Let's Face The Music And Dance

February 20, 1936 - a new movie hits the silver screen called Follow the Fleet starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers with Randolph Scott and Harriet Hilliard (who would later become a famous TV mom of the 1950's and 1960's known as Harriet Nelson on the Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet). Also appearing in the film in a minor role is Lucille Ball. Music for the film was by Irving Berlin and one of the songs featured is Let's Face The Music And Dance from a now famous Fred & Ginger dance scene. It's been over 76 years since and the song remains somewhat well known and popular with singers that have both a first and last name and can actually sing more than 4 notes.

It could be that the most well-known version of the song is one recorded by Nat King Cole in 1963 so let's take a look at the song leading up to that point. Fred Astaire sang it in the movie (which leads up to the famous dance scene).

 The dance scene was filmed in the first take. I don't know dance from France, but am very impressed, especially with Ginger Rogers who is wearing heals and a long dress. Early into the scene one of Ginger's flowing, and heavy with beads, sleeves caught Fred in the face but they continued. Because of that slight imperfection they tried doing the scene another 23 times but were never able to duplicate the 99.9% perfection of that first take. You can watch the song and dance on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMuKRbJa3O8

A popular movie with a popular song usually means a bunch of records and so it was in 1936 for Let's Face The Music And Dance. One of the first to record the song was Bob Crosby who had his own orchestra -  the Bear Cats. Bob had an older brother named Henry who was known as Bing.

 

It quickly crossed over the Atlantic to England where it was recorded by the Ray Noble Orchestra with Al Bowlly singing.

 

Al, a native of South Africa, had also achieved great popularity in the USA. He was killed in 1941 during the Blitz when a German parachute mine exploded outside his bedroom as he slept.

Another early British recording was by Harry Roy & His Orchestra. I don't know when this was done, but it sounds like a pre-war recording.

 

After 1936 when record companies and orchestras cashed in on the popularity of the movie, the song seems to have been largely forgotten. I can't find any information on any recordings of it in the 1940's. In 1956 Mel Tormé recorded a very slow and somewhat limp version and then in 1957 Anita O'Day did it and changed everything. She turned it into an up-tempo showpiece for singers with great range and dynamics. Anita seems to pop up a lot in the short life of this blog. That's not intentional, it's just the way it is.    

 

After that it didn't take long for others to realize the potential in the song. Tony Bennett and Doris Day both recorded it within a year of Anita's recording, but I find their versions a little uninspiring and will pass it to Ella.

Ella Fitzgerald 1958

 

**********************
Jennie Smith 1958

 

**************************************

Ruth Brown 1959

 

 **************************

Frank Sinatra 1960

 

**************************************

Damita Jo 1961

 

******************************

Matt Monro 1961

 

****************************************

Shirley Bassey 1962

 

Which brings us up to 1963 and Nat King Cole. This recording was recently used as the theme for the excellent UK comedy mockumentary Twenty Twelve (about the preparation for the Olympics).