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Product Description
CD Description
For the first time the sound track to three Fred Astaire Emmy-award winning TV specials are available on CD – the 1958 “An Evening with Fred Astaire”, “Another Evening with Fred Astaire” (1959) and “Astaire Time” (1960). In 1958 the then 59 year old Fred Astaire was invited to star in a one-off TV special entitled 'An Evening with Fred Astaire'. His guests included jazz trumpeter Jonah Jones.The climax of the hour was a medley of ten of Astaire’s greatest hits. The reaction to the special was overwhelmingly positive, with Newsweek branding it "one of TV’s finest hours". Even better, the production walked off with nine Emmys. 'Another Evening with Fred Astaire' was commissioned the following year and met with equal success. Astaire was back again in 1960 for 'Astaire Time', this time with Count Basie and His Orchestra along with the blues singer Joe Williams. Complementing the soundtracks are eight rare tracks, many of them previously un-issued or alternate takes, from other periods in Astaire’s career. Astaire’s daughter, Ava, granted us an interview for this project and you can read about it in the CD booklet.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was thrilled to stumble across this in Dress Circle in London today. I thought I had everything of Fred's there was to have but this ravishing collection is a double disc set of delights.
I have treasured the DRG three-disc LP set of the TV special soundtracks for decades. But these remastered versions are a revelation. The sound is excellent throughout, much better than the vinyl, with full, clear fidelity. There are many riches here, highlights including the David Rose/Andre Previn collaboration Young Man With The Blues/Like Young, deliciously moody, the Count Basie Orchestra in ripping form, with elegant banter between The Count and Astaire between numbers; and of course The three famous medleys of Astaire classics, an astounding hit rate of premium standards, all written for this most unlikely of vocal stars. A LOT of people, I find, don't get the Astaire thing and write him off as a vocalist - though no one can be anything but knocked out by his dancing. I have loved him since I was thirteen when I saw Top Hat one Sunday afternoon. In the era of the Bay City Rollers, I was feasting on the greatest of the Great American Songbook.
What makes this CD really special though are the bonus tracks, which will astonish anyone who had wearied of finding the same old out-of-copywrite tracks that get endlessly recycled on Astaire compilations. These are genuinely never-before-issued alternative takes of classic Astaire/Johnny Green sessions from the Swing Time dates, including a brilliant Astaire tap routine on the non-vocal Waltz In Swingtime; and version of A Fine Romance with a surprisingly inelegant verse, that must have been cut after a quick conference, since Astaire does not sound like he is enjoying singing it.
The audio quality on the alternative take of the delightful Nov. 1932 Cole Porter throwaway I've Got You On My Mind is astounding: you almost feel like you are in the studio with them.
There are several other superb bonus tracks from various sources spanning Astaire's career, including a fantastic jazz collaboration from Benny Goodman, The Astaire (1947).
Perhaps the highlight of the whole beguiling collection is a track that should put to rest any doubts about Astaire's supremacy as a vocal stylist: his performance of They Can't Take That Away From Me, from the September 1937 Gershwin Memorial concert. It is powerfully sung in his characteristic unfettered, honest style, a performance whose occasional jarring imperfections make it the one of the most deeply moving, heart-felt, in-the-moment vocal performances ever recorded by anyone.
If there's a quibble, it's that the liner notes give very little useful information about the provenance and restoration of the bonus tracks. It is a real disappointment because the story behind the discovery of these historic recordings surely deserves to be told.
Finally, worth the price of the CD alone is a wonderful photograph of Fred with his life-long friend and alter-ego Hermes Pan, in the rehearsal room for one of the tv specials, both in mid-step, two old-timers doing their thing before a crowd of adoring young chorus dancers.
Thanks to Sepia for this stunning release.
I have treasured the DRG three-disc LP set of the TV special soundtracks for decades. But these remastered versions are a revelation. The sound is excellent throughout, much better than the vinyl, with full, clear fidelity. There are many riches here, highlights including the David Rose/Andre Previn collaboration Young Man With The Blues/Like Young, deliciously moody, the Count Basie Orchestra in ripping form, with elegant banter between The Count and Astaire between numbers; and of course The three famous medleys of Astaire classics, an astounding hit rate of premium standards, all written for this most unlikely of vocal stars. A LOT of people, I find, don't get the Astaire thing and write him off as a vocalist - though no one can be anything but knocked out by his dancing. I have loved him since I was thirteen when I saw Top Hat one Sunday afternoon. In the era of the Bay City Rollers, I was feasting on the greatest of the Great American Songbook.
What makes this CD really special though are the bonus tracks, which will astonish anyone who had wearied of finding the same old out-of-copywrite tracks that get endlessly recycled on Astaire compilations. These are genuinely never-before-issued alternative takes of classic Astaire/Johnny Green sessions from the Swing Time dates, including a brilliant Astaire tap routine on the non-vocal Waltz In Swingtime; and version of A Fine Romance with a surprisingly inelegant verse, that must have been cut after a quick conference, since Astaire does not sound like he is enjoying singing it.
The audio quality on the alternative take of the delightful Nov. 1932 Cole Porter throwaway I've Got You On My Mind is astounding: you almost feel like you are in the studio with them.
There are several other superb bonus tracks from various sources spanning Astaire's career, including a fantastic jazz collaboration from Benny Goodman, The Astaire (1947).
Perhaps the highlight of the whole beguiling collection is a track that should put to rest any doubts about Astaire's supremacy as a vocal stylist: his performance of They Can't Take That Away From Me, from the September 1937 Gershwin Memorial concert. It is powerfully sung in his characteristic unfettered, honest style, a performance whose occasional jarring imperfections make it the one of the most deeply moving, heart-felt, in-the-moment vocal performances ever recorded by anyone.
If there's a quibble, it's that the liner notes give very little useful information about the provenance and restoration of the bonus tracks. It is a real disappointment because the story behind the discovery of these historic recordings surely deserves to be told.
Finally, worth the price of the CD alone is a wonderful photograph of Fred with his life-long friend and alter-ego Hermes Pan, in the rehearsal room for one of the tv specials, both in mid-step, two old-timers doing their thing before a crowd of adoring young chorus dancers.
Thanks to Sepia for this stunning release.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I never tire of watching clips of these shows on "You Tube". As for this CD album, well it's great and still at a bargain price.
However,isn't about time the "Three Evenings with Fred Astaire", were released onto DVD? (Restored I mean, not dull copies).
This is television at it's best and as it used to be . . Pure entertainment! (Not audience participation rubbish).
Whilst I'm on the subject, why did Barry Chase, (Astaire's Dancing partner during these shows), never reach super stardom?
(Catch her on You Tube). . . A terrific dancer!!
Get this Album whilst you may, as it is the nearest you will get until somebody, somewhere wakes up to the fact that there is a massive potential audience for real entertainment of this kind. Thank you!
However,isn't about time the "Three Evenings with Fred Astaire", were released onto DVD? (Restored I mean, not dull copies).
This is television at it's best and as it used to be . . Pure entertainment! (Not audience participation rubbish).
Whilst I'm on the subject, why did Barry Chase, (Astaire's Dancing partner during these shows), never reach super stardom?
(Catch her on You Tube). . . A terrific dancer!!
Get this Album whilst you may, as it is the nearest you will get until somebody, somewhere wakes up to the fact that there is a massive potential audience for real entertainment of this kind. Thank you!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Astaire Swings Like Mad !
12 Jun 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is just great. I saw the shows when they were first telecast years ago when television was still worth watching. Of course it`s just the soundtrack to the three award winning shows that Astaire did with the wonderful Barrie Chase, but I`m sure "they" will put the DVD`s out someday soon. Meanwhile, I can just dance around the house and thrill to this terrific music. David Rose does a beautiful job with the music and Fred picked the perfect guests. Count Basie, Joe Williams, Jonah Jones and Ken Nordine. Hip, Hip (very hip)and Hooray. I`ve had the LP`s for years, but Sepia has done wonders with the sound. To top it off, they`ve included bonus tracks. Alternate takes, soundtrack selection and un-issued recordings like the 1947 "THE ASTAIRE" a columbia single with BENNY GOODMAN. This and the newly released DVD of "YOLANDA AND THE THIEF" have made my week.
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