garland)
How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life (1951 single)
Royal Wedding (1951 soundtrack album with Jane Powell)
Dancing in the Dark (1952 single)
Bachelor Dinner Song (1952 single)
The Belle of New York (1952 soundtrack album)
I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan (1953 single)
The Band Wagon (1953 soundtrack album)
The Astaire Story
Sluefoot (1955 single)
The Best of Fred Astaire (1955 compilation album)
Fred Astaire (1955 compilation album)
Cheek to Cheek (1956 EP)
Mr. Top Hat (1956 compilation album)
"Fascinating Rhythm" by Fred and Adele Astaire
"Cheek to Cheek" by Fred Astaire
"Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" by Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
"How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life" by Fred Astaire & Jane Powell
Pass the Headphones!!
