Fred Astaire

39 records in the collection· mostly on Brunswick, Columbia, MGM

Fred Astaire was the defining male song-and-dance star of Hollywood’s musical era, celebrated from the 1930s for films with Ginger Rogers and for his seemingly effortless dancing. He was also a relaxed and exceptionally perceptive interpreter of song, introducing or popularising standards including "Cheek to Cheek", "Top Hat" and "They Can’t Take That Away from Me", making his records an appealing counterpart to the famous screen performances.

This introduction was written by AI from what is known of the artist. Ask us if you want to know more about a particular record.

Records by Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire
1. A(+Powell)How could you believe me
2. B(Powell)Too late now
MGM 370
Fred Astaire
1. AA Fine Romance
2. BBojangles of Harlem
Fred Astaire with A Fine Romance and Bojangles of Harlem, both from the 1936 film Swing Time, on Vocalion 500.AI summary

Vocalion 500 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AA Fine Romance
2. BBojangles of Harlem
Fred Astaire sings 'A Fine Romance' and 'Bojangles of Harlem', both from his 1936 film 'Swing Time', on Vocalion.AI summary

Vocalion 500 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AAfter you who
2. BNight and day
Fred Astaire, one of the most celebrated dancers and entertainers of the 20th century, recorded two Cole Porter songs—"After You, Who" and "Night and Day"—for Columbia.AI summary

Columbia DB1215 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AAfter you Who
2. BNight & Day
Fred Astaire, the legendary dancer and singer, recorded 'After You Who' and Cole Porter's 'Night and Day' for Columbia; these are among his finest vocal recordings.AI summary

Columbia DB1215 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ABeginner's Luck
2. BSlap that Bass
Fred Astaire, the American dancer and singer, recorded 'Beginner's Luck' and 'Slap That Bass' from the 1937 film *Shall We Dance* for Brunswick. These are among Astaire's most famous recorded songs.AI summary

Brunswick 02424 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ABeginner's Luck
2. BSlap that Bass
Fred Astaire dancing to two George Gershwin songs from the 1936 film 'Shall We Dance', recorded for Brunswick: the bright novelty 'Beginner's Luck' and the rhythmic 'Slap that Bass', both showcasing Astaire's rhythmic precision and the orchestral sparkle of the era.AI summary

Brunswick 02424 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AChange Partners
2. BI used to be Colour Blind
Columbia DB1809 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ACheek to Cheek
2. BTop Hat
Fred Astaire, the legendary dancer and entertainer. Speak-O-Phone recording 'Cheek to Cheek' and 'Top Hat', two of his most famous musical-theatre numbers; extremely scarce label.AI summary

Speak-O-Phone Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AEv'ry night at seven
2. B(Orch)Sunday jumps
Fred Astaire on MGM 373, the dancer and vocalist, with 'Ev'ry night at seven' and 'Sunday jumps' (with orchestra).AI summary

MGM 373 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AFlying down to Rio
2. BMusic makes me
Fred Astaire recorded 'Flying Down to Rio' and 'Music Makes Me' for Columbia (DB1329), songs from the 1933 film of the same name co-starring Ginger Rogers. Astaire was the greatest dancer and a major star of stage and screen, and this record captures him at the height of his popularity.AI summary

Columbia DB1329 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AHigh Hat
2. BMy One and Only
Fred Astaire, the world's greatest dancer and a distinguished recording artist, performs these two song standards for Columbia; "High Hat" became a classic of the era.AI summary

Columbia 5173 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AI'd rather lead a Band
2. BI'm building up to an awful Let-down
Fred Astaire, the dancer and singer, on Columbia DB1635 from the mid-1930s. This is a standard dance or comedy number from Astaire's prolific recording career; HMV pressings of Astaire are widely available.AI summary

Columbia DB1635 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AI'm Putting all my Eggs in One Basket
2. BWe Saw the Sea
Fred Astaire performing two songs from the 1936 film 'Follow the Fleet' on Brunswick 7609: 'I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket' and 'We Saw the Sea'. Astaire (1899–1987) was one of the greatest entertainers and dancers of the twentieth century.AI summary

Brunswick 7609 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AIsn't this a Lovely Day?
2. BTop Hat White Tie and Tails
Fred Astaire recorded 'Isn't This a Lovely Day?' and 'Top Hat, White Tie and Tails' for Brunswick, catalogue RL297. These are standards from Astaire's film work, and his vocal records are sought-after by collectors of American popular song on 78s.AI summary

Brunswick RL297 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ALady Be Good - Fascinating Rhythm
2. BLady Be Good - The Half of it Dearie
Fred Astaire was the greatest dancer and one of the finest singers of the 20th century. This Columbia DB pressing documents two of his most celebrated recordings: 'Lady Be Good', from the 1924 Gershwin musical, a signature Astaire piece.AI summary

Columbia DB3969 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ALet yourself go
2. BLet's face the music and dance
Fred Astaire on Columbia DB1633, performing two Irving Berlin songs, 'Let Yourself Go' and 'Let's Face the Music and Dance', from the 1930s; a classic recording by one of the greatest dancers and entertainers of the century.AI summary

Columbia DB1633 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ALet yourself go
2. BLet's face the music and dance
Fred Astaire, the American dancer and singer, recorded 'Let Yourself Go' and 'Let's Face the Music and Dance' for Columbia, catalogue DB1633. The latter, from the 1936 film *Follow the Fleet*, is one of Astaire's most celebrated numbers.AI summary

Columbia DB1633 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ALet's Call the Whole Thing Off
2. BShall We Dance
Fred Astaire, the legendary American dancer and entertainer, recorded 'Let's Call the Whole Thing Off' and 'Shall We Dance' for Brunswick, songs from the 1937 film *Shall We Dance*.AI summary

Brunswick 02425 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ANight and Day
2. BAfter you who
Fred Astaire, the celebrated American dancer and singer, recorded 'Night and Day' and 'After You, Who' for Columbia in the mid-1930s. Both are standards by Cole Porter, and the recordings capture Astaire's distinctive light baritone and impeccable phrasing.AI summary

Columbia DB1215 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. APick Yourself Up
2. BNever Gonna Dance
Fred Astaire with Pick Yourself Up and Never Gonna Dance, both from the 1936 film Swing Time, on Vocalion 501.AI summary

Vocalion 501 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. APoor Mister Chisholm
2. BDig it
Fred Astaire, the legendary dancer and entertainer, recorded 'Poor Mister Chisholm' and 'Dig It' for Columbia, capturing his distinctive rhythmic vocal style in the early 1930s.AI summary

Columbia DB2014 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AShine on your shoes
2. BBy myself
Fred Astaire recorded 'Shine on Your Shoes' and 'By Myself' for MGM Records, likely from the 1950s.AI summary

MGM 684 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AShorty George
2. BDearly beloved
Fred Astaire performing 'Shorty George' and 'Dearly Beloved' on Brunswick, recorded during his early Hollywood period in the late 1930s–40s. Astaire's dance-related recordings remain popular with collectors.AI summary

Brunswick 03429 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. ASo near and Yet So Far
2. BSince I Kissed My Baby Goodbye
Fred Astaire performing two popular songs on Brunswick, catalogue 03287. Astaire was already a major star by the time of this recording; these are likely 1930s sides from his early film and recording career.AI summary

Brunswick 03287 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AThe Piccolino
2. B(Reisman) A Sweet Beginning Like this
Fred Astaire performing 'The Piccolino', a number from the 1935 film Top Hat, recorded for Brunswick. Astaire was already the pre-eminent popular dance entertainer of the era, and his recordings from this period remain highly sought by collectors of 1930s popular music and film soundtrack material.AI summary

Brunswick RL298 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AThe Piccolino
2. B(Reisman) A Sweet Beginning Like this
Fred Astaire, the legendary dancer and vocalist, recorded 'The Piccolino' and 'A Sweet Beginning Like This' for Brunswick, catalogue RL298; these are from the mid-1930s and reflect Astaire's work for the film and stage.AI summary

Brunswick RL298 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AThe Yam
2. BThe Yam Step
Columbia DB1810 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AThe Yam
2. BThe Yam Step
Fred Astaire (1899–1987) was the most celebrated dancer and entertainer of the 20th century; this Columbia side captures two numbers from his stage material, 'The Yam' and 'The Yam Step', demonstrating his rhythm and comedic flair.AI summary

Columbia DB1810 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AThey Can't Take that Away from me
2. BBeginner's Luck
Fred Astaire dancing to 'They Can't Take That Away from Me' and 'Beginner's Luck', from the 1937 film Shall We Dance, on Brunswick 7855.AI summary

Brunswick 7855 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AThings are looking up
2. BNice work if you can get it
Fred Astaire was the most celebrated American dancer of the twentieth century, a star of stage, film and record; this Brunswick disc of 'Things Are Looking Up' and 'Nice Work If You Can Get It' captures two of his songs from the 1937 film 'Damsel in Distress', with his own distinctive vocal style.AI summary

Brunswick 7983 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AThings are Looking Up
2. BNice Work if You can get It
Fred Astaire, the American dancer and entertainer, recorded 'Things are Looking Up' and 'Nice Work if You can Get It' for Brunswick. Both are songs from Cole Porter and other 1930s musical sources; Astaire's recordings were hugely popular and widely pressed.AI summary

Brunswick 02533 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AWe saw the Sea
2. BI'm putting all my Eggs in one Basket
Fred Astaire recorded 'We Saw the Sea' and 'I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket' for Columbia, catalogue DB1634. The latter is from the 1936 film *Follow the Fleet*, and both sides showcase Astaire's light dance-vocal style.AI summary

Columbia DB1634 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AWe saw the Sea
2. BI'm putting all my Eggs in one Basket
Fred Astaire was an iconic American dancer, choreographer and entertainer; this Columbia disc pairs two songs from the 1935 film "Follow the Fleet", "We Saw the Sea" and "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket".AI summary

Columbia DB1634 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AYou were never lovelier
2. BOn the beam
Fred Astaire recorded 'You Were Never Lovelier' and 'On the Beam' for Brunswick 03427. Astaire was the cinema's greatest dancer and a major recording star; 'You Were Never Lovelier' was from the 1942 film of the same name, co-starring Rita Hayworth.AI summary

Brunswick 03427 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AYou were never lovelier
2. BOn the Beam
Fred Astaire, the legendary American dancer, singer and film star, recorded these two numbers for Brunswick: 'You Were Never Lovelier' and 'On the Beam'. Both are from his 1940s film repertoire, capturing Astaire in the smooth, rhythmic vocal style that complemented his dancing.AI summary

Brunswick 03427 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AYou're all the World to me
2. BI left my Hat in Haiti
Fred Astaire was the most celebrated American dancer and entertainer of the twentieth century; this MGM 78 from the 1950s presents two ballad numbers from his film work.AI summary

MGM 372 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AYou're easy to dance with
2. BI can't tell a Lie
Fred Astaire, the legendary American dancer, singer and entertainer, recorded 'You're Easy to Dance With' and 'I Can't Tell a Lie' for Brunswick (03386) in the late 1930s. Both are standard popular songs from Astaire's film catalogue. Astaire's records are widely sought and commonly available.AI summary

Brunswick 03386 Personalities (Prs)
Fred Astaire
1. AYou're easy to dance with
2. BI can't tell a lie
Fred Astaire, the legendary dancer and entertainer, recorded 'You're Easy to Dance With' and 'I Can't Tell a Lie' for Brunswick 03386, likely 1942–43.AI summary

Brunswick 03386 Personalities (Prs)