Customer Reviews

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers At RKO: Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was thrilled to discover this CD set. Previously, I had been looking for Fred Astaire albums that included the songs from his films with Ginger Rogers, but they were all slightly different from their film versions (some people may not have noticed, but it really bothered me). Then, I found this at my local library and loved it so much I had to buy my own copy. These are, obviously, the songs exactly as they are heard in the films, as they are all taken directly from the film source. I know that some have put down the audio quality as "poor". Granted, the quality is not up to par with the audio on recordings currently being produced. However, it's important to remember these recordings are from the 1930s. It's only natural that they won't have the same kind of audio quality and crispness we're used to now. With that in mind, I was satisfied with the recordings.

One of the great things about this set is the dialogue from the movies that is included with some of the songs. I was pleasantly surprised by it and, as someone else mentioned, it really does conjure up the movie scenes again in your mind. I also think it should be mentioned that the "liner notes" included here are much more than a simple song list. It is a 39 page booklet with pictures, a history of both Astaire and Rogers lives and careers (including a history of their real-life romance), as well as information on the movies and their creation. For a fan, having this booklet included is a wonderful, added bonus.

I rated this CD package 4 stars because 4 1/2 wasn't available. The reason I demoted it that 1/2 a star is because there are a few songs from the films that were not included, namely "The Piccolino" from TOP HAT, the reprise of "A Fine Romance/The Way You Look Tonight" from the finale of SWING TIME, and "Since They Turned Loch Lomand Into Swing" from CAREFREE. Still, because of what is included, I think this is well worth purchasing for any Astaire/Rogers fans. [I also recommend the 2-disk CD set "Fred Astaire at MGM", if you'd like to own the songs from "THE BARKELYS OF BROADWAY", his final film with Ginger Rogers.]

I'm giggling as I'm writing this, because my musical knowledge comes no where near my literary knowledge, or my knowledge of film. (I never in a million years thought I'd write anything other than a book or video review.)

But, as I said in my title, I want to pay homage to dear Mr. Kern. I bought this CD because after I saw Fred & Ginger's movie "Swing Time," I fell head-over-heels in love with the Jerome Kern score, and Mr. Kern immediately became my favorite composer (though all the other greats of the first half of the 20th century are very close seconds: Berlin, Porter, R & H, Gershwin, etc.).

This CD is worth the price (heck, MORE than worth the price) just for the breathtakingly beautiful score of "Swing Time" (Disc 2, Songs 1-6). As far as I know, the original score to "Swing Time" is not, by itself, on CD (don't quote me on that). So buy this CD, for it is simply unthinkable that any fan of American standards (pre-1950) not experience the magic of this music. (Yes, MAGIC; it motivated me to buy this CD, and I only own, including this one, THREE CDs!!!)

Well, now I'm off, because writing this has made me want to listen to it...for the HUNDREDTH time!!!

Isn't it a lovely day to be with Ginger and Fred! They will lift the gloomiest of spirits and give you a song for the day, the week, the year! Those catchy songs from "Swing Time" and "Shall We Dance" are the best of the bunch. Try the cut of the lovely waltz in swing time the next time you are driving--it will shorten the miles and broaden your smiles! Many of the songs are introduced by several lines of dialogue from the films; so you can visualize the scene as the song begins. Fred's rendition of "Things are Looking Up" is so joyous it alone is worth the price of the set. Ditto "Slap that Bass"--every selection will remind you why these two are the best musical couple ever. The notes that accompany this CD are outstanding. They are illustrated with the posters from the films, some great photos, and new tidbits even for Fred and Ginger's biggest fans. It'll sweep you off your feet!

Nothing can compare to Fred and Ginger, they'll be in our hearts forever

Well, yes, I was one of those kids who took tap dancing and ballroom dancing lessons mostly due to Fred and Ginger movies along with keeping my twin brother and I out of mischief. But now to this extraordinary double CD set!

First, there is a lot of charming music in this collection which has excellent sound quality. The songs include not just the singing parts but also the dancing parts. So, you can visualize the duo dancing while your eyes are closed just listening. Plenty of excellent music is included. All of the big hits. There is also a nice booklet included with plenty of info about the songs, movies and Fred and Ginger. There are also plentiful "Behind the scenes" pictures. So OK, the song "The Piccolino" is not included in this set. It's just that Rhino Records could not buy the rights to the song for a "Fair" price (in Rhino's opinion). But, since the overall double CD set is just so wonderfully put together, you don't even really notice it, folks.

This is a real treasure of song, dance and memories taking you back to a time when the only things that seemed "dirty" were your knees as you were trying to dance like Fred Astaire. OVERALL RATING: A-

Practically perfect. The only downside is ther chopped up version of "The Continental". May the world always remember the great talents of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

If you are a fan of the wonderful Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musical movies made at the RKO studios, this 2 cd set is for you. 9 of the movies are represented plus a single selection from 'The Sky's The Limit' which Astaire made with Joan Leslie. Not a great movie, but the song is 'One For My Baby (& One More For The Road!' There are a few snippets of dialogue and 35 of those terrific songs. Is the sound first rate? Of course not; but then, it is hardly first rate in the movies, themselves, right? The sound IS certainly as good as possible. The accompanying booklet is informative (did you know that Ginger only sang two solos in all their movies together????) and filled with B&W stills. This is a real treat for all of us who believe that movies have never been as chic and naive at the same time.

After years of success on the Broadway stage, Fred & Ginger started off their movie careers in 1933 with the frothy comedy, "Flying Down To Rio," and went on to make ten films for the RKO studio, each of which, naturally, included plenty of high-class hoofing and Tin Pan Alley songsmithing. This generous 2-CD set gathers nearly all the musical numbers from these films -- "Top Hat," "Gay Divorcee" and others -- along with some incidental dialogue and even extended passages with the ratatatat-tarrrump!! of Astaire's tapdancing. It's classic material, with lively versions of some of the biggest standards of the 'Thirties (Astaire's films were often used as vehicles to introduce pop hits to a mass audience...) There's also a roughness and informality to these recordings that many folks might find appealing, as the music is lifted straight from the actual films, and that's part of the charm... Okay, so maybe we have to admit that Ginger Rogers was a terrible singer, but Astaire's gentle crooning more than makes up for it, and all of these old tracks are tremendously entertaining, as well as historically rich. Recommended!

This 2-cd set is the best I've ever bought--I'm so glad someone decided to put songs from the Astaire/Rogers movies together. All the songs from their movies are included, and the quality of the sound is excellent. The best thing though, to my mind, is that the songs are exactly the same as they are in the movies -- that means the phrasing and movement of the songs are the same, dialogue is included, the taps are included, its great! Thank you!

This double CD is transcendent in it's splendor! I recently watched the entire Astaire/Rogers film series and just HAD to find the music performed in those movies-wala, after some research I found this set of magical cd's. To those who take issue with the sound of these recordings as taken directly from the movies, I say that is precisely their charm. The songs are paired with others from each of the movies in a chronological fashion, perfect for visualing the order of progression. Not much I can say about the music except that it is simply some of the purest, classiest, funnest, wittiest set of "standards" ever recorded. The orchestration of the era is stupendous, and Astaire/Rogers sing for the ages. I'm from a much later generation, so glad I caught the Astaire/Rogers "fever"! I'll be listening to this throughout the ages-it's joyful, sentimental, and reminiscent of bygone eras at their best. Go get this one!