In the early fifties, Oscar Peterson collaborated with Fred Astaire for The Astaire Story, a collection of modern jazz retellings of every notable song in his recording history. The Chronological Classics: Oscar Peterson 1945-1947 (a recurring label on this blog because they're the best at collecting nearly complete jazz discographies) collects Oscar Peterson's earliest recordings that helped to make his name in the jazz world.
Here is the discography surrounding Oscar Peterson's debut album:
The Chronological Classics: Oscar Peterson 1945-1947
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
Oscar Levant, his first time in Hollywood in 1928, met and befriended George Gershwin. This was surely a dream come true for Levant who worshiped Gershwin's work since he first heard it in his teens. Levant came to be known as the man who understood Gershwin best (outside of, perhaps, his brother Ira) and more importantly came to be known as the best interpreter on the piano of Gershwin's compositions (particularly after Gershwin's tragic, early passing).
Rhapsody in Blue was George Gershwin's first major composition that wasn't one of his and Ira's songs or musicals. The orchestral work was written on commission for Paul Whiteman. The first recording of Rhapsody in Blue occurred in 1924 with another, of better and fuller quality, in 1927 both featuring Gershwin on piano.
Here is the discography surrounding George Gershwin's debut album:
Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue (1927 recording)
"Golliwog's Cake Walk / Maid with the Flaxen Hair / Reflection in the Water / Claire de Lune / La plus que lente / The Little Shepherd" by Oscar Levant
Oscar Levant played the piano on the Anton Rubinstein recording from the last entry. A famous pianist and a famous personality in movies, TV and radio, Oscar Levant released his first album Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns in 1946 by way of Columbia Masterworks.
Here is the discography surrounding Oscar Levant's debut album:
Rhapsody in Blue (1945 single) Oscar Levant Plays Popular Moderns
"Piano Concerto No. 4 in D Minor" by Anton Rubinstein
Tchaikovsky studied at the Russian Musical Society under one of its founders, composer Anton Rubinstein. Recordings of Rubinstein pieces are not as common (or as easy to find), so the first entry into the blog for Rubinstein is a 1952 release of his Piano Concerto No. 4performed by the New York Philharmonic.
Here is the discography surrounding Anton Rubinstein's debut album:
Piano Concerto No. 4 in D Minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 70
For a time in the early 1880s, Debussy was close with Nadezha von Meck and her family, teaching them the piano and performing private concerts. However, von Meck, a wealthy patroness, is more famously known for her financial relationship with the Russian composer Thcaikovsky. Tchaikovsky was a popular subject for early classical recordings, and as usual, the recordings I was able to find are mostly recorded with Leopold Stokowski conducting. His "first album" was a recording of his Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor released in 1932.
Here is the discography surrounding Pyotr Ilyich Thcaikovsky's debut album:
Symphony No. 6, 3rd Movement (Marche Scherzo) (1921 single)
Dance of the Flutes (1922 single)
Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, 2nd Movement (Andante Cantabile) (1923 single)
Chant Sans Paroles (1924 single)
Marche Slave (1925 recording)
The Nutcracker Suite (1926 recording)
Romeo and Juliet Overture (1928 recording)
Song Without Words (1928 single)
Symphony No. 4 in F Minor (1928 recording)
Capriccio Italien (1929 recording)
Overture 1812 (1930 recording) Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor
"Symphony No. 5, 2nd Movement" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Did you know Paul Dukas and Claude Debussy were good friends? Claude Debussy's first "album" released in 1940 compiling a handful of Stokowski recordings from the previous decade.
Here is the discography surrounding Claude Debussy's debut album:
Fêtes (1927 single)
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1927 single)
Nuages (1929 single)
La cathédrale engloutie (1930 single)
Danses sacrée et profane (1931 single)
Claire de lune (1937 single)
Fêtes (1937 single)
Nuages (1937 single)
La Mer (1939 EP performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra)
Sirènes (1939 single) Debussy Selected Works (Orchestra)
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1940 single)
