List of songs introduced by Fred Astaire

This is a complete list of the songs introduced by Fred Astaire beginning with his first Broadway show Over the Top in 1917 (his childhood and teenage period in vaudeville is not covered). Those who co-introduced a song with him are indicated in the co-singer column. The year refers to the year of introduction, not necessarily the year the song was written. The "Date of First Commercial Recording" refers to songs for which Astaire's recording was the first release of the song to the record-buying public.[1][2][3]

By default, this list is sorted in alphabetical order by song title; however, since it is a sortable wikitable, it can be sorted on the basis of any column simply by clicking on the symbol next to the column title.
Title Year Co-singer(s) Composer Lyricist Film Stage musical Date of first commercial recording
A Couple of Swells 1948 Judy Garland Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Easter Parade 1948, MGM 30186 (soundtrack)
A Fine Romance 1936 Ginger Rogers Jerome Kern Dorothy Fields Swing Time Los Angeles, July 28, 1936, Brunswick 7716
A Foggy Day 1937 George Gershwin Ira Gershwin A Damsel in Distress Los Angeles, October 17/19, 1937, Brunswick 7982
A Lot in Common with You 1942 Joan Leslie Harold Arlen Johnny Mercer The Sky's the Limit
A Needle in a Haystack 1934 Con Conrad Herb Magidson The Gay Divorcee
All to Myself 1922 Adele Astaire George Gershwin Arthur Francis aka Ira Gershwin For Goodness Sake
After You, Who? 1932 Cole Porter Cole Porter Gay Divorce 1932, EC 1215
Anyway, We've Had Fun 1930 Marilyn Miller Vincent Youmans Ring Lardner Smiles
Baby Doll 1952 Harry Warren Johnny Mercer The Belle of New York 1952, MGM 30517 (soundtrack)
Be Good to Me 1930 Adele Astaire Vincent Youmans Ring Lardner Smiles
Bojangles of Harlem 1936 Jerome Kern Dorothy Fields Swing Time Los Angeles, July 26, 1936, Brunswick 7718
Bring on the Girls 1917 Adele Astaire and others Sigmund Romberg, Jean Schwartz Harold R. Atteridge The Passing Show of 1918
Calypso Hooray 1957 Fred Astaire Fred Astaire 1957, Verve 10051
Can't Stop Talking 1950 Betty Hutton Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Let's Dance
Change Partners 1938 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Carefree Los Angeles, March 24, 1938, Brunswick 8189
Cheek to Cheek 1935 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Top Hat New York, June 26, 1935, Brunswick 7486
City of the Angels 1975 Fred Astaire, Tommy Wolf Tommy Wolf London, July 22, 1975, UAS 19885/LA-580
Dearly Beloved 1942 Jerome Kern Johnny Mercer You Were Never Lovelier 1942, Decca 18491
Dig It 1940 Bernie Henighen Johnny Mercer Second Chorus Los Angeles, September 22, 1940, Columbia 35852
Dream Dancing 1941 Cole Porter Cole Porter You Were Never Lovelier (instrumental only) 1941, Decca 18188
Dreaming 1921 Adele Astaire Victor Jacobi Edward Royce The Love Letter
Drum Crazy 1948 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Easter Parade
Ev'ry Night at Seven 1951 Burton Lane Alan Jay Lerner Royal Wedding 1951, MGM 30319 (soundtrack)
Every Day in Every Way 1922 Adele Astaire Jerome Kern Anne Caldwell The Bunch and Judy
Fascinating Rhythm 1924 Adele Astaire, Walter Catlett George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Lady Be Good London, April 19, 1926, EC 3969
Fated to Be Mated 1957 Cole Porter Cole Porter Silk Stockings
Flying Down to Rio 1933 Vincent Youmans Edward Eliscu, Gus Kahn Flying Down to Rio December 12, 1933, Columbia 2912D
French Pastry Walk 1922 Charles Judels, Vinton Freedley George Gershwin Arthur Francis aka Ira Gershwin For Goodness Sake
Funny Face 1927 Adele Astaire George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Funny Face London, November 26, 1928, EC 5174
Hang on to Me 1924 Adele Astaire George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Lady Be Good London, April 19, 1926, EC 3970
Happy Easter 1948 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Easter Parade
Hello, Baby 1956 Fred Astaire Moe Jaffe, Walter Ruick Los Angeles, March 30, 1956, Verve 2009
Here's to the Girls (1944) 1946 Roger Edens Arthur Freed Ziegfeld Follies
High Hat 1927 George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Funny Face London, December 4, 1928, EC 5173
History of the Beat 1955 Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer Daddy Long Legs
Hoe Down the Bayou/Poor Mr. Chisholm 1940 Bernie Henighen Johnny Mercer Second Chorus Los Angeles, September 22, 1940, Columbia 35852
Hoops 1931 Adele Astaire Arthur Schwartz Howard Dietz The Band Wagon New York, October 5, 1931, Victor 22836
How Could You Believe Me 1951 Jane Powell Burton Lane Alan Jay Lerner Royal Wedding 1951, MGM 30316 (soundtrack)
How Do You Do, Katinka? 1922 Adele Astaire Jerome Kern Anne Caldwell The Bunch and Judy
I Can't Be Bothered Now 1937 George Gershwin Ira Gershwin A Damsel in Distress Los Angeles, October 17/19, 1937, Brunswick 7982
I Can't Tell a Lie 1941 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Holiday Inn Los Angeles, May 27, 1942, Decca 18428
I Left My Hat in Haiti 1951 Burton Lane Alan Jay Lerner Royal Wedding 1951, MGM 30317 (soundtrack)
I Love Everybody But You (1962) 1975 Fred Astaire Fred and Ava Astaire London, July 30, 1975, UAS 19885/LA-580
I Love Louisa 1931 Adele Astaire Arthur Schwartz Howard Dietz The Band Wagon New York, October 5, 1931, Victor 22755
I Used to Be Color Blind 1938 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Carefree Los Angeles, March 24, 1938, Brunswick 8189
I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man 1952 Harry Warren Johnny Mercer The Belle of New York 1952, MGM 30520 (soundtrack)
I'd Rather Charleston 1924 George Gershwin Desmond Carter Lady Be Good London, April 19, 1926, EC 3970
I'd Rather Lead a Band 1936 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Follow the Fleet Los Angeles, January 30, 1936, Brunswick 7610
I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise 1922 Adele Astaire and others George Gershwin Buddy DeSylva and Ira Gershwin Stop Flirting
I'll Capture Your Heart Singing 1941 Bing Crosby Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Holiday Inn Los Angeles, May 27, 1942, Decca 18427
I'll Say I Love You 1921 Adele Astaire Victor Jacobi Edward Royce The Love Letter
I'm Building Up to an Awful Let-Down 1936 Fred Astaire Johnny Mercer Los Angeles, January 30, 1936, Brunswick 7610
I'm Glad I Waited 1930 Marilyn Miller Vincent Youmans Clifford Grey, Harold Adamson Smiles
I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket 1936 Ginger Rogers Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Follow the Fleet Los Angeles, January 30, 1936, Brunswick 7609
I've Got Beginner's Luck 1937 George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Shall We Dance Los Angeles, March 19, 1937, Brunswick 7855
I've Got My Eyes on You 1940 Cole Porter Cole Porter Broadway Melody of 1940
I've Got You on My Mind 1932 Claire Luce Cole Porter Cole Porter Gay Divorce New York, November 11, 1932, Victor 24193, 24716
If I Were You, Love 1930 Adele Astaire Vincent Youmans Ring Larnder Smiles
If Swing Goes, I Go Too 1944 Fred Astaire Fred Astaire Ziegfeld Follies deleted number 1944, Decca 23388
Isn't This a Lovely Day? 1935 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Top Hat New York, June 27, 1935, Brunswick 7487
It Only Happens When I Dance with You 1948 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Easter Parade 1948, MGM 3018 (soundtrack)
Jack and the Beanstalk 1950 Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Let's Dance
Just Like Taking Candy from a Baby 1940 Fred Astaire Gladys Shelly Los Angeles, May 9, 1940, Columbia 35517
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off 1937 Ginger Rogers George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Shall We Dance Los Angeles, March 19, 1937, Brunswick 7857
Let's Face the Music and Dance 1936 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Follow the Fleet Los Angeles, January 30, 1936, Brunswick 7608
Let's Kiss and Make Up 1927 Adele Astaire George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Funny Face
Life Is Beautiful 1975 Fred Astaire, Tommy Wolf Tommy Wolf London, July 22, 1975, UAS 19885/LA-580
Love of My Life 1940 Artie Shaw Johnny Mercer Second Chorus Los Angeles, September 22, 1940, Columbia 35815
Manhattan Downbeat 1949 Harry Warren Ira Gershwin The Barkleys of Broadway
Me and the Ghost Upstairs 1940 Bernie Henighen Johnny Mercer Second Chorus deleted number Los Angeles, September 22, 1940, Columbia 35815
My One and Only 1927 Betty Compton, Gertrude McDonald George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Funny Face London, December 4, 1928, EC 5173
My One and Only Highland Fling 1949 Ginger Rogers Harry Warren Ira Gershwin The Barkleys of Broadway 1949, MGM 50016 (soundtrack)
Never Gonna Dance 1936 Jerome Kern Dorothy Fields Swing Time Los Angeles, July 26, 1936, Brunswick 7718
New Sun in the Sky 1931 Adele Astaire Arthur Schwartz Howard Dietz The Band Wagon New York, October 5, 1931, Victor 22755
Nice Work If You Can Get It 1937 Betty Rone, Jan Duggan, Mary Dean (dubbed by The Stafford Sisters) George Gershwin Ira Gershwin A Damsel in Distress Los Angeles, October 17/19, 1937, Brunswick 7983
Night and Day 1932 Cole Porter Cole Porter Gay Divorce New York, November 11, 1932, Victor 24193, 24716
No Strings (I'm Fancy Free) 1935 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Top Hat New York, June 26, 1935, Brunswick 7486
Not My Girl 1929 Fred Astaire, Van Phillips Desmond Carter London, April 5, 1929, EC 5174
Oh Gee, Oh Gosh 1922 Adele Astaire William Daly Arthur Francis aka Ira Gershwin For Goodness Sake London, October 18, 1923, HMV B1719
Oh My Achin' Back 1945 Fred Astaire Wille Shore, Morey Amsterdam 1945, Decca unreleased, released 1982, MCA MCL 1706
Oh Them Dudes 1950 Betty Hutton Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Let's Dance
On the Beam 1942 Jerome Kern Johnny Mercer absent from release of You Were Never Lovelier 1942, Decca 18489B _B side to You Were Never Lovelier Decca 18489A
One for My Baby 1943 Harold Arlen Johnny Mercer The Sky's the Limit 1945, Decca unreleased
Oops 1952 Harry Warren Johnny Mercer The Belle of New York 1952, MGM 30518 (soundtrack)
Pale Venetian Moon 1922 Adele Astaire Jerome Kern Anne Caldwell The Bunch and Judy
Peach Girl 1922 Adele Astaire Jerome Kern Anne Caldwell The Bunch and Judy
Pick Yourself Up 1936 Ginger Rogers Jerome Kern Dorothy Fields Swing Time Los Angeles, July 26, 1936, Brunswick 7717
Please Don't Monkey with Broadway 1940 George Murphy Cole Porter Cole Porter Broadway Melody of 1940
Quick Service 1917 Adele Astaire Sigmund Romberg, Jean Schwartz Harold R. Atteridge The Passing Show of 1918
Say, Young Man of Manhattan 1930 Vincent Youmans Clifford Grey, Harold Adamson Smiles
Seeing's Believing 1952 Harry Warren Johnny Mercer The Belle of New York 1952, MGM 30518 (soundtrack)
Shall We Dance 1937 George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Shall We Dance Los Angeles, March 21, 1937, Brunswick 7857
Shoes with Wings on 1949 Harry Warren Ira Gershwin The Barkleys of Broadway 1949, MGM 50017 (soundtrack)
Slap That Bass 1937 Dudley Dickerson George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Shall We Dance Los Angeles, March 18, 1937, Brunswick 7856
So Near and yet So Far 1941 Cole Porter Cole Porter You'll Never Get Rich 1941, Decca 18187
Something's Gotta Give 1955 Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer Daddy Long Legs 1955, RCA Victor 20-6140
Squab Farm 1917 Sigmund Romberg, Jean Schwartz Harold R. Atteridge The Passing Show of 1918
Steppin' Out with My Baby 1948 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Easter Parade 1948, MGM 30188 (soundtrack)
Sweet Music 1931 Adele Astaire Arthur Schwartz Howard Dietz The Band Wagon
Sweet Sorrow (1940) 1956 Fred Astaire Gladys Shelley Los Angeles, March 30, 1956, Verve 2019
Swiss Miss 1924 George Gershwin Ira Gershwin, Arthur Jackson Lady Be Good London, April 27, 1926, EC 3979
That Face 1957 Lew Spence Alan and Marilyn Bergman Another Evening with Fred Astaire (1959) 1957, Verve 10051
That's Entertainment! 1953 Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant Arthur Schwartz Howard Dietz The Band Wagon 1953, MGM 30793 (soundtrack)
The Afterbeat 1959 Fred Astaire Johnny Mercer Another Evening with Fred Astaire 1959, Kapp 311
The Babbit and the Bromide 1927 Adele Astaire George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Funny Face London, November 26, 1928, EC 5174
The Half of It, Dearie' Blues 1924 Kathleen Martyn George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Lady Be Good London, April 19, 1926, EC 3969
The Jolly Tar and the Milkmaid 1937 Pearl Amatore, Betty Rone, Jac George George Gershwin Ira Gershwin A Damsel in Distress
The Justine Johnson Rag 1917 Adele Astaire and others Sigmund Romberg, Herman Timberg, Frank Carter Charles Manning Over the Top
The Ritz, Roll and Rock 1957 Cole Porter Cole Porter Silk Stockings
The Shorty George 1942 Rita Hayworth dubbed by Nan Wynn Jerome Kern Johnny Mercer You Were Never Lovelier 1942, Decca 18491
The Sluefoot 1955 Johnny Mercer Johnny Mercer Daddy Long Legs 1955, RCA Victor 20-6140
The Way You Look Tonight 1936 Jerome Kern Dorothy Fields Swing Time Los Angeles, July 26, 1936, Brunswick 7717
The Whichness of the Whatness 1922 Adele Astaire William Daly Arthur Francis aka Ira Gershwin For Goodness Sake London, October 18, 1923, HMV B1719
There's No Time like the Present 1956 Fred Astaire Walter Ruick Los Angeles, March 30, 1956, Verve 2009
They Can't Take That Away from Me 1937 George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Shall We Dance Los Angeles, March 19, 1937, Brunswick 7855
Things Are Looking Up 1937 George Gershwin Ira Gershwin A Damsel in Distress Los Angeles, October 17/19, 1937, Brunswick 7983
This Heart of Mine 1946 Harry Warren Arthur Freed Ziegfeld Follies 1944, Decca 23388
Times Square 1922 Adele Astaire and others Jerome Kern Anne Caldwell The Bunch and Judy
Top Hat, White Tie and Tails 1935 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Top Hat New York, June 26, 1935, Brunswick 7486
Tunnel of Love 1950 Betty Hutton Frank Loesser Frank Loesser Let's Dance
Twit, Twit, Twit 1918 Adele Astaire Sigmund Romberg, Jean Schwartz Harold R. Atteridge The Passing Show of 1918
Upside Down 1921 Adele Astaire Victor Jacobi Edward Royce The Love Letter
We Saw the Sea 1936 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Follow the Fleet Los Angeles, January 30, 1936, Brunswick 7609
When You're in Rome 1922 George Gershwin Arthur Francis aka Ira Gershwin For Goodness Sake
Where is the Language to Tell? 1917 Adele Astaire Sigmund Romberg, Herman Timberg Phillip Bartholomae, Harold R. Atteridge Over the Top
White Heat 1931 Adele Astaire Arthur Schwartz Howard Dietz The Band Wagon New York, September 28, 1931, Victor 22836
Who Wants to Kiss the Bridegroom? (Bachelor Dinner Song) 1952 Harry Warren Johnny Mercer The Belle of New York 1952, MGM 30520 (soundtrack)
Yolanda 1946 Harry Warren Arthur Freed Yolanda and the Thief
You Were Never Lovelier 1942 Jerome Kern Johnny Mercer You Were Never Lovelier 1942, Decca 18489A
You Worry Me 1962 Fred Astaire Fred Astaire Los Angeles, Nov 15, 1962, Ava 125
You'd Be Hard to Replace 1949 Harry Warren Ira Gershwin The Barkleys of Broadway 1949, MGM 50016 (soundtrack)
You're All the World to Me 1951 Burton Lane Alan Jay Lerner Royal Wedding 1951, MGM 30317 (soundtrack)
You're Easy to Dance with 1941 Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Holiday Inn Los Angeles, May 27, 1942, Decca 18428
You're in Love 1932 Claire Luce, Erik Rhodes Cole Porter Cole Porter Gay Divorce

References

  1. ^ Mueller, John (1986). Astaire Dancing - The Musical Films. London: Hamish Hamilton. ISBN 0-241-11749-6.
  2. ^ Billman, Larry (1997). Fred Astaire - A Bio-bibliography. Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-29010-5.
  3. ^ Fred Astaire at the Internet Broadway Database