Fred Astaire: The Early Years At RKO (2013)

 

In conjunction with Turner Classic Movies Network, Masterworks presents: Fred Astaire The Early Years at RKO, a new 2-CD set that showcases Astaire’s vocal performances from the RKO films of the 1930s.

If any performer symbolizes dapper spirit, sophisticated wit and suave romanticism, that performer is Fred Astaire. As a dancer, singer, and actor he was in a class by himself – and class is definitely the operative word where Astaire is concerned. In those early RKO movies – Top Hat, Swing Time, Shall We Dance – Astaire not only danced but sang, introducing now classic songs by the crème de la crème of American composers like Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and George and Ira Gershwin.

The Early Years at RKO compiles together more than 30 musical numbers he performed in those movies, in bright studio recordings with backing from the orchestras led by Leo Reisman, Ray Noble, and Johnny Green.

The collection includes liner notes by “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” Michael Feinstein, as well as a rare alternate takes, and two performances by his most famous partner, Ginger Rogers. Like the star it celebrates, The Early Years at RKO is in a class by itself.

 

Track Listing

FLYING DOWN TO RIO
1. Music Makes Me
2. Flying Down To Rio

THE GAY DIVORCEE
3. Night And Day

TOP HAT
4. No Strings
5. Isn’t This A Lovely Day
6. Top Hat, White Tie And Tails
7. Cheek To Cheek
8. The Piccolino

FOLLOW THE FLEET
9. We Saw The Sea
10. Let Yourself Go

CAREFREE
11. I Used To Be Color Blind
12. The Yam
13. Change Partners

SWING TIME
14. Pick Yourself Up
15. The Way You Look Tonight
16. A Fine Romance
17. Bojangles Of Harlem
18. Never Gonna Dance

BONUS TRACKS:
19. A Fine Romance – alternate take
20. Waltz In Swing Time

SHALL WE DANCE
21. (I’ve Got) Beginner’s Luck
22. Slap That Bass
23. They All Laughed
24. Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off
25. They Can’t Take That Away From Me
26. Shall We Dance?

A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS
27. I Can’t Be Bothered Now
28. Things Are Looking Up
29. A Foggy Day
30. Nice Work If You Can Get It
31. I’d Rather Lead A Band
32. I’m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket
33. Let’s Face The Music And Dance

BONUS TRACKS:
34. They Can’t Take That Away From Me – alternate take
35. The Yam Steps (as explained by Fred Astaire)
36. The Yam – Ginger Rogers with Hal Borne and his orchestra
37. I Used To Be Color Blind – Ginger Rogers with Hal Borne and his orchestra