When you think of the Great American Songbook, who comes to your mind? Why, of course, Frank, Ella and Tony. If you said “Michael Buble’,” please go to the end of the line. What most people don’t know is that all of the standards that you have running through your mind were debuted on film and sung by America’s greatest dancer, Fred Astaire. It’s hard to believe it, but the composers such as Berlin, Porter and Gershwin actually wrote their famous songs with Astaire’s voice and phrasing in mind, so when he debuted them, classics such as “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Cheek to Cheek” were written with Astaire in mind. How’s that for an ego trip”?!?
This two cd set has Astaire, singing either to or along with his most famous partner Ginger Rogers (whom he really didn’t get along with BTW) on wondrously swinging tunes from flicks such as Flying Down to Rio, Top Hat, Swing Time and Shall We Dance. Of course, you’ve also got “Night and Day” from The Gay Divorcee as well as some bonus alternate tracks such as “A Fine Romance” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” for all of you collectors, but for the most part, you’re going to hear tunes such as “Slap That Bass” , “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and “A Foggy Day” the way they were meant to be debuted, and therefore sung. And ya know what? Astaire’s got a great rhythmic voice! No improvisation, just a clean delivery that is erudite and yet personal. If you get this set and his 50s session with Oscar Peterson, you just might wonder why he’s never considered one of the best singers around; he certainly was THE most important!
Sony Masterworks