Artist: Fred Astaire

Title: The Complete London Sessions

Year Of Release: 1999/2003

Label: Parlophone Records

Genre: Jazz, Swing, Pop

Quality: MP3 320kbps stereo

Total Time: 02:56:00

Total Size: 404 MB



This British three-CD set breaks down into two distinct parts: Fred Astaire's first recordings and his last. The first disc brings together 19 recordings made for the British labels HMV and Columbia between 1923 and 1933. These are recordings made when Astaire was appearing in stage shows in London, and on eight of them he duets with his sister and dancing partner Adele. Several of the shows had scores written by the Gershwin brothers, and on five tracks George Gershwin provides the piano accompaniment. In "The Half of It, Dearie Blues," he even tap-dances. "How's that, George?" he asks. "That's great, Freddy," replies Gershwin. These are not all of the recordings the artist made during the period; he also cut tracks in New York for Victor between 1931 and 1933, and those are not included. But these original cast recordings are Astaire's earliest, and they are priceless. The second and third discs in the set contain the 36 tracks -- three LP's worth -- a 76-year-old Astaire recorded for United Artists Records in 1975, an album's worth of them with Bing Crosby. His final recordings, they were originally released in Britain as Attitude Dancing (UAS 29885), A Couple of Song and Dance Men (UAS 29888), and They Can't Take That Away From Me (UAS 29941). Original producer Ken Barnes has re-sequenced the tracks for CD, substituting the occasional alternate take, and adding some studio chatter. Astaire, in surprisingly good voice, remakes some of his old favorites, sings several songs of his own composition, and covers a few recent hits such as "My Eyes Adored You." The Crosby duets are pleasant and amusing. The result is not essential, but it possesses the light charm of all Astaire's work.





CD1



1. Fred Astaire - The Whichness of Whatness ('Stop Flirting')

2. Fred Astaire - Oh Gee! Oh Gosh!

3. Fred Astaire - Hang on to Me (Lady Be Good)

4. Fred Astaire - Fascinating Rhythm (Lady Be Good)

5. Fred Astaire - The Half of It Dearie Blues (Lady Be Good)

6. Fred Astaire - I'd Rather Charleston (Lady Be Good)

7. Fred Astaire - Swiss Miss (Cabhorse Trot) Yodel Song (Lady Be Good)

8. Fred Astaire - Funny Face (Funny Face)

9. Fred Astaire - The Babbitt and the Bromide (Funny Face)

10. Fred Astaire - High Hat (Funny Face)

11. Fred Astaire - My One and Only (Funny Face)

12. Fred Astaire - Not My Girl

13. Fred Astaire - Louisiana

14. Fred Astaire - Puttin' on the Ritz

15. Fred Astaire - Crazy Feet (Film Happy Days)

16. Fred Astaire - After You Who

17. Fred Astaire - Night and Day

18. Fred Astaire - Flying Down to Rio (Flying Down to Rio)

19. Fred Astaire - Music Makes Me (Flying Down to Rio)



CD2



1. Fred Astaire - Top Hat White Tie and Tails

2. Fred Astaire - A Fine Romance

3. Fred Astaire - You Worry Me

4. Fred Astaire - A Foggy Day (A Damsel in Distress)

5. Fred Astaire - City of the Angels

6. Fred Astaire - My Eyes Adored You

7. Fred Astaire - Dance in the Old Fashioned Way

8. Fred Astaire - Isn't This a Lovely Day_

9. Fred Astaire - I'm Building up to an Awful Let Down

10. Fred Astaire - The Wailing of the Willow

11. Fred Astaire - Easy to Remember

12. Fred Astaire - Not My Girl

13. Fred Astaire - I Love Everybody but You

14. Fred Astaire - One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)

15. Fred Astaire - That Face

16. Fred Astaire - Something's Gotta Give

17. Fred Astaire - I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man (Film 'Belle of New York')

18. Fred Astaire - Night and Day

18. Fred Astaire - Night and Day

19. Fred Astaire - They All Laughed (Shall We Dance)



CD3



1. Fred Astaire - Cheek to Cheek

2. Fred Astaire - Life Is Beautiful

3. Fred Astaire - They Can't Take That Away from Me

4. Fred Astaire - Attitude Dancing

5. Fred Astaire - Wonderful Baby

6. Fred Astaire - Session Sound Bites, Pt. One 'Faulty Freddie'

7. Fred Astaire - A Couple of Song and Dance Men

8. Fred Astaire - Top Billing

9. Fred Astaire - Roxie

10. Fred Astaire - Spring Spring Spring

11. Fred Astaire - How Lucky Can You Get_

12. Fred Astaire - Mr Keyboard Man

13. Fred Astaire - In the Cool Cool Cool of the Evening

14. Fred Astaire - I've a Shooting Box in Scotland

15. Fred Astaire - Sing

16. Fred Astaire - Pick Yourself Up

17. Fred Astaire - Top Billing (Reprise)

18. Fred Astaire - Session Sound Bites Part Two - Blow-Ups with Bing

19. Fred Astaire - That's Entertainment