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S Wonderful the Songs of George Gershwin

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51 GERSHWIN songs are assembled in this 2 cds collection honoring the composer.All of those recordings are from the mono era,but this should not prevent you from buying it.It's marvelous among many other delights, to hear some original renditions delivered by FRED ASTAIRE from the shows or films he starred in.You can also hear here some of the songs from PORGY AND BESS.The GERSHWIN fanatic, if he doesn't already own those renditions, also available on other collections,will rave over this set.

George and older brother Ira grew up in New York during the ragtime craze, which like its successor jazz, depended heavily on syncopated rhythms. So it was natural for George to incorporate that new musical alphabet into his compositions. The combination of George's tunes and Ira's lyrics were a knockout. Brimful of vim and pep, they were perfectly suited to the musical theatre for which they were commissioned. Fifteen Broadway shows are featured, including the opera "Porgy and Bess", which span the period 1919 to 1936, and four subsequent Hollywood films.

Some of the shows transferred to London, "Lady Be Good" being a case in point. Fred and Adele Astaire appeared in both productions, and recorded four of the numbers in London, accompanied by George at the piano. Cliff Edwards was also in the cast, and his recording of the title song is included, as is "Do, Do, Do" by Gertrude Lawrence from the 1926 show "Oh, Kay!". Red Nichols led the pit orchestra for the successful 1930 revival of "Strike Up The Band" and recorded the title song. Todd Duncan & Ann Brown, who played the title roles in the original "Porgy and Bess", duet on "I Loves You, Porgy". Fred Astaire puts in more appearances, first singing and tap-dancing to "My One And Only", recorded in London while the show was playing at the Princes Theatre, then has a monopoly of numbers from the films "Shall We Dance?" and "A Damsel in Distress".

Most of the remaining tracks are later cover versions, by such great singers as Dinah Shore, Ella Fitzgerald, Lee Wiley, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Dick Haymes. Remastering is excellent, there's an informative liner note, and a full discography. This compilation has been unavailable for far too long, and it's a treat to have back in the catalogue.