The Early Years at RKO by Fred Astaire - Uhune

COMPILATION

Volume 1

Volume 2

Fans of the Great American Songbook often cite Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald as the genre's top dog. Yet this Fred Astaire collection culled from his classic '30s films with Ginger Rogers is a vivid reminder that the genre was nothing without this dancer-singer-actor. Featuring some of the first performances of compositions by the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, and Jerome Kern (who all loved to write for Astaire), this set presents early versions of “Night and Day,” “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails," and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.” While Astaire didn’t have the singular sense of swing of Sinatra or Bing Crosby, this is pop music at its best from a bygone era backed by the notable orchestras of Ray Noble or Johnny Green. Fans will also get a bit of that patented Astaire humor—the end of the album includes two takes on the Berlin novelty “The Yam” with Rogers doing vocals on the last version. Astaire reportedly hated his own singing voice, but this is truly a gift for the rest of us.

Volume 1

1. Music Makes Me

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Vincent Youmans
Gus Kahn
E. Eliscu; Composer
Lyricist: Vincent Youmans
Gus Kahn
E. Eliscu; Composer

2. Flying Down to Rio

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Vincent Youmans
Gus Kahn
E. Eliscu; Composer
Lyricist: Vincent Youmans
Gus Kahn
E. Eliscu; Composer

3. Night and Day (From "The Gay Divorce")

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Leo Reisman And His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Cole Porter; Composer
Lyricist: Cole Porter; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

4. No Strings

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Leo Reisman And His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

5. Isn't This a Lovely Day

by Fred Astaire, Johnny Green

Featured Artist: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Fred Astaire
Johnny Green
Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

6. Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

7. Cheek to Cheek

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Fred Astaire
Leo Reisman & His Orchestra; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

8. The Piccolino

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Leo Reisman & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

9. We Saw the Sea

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

10. Let Yourself Go

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

11. I'd Rather Lead a Band

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

12. I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

13. Let's Face the Music and Dance

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

14. Pick Yourself Up

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Dorothy Fields
Jerome Kern; Composer
Lyricist: Jerome Kern
Dorothy Fields; Composer
Producer: Unknown; Production

15. The Way You Look Tonight

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Dorothy Fields
Jerome Kern; Composer
Lyricist: Jerome Kern
Dorothy Fields; Composer

16. A Fine Romance

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Composer: Jerome Kern
Dorothy Fields; Composer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

17. Bojangles of Harlem

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Dorothy Fields
Jerome Kern; Composer
Lyricist: Jerome Kern
Dorothy Fields; Composer

18. Never Gonna Dance

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Dorothy Fields
Jerome Kern; Composer
Lyricist: Jerome Kern
Dorothy Fields; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

19. A Fine Romance (Alternate Take)

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Dorothy Fields
Jerome Kern; Composer
Lyricist: Jerome Kern
Dorothy Fields; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

20. Waltz in Swing Time (Alternate Take)

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Composer: Jerome Kern; Composer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

Volume 2

1. (I've Got) Beginner's Luck

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

2. Slap That Bass

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

3. They All Laughed

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

4. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

5. They Can't Take That Away from Me

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

6. Shall We Dance

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

7. I Can't Be Bothered Now

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Ray Noble & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Ira Gershwin
George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: George Gershwin
Ira Gershwin; Composer

8. Things Are Looking Up

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Conductor: Ray Noble & His Orchestra; Conductor

9. A Foggy Day

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer

10. Nice Work If You Can Get It

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Ray Noble & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

11. I Used to Be Color Blind

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Ray Noble & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

12. The Yam

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Ray Noble & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

13. Change Partners

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Ray Noble & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

14. They Can't Take That Away from Me (Alternate Take)

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Johnny Green & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: George Gershwin; Composer
Lyricist: Ira Gershwin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

15. The Yam Steps (As explained by Fred Astaire)

by Fred Astaire

Primary Artist: Fred Astaire; Main Performer
Performer: Ray Noble & His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Fred Astaire; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

16. The Yam

by Ginger Rogers

Primary Artist: Ginger Rogers; Main Performer
Performer: Hal Borne And His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Ginger Rogers; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

17. I Used to Be Color Blind

by Ginger Rogers

Primary Artist: Ginger Rogers; Main Performer
Performer: Hal Borne And His Orchestra; Performer
Vocals: Ginger Rogers; Performer
Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Producer: Producer Not Documented On Available Sources; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

2 volumes in total

Tracks

37 tracks available

Type

COMPILATION

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 45 minutes and 44 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1424x1424 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

35/37 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

14/37 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop, Vocal Pop, Vocal, Traditional Pop, Soundtrack, Musicals, Standards, Jazz, Vocal Jazz

Label

Masterworks

Music Distribution Service

Sony

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Nov 14, 2013

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

886444205276