FRED ASTAIRE - The Astaire Story (1953-1988) 2xCD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Because he was world renowned as a dancer and quite popular as a movie actor, Fred Astaire has tended to be underrated (if not completely overlooked) as a jazz singer. Although not really an improviser, Astaire's phrasing always swung and his occasional vocals on record were usually a joy. This two-CD set is something special for it features Astaire with six members of Jazz at the Philharmonic: tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips, trumpeter Charlie Shavers, pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Alvin Stoller. Astaire sings 34 swing standards (many of which he had originally introduced in movies), dances on three ad-lib numbers, and sits out on the instrumental "Jam Session"; the musicians have plenty of opportunities to stretch out. The biggest surprise to this classic deluxe box (which was originally four-LPs) is that Fred Astaire did not do similar projects more often throughout his career. Highly recommended. by Scott Yanow

Tracklist 1:

1 Isn't This a Lovely Day? 4:26

Irving Berlin

2 Puttin' on the Ritz 2:51

Irving Berlin

3 I Used to Be Color Blind 4:14

Irving Berlin

4 The Continental 3:28

Con Conrad / Herbert Magidson

5 Let's Call the Whole Thing Off 4:36

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

6 Change Partners 3:13

Irving Berlin

7 'S Wonderful 2:56

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

8 Lovely to Look At 3:26

Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern / Jimmy McHugh

9 They All Laughed 2:55

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

10 Cheek to Cheek 5:39

Irving Berlin 

11 Steppin' Out with My Baby 2:22

Irving Berlin

12 The Way You Look Tonight 2:57

Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern

13 I've Got My Eyes on You 2:57

Cole Porter

14 Dancing in the Dark 4:45

Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz

15 The Carioca 4:48

Edward Eliscu / Gus Kahn / Vincent Youmans

16 Nice Work If You Can Get It 2:07

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

17 New Sun in the Sky 2:27

Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz

18 I Won't Dance 3:01

Dorothy Fields / Otto Harbach / Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern / Jimmy McHugh

19 Fast Dances 2:24

Tracklist 2:

1 Top Hat, White Tie and Tails 4:00

Irving Berlin

2 No Strings (I'm Fancy Free) 2:54
Irving Berlin / Richard Rodgers
3 I Concentrate on You 2:43

Cole Porter

4 I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket 2:54

Irving Berlin

5 A Fine Romance 3:43

Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern

6 Night and Day 5:22

Cole Porter

7 Fascinating Rhythm 2:41

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

8 I Love Louisa 2:40

Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz

9 Slow Dances 2:55
10 Medium Dances 2:01
11 They Can't Take That Away from Me 4:22

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

12 You're Easy to Dance With 3:22

Irving Berlin

13 A Needle in a Haystack 2:22

Con Conrad / Herbert Magidson

14 So Near and Yet So Far 3:18

Cole Porter

15 A Foggy Day 4:00

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

16 Oh, Lady Be Good 5:01

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

17 I'm Building Up to an Awful Letdown 3:59

Fred Astaire / Johnny Mercer

18 Not My Girl 3:37

Fred Astaire / Desmond Carter / V. Phillips

19 Jam Session 6:34