Continuing AVID’s tribute to the great American Songbook in our Essential Collection series we feature one of the greatest songwriters of the twentieth century…George Gershwin.
We begin our 47 song journey with appropriately enough one of Gershwin’s most famous songs, the classic Swanee sung by Al Jolson.
Over the course of this finely re-mastered double CD we can see how Gershwin applied his musical genius as he composed for stage, film and the concert hall.
All areas of his writing are on display here including two of his most famous concert works, Rhapsody In Blue (cut version) and An American In Paris featuring the great man himself at the piano.
CD1
1. Swanee – Al Jolson
2. Do It Again – Sue Allen/Billy Butterfield
3. Fascinating Rhythm – Hazel Scott
4. Oh, Lady Be Good! – Ike Hatch
5. I’d Rather Charleston – Fred & Adele Astaire
6. The Man I Love – Lena Horne
7. Somebody Loves Me - Jack Teagarden/Eddie Condon
8. Looking For A Boy – Ella Fitzgerald
9. Maybe – Bing Crosby
10. Clap Yo’ Hands – The Merry Macs
11. Do, Do, Do – Gertrude Lawrence
12. Someone To Watch Over Me - Lee Wiley/Eddie Condon
13. Funny Face – Whispering Jack Smith
14. High Hat – Hutch
15. ‘S Wonderful – Dinah Shore & Buddy Clark
16. He Loves And She Loves – Hutch
17. My One And Only – Jack Hylton/vocal trio
18. I’ve Got A Crush On You – Sarah Vaughan
19. Liza (All The Clouds’ll Roll Away) – Al Jolson
20. Strike Up The Band - Carroll Gibbons/Anne Lenner
21. Bidin’ My Time – The Foursome
22. Could You Use Me? - Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney
23. Embraceable You – Frank Sinatra
24. I Got Rhythm – Jack Simpson/Betty Kent
25. Rhapsody In Blue – George Gershwin/ Paul Whiteman Concert Orchestra/ Nathaniel Shilkret
CD2
1. But Not For Me – Teddy Wilson/Helen Ward
2. Treat Me Rough – Mickey Rooney
3. Gems from Of Thee I Sing - Jane Froman, Sonny Schuyler & Chorus
4. Mine – Shirley Ross & The Foursome
5. Summertime – Helen Jepson
6. It Takes A Long Pull To Get There - Paul Robeson
7. I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ – Lawrence Tibbett
8. It Ain’t Necessarily So - Johnny Mercer/Billy Butterfield
9. (I’ve Got) Beginner’s Luck – Roy Fox/Mary Lee
10. They All Laughed - Red Nichols/The Three Songies
11. Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off – Billie Holiday
12. They Can’t Take That Away From Me - Billie Holiday
13. Things Are Looking Up – Fred Astaire
14. A Foggy Day – Carroll Gibbons/Anne Lenner
15. Nice Work If You Can Get It - Carroll Gibbons/George Melachrino
16. Love Walked In – Kenny Baker
17. I Was Doing All Right – Ella Fitzgerald
18. Love Is Here To Stay - Mildred Bailey/Red Norvo
19. Dawn Of A New Day - Horace Heidt/Charles Goodwin
20. Changing My Tune - Artie Shaw/Mel Tormé & His Mel-Tones
21. For You, For Me, For Evermore - Margaret Whiting
22. An American In Paris – George Gershwin/ Victor Symphony Orchestra/ Nathaniel Shilkret
