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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In 1952 Fred Astaire joined Oscar Peterson and some of Verve's best sidemen to lay down jazzy, laid-back versions of songs he had made famous in his Broadway and film career. Those 38 tracks, released as The Astaire Story, have been condensed into this collection, Steppin' Out: Fred Astaire Sings. While Astaire was not blessed with great vocal chops, the best American songwriters including George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter loved him for his unerring sense of rhythm and sympathetic treatment of lyrics, qualities that are well displayed here. Tony Bennett hit the pop mainstream with his 1994 album of jazzy Astaire standards. Here's the original. --David Horiuchi
Product Description
Audio CD.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By "pspa"
Format:Audio CD
In an album that contains many of the finest songs ever written by Berlin, Porter, Gershwin and others, Fred Astaire proves that it phrasing and timing, and not voice, that make a great singer. This is a truly remarkable CD in all aspects. The sound quality, considering it was recorded in 1952, is superb. Astaire is in incomparable form, with the songs sounding much better than some of his earlier versions. And the sextet supporting Astaire, including the marvelous Oscar Peterson at the keyboard, is as fine as any. Not to be missed for anyone who loves this genre. There is also a 2 CD, complete recording of this session on Amazon.com called The Astaire Story.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Great American Song Book reached its highest point in the 1950's with Verve's Jazz recordings of the classic American music of the 1930's. All the Jazz greats stepped back twenty years and breathed new life into the works of Irving Berlin, Rogers and Hart and Cole Porter.
"Steppin' Out" is brilliant because it serves as a link between the Broadway and Hollywood Music of the 1930's and the new Jazz interpretations of the 1950's. Many of the songs covered in this album were written for and first performed by Fred Astaire.
Verve had a first rate idea in asking Fred Astaire to work with Oscar Peterson. The arrangements show all the brilliance that Peterson was capable of achieving and Astaire stepped up to the musical challange. The jazz pace and phrasing worked perfectly for Astaire. His voice and delivery had only improved with time. In my opinion, his voice in the 1930's had a tinny quality to it. But by the 1950's he had matured and there is deepness to his voice that works well in a jazz setting.
There can be little argument that Fred Astaire was one of the great dancers of the Twentieth Century. Although not as well respected as a vocalist, this album quite clearly shows that Astaire could do it all.
"Steppin' Out" is brilliant because it serves as a link between the Broadway and Hollywood Music of the 1930's and the new Jazz interpretations of the 1950's. Many of the songs covered in this album were written for and first performed by Fred Astaire.
Verve had a first rate idea in asking Fred Astaire to work with Oscar Peterson. The arrangements show all the brilliance that Peterson was capable of achieving and Astaire stepped up to the musical challange. The jazz pace and phrasing worked perfectly for Astaire. His voice and delivery had only improved with time. In my opinion, his voice in the 1930's had a tinny quality to it. But by the 1950's he had matured and there is deepness to his voice that works well in a jazz setting.
There can be little argument that Fred Astaire was one of the great dancers of the Twentieth Century. Although not as well respected as a vocalist, this album quite clearly shows that Astaire could do it all.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
According to Hollywood legend, Fred Astaire's 1933 screen test for RKO resulted in this studio memo: "Can't sing. Can't act. Can dance a little." In reality, the dance visionary was an underrated vocal stylist who brought out the best in the compositions of George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. Originally produced by Norman Granz, "Steppin' Out" compiles 17 recordings from Astaire's classic 1952 session - accompanied by a stellar jazz combo featuring pianist Oscar Peterson. The sound quality and musicianship are impeccable, with Fred smoothly gliding from one standard to another. A particularly nice touch is the three-minute interview that follows "Cheek to Cheek." If you cannot find the 38-track "Astaire Story," this hour-long Verve CD makes for an excellent overview.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to listen to
My sister gave this album to me as a gift. I always liked Astaire. Everyone knows about his value as a dancer but I always thought he never was given enough credit as a singer. Read more
Published 1 month ago by mr52pickup
5.0 out of 5 stars
No one sings it like Fred
He orginally sang many favorite Porter, Gershwin, and Berlin songs. Although his voice is light, he hits all the notes and his sophisticated treatment is still my favorite.
Published 4 months ago by Judith Campbell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Steppin Out Astaire Sings
Love those old movies. I was watching Holiday INN over Christmas and thought I would like to have an Astaire CD.
Published 4 months ago by Gary W. Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Having never truly considered Astaire a great singer, I was very pleasantly surprised by this album. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Cynthia A Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Steppin Out: Astaire Sings is a classic
I felt compelled to review this CD because some guy rated it 2 stars writing that Astaire hired "studio musicians." Well, let me clear the air. Here's the band. Wow. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Barry
1.0 out of 5 stars
Is there something wrong with me?
I am amazed at all these positive reviews. True the songs are great and the arrangements terrific, but Astaire is speaking these songs half the time, as if his voice had gone. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Clark Anthony
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fred can dance AND sing!
When you listen to this CD, you feel Fred Astaire is right there in the room with you. I don't know if it's the recording method, or Fred's unique style or the intimacy of the jazz... Read more
Published 20 months ago by lac
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true A+ album
You Can not go wrong with this one. Verve did an exceptional job streamlining the The Fred Astaire Story from 1952 into this gem and it's sister album The Irving Berlin Song/Book. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Jerry Dunham
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not the "movies" Fred
This is Fred Astaire, with hired studio musicians, doing songs from his movies. He's not a great singer, but such a great consummate performer, that in his movies, he brings... Read more
Published on March 31, 2010 by W. A. Jayne
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Natural As Breathing
Fred Astaire made everything he did look easy. Although not regarded as a natural singer, his prowess on this classic recording makes the listener feel that Astaire was born to... Read more
Published on January 20, 2010 by IVE
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