At RKO [Best of, Live]

This includes most of the songs from the classic Fred and Ginger RKO series, including some from Fred's solo films too "A Damsel in Distress" and "The Skys the Limit".

These have been taken straight from film and have been on - some tracks - slightly edited to miss some dialogue. "Pick Yourself Up" for example. The editing however has been very well done in my opinion, and only on tracks that it needs to be done to aswell.

These are all digitally remastered and sound great!

You also get a very well written little booklet inside along with it all too.

However, it is missing some songs. "Music Makes Me" for one example. But you get mainly all the songs. And in my opinion, nobody sings them better than Fred Astaire. One of the most under-rated singers there is.

Very, very highly recommended for Fred and Ginger fans.

One of the great things about this set is the dialogue from the movies that is included with some of the songs. I was pleasantly surprised by it and, as someone else mentioned, it really does conjure up the movie scenes again in your mind. I also think it should be mentioned that the "liner notes" included here are much more than a simple song list. It is a 39 page booklet with pictures, a history of both Astaire's and Rogers's life and career (including a history of their romantic relationship, which I was surprised to read), as well as information on the movies and their creation. For a fan, having this booklet including is a wonderful added bonus.

I rated this CD package 4 stars because 4 1/2 wasn't available. The reason I demoted it that 1/2 a star is because: [1] Some people may be put off by the audio quality, but if you keep in mind that these recordings are very old and not from a modern day recording studio, I think you should be all right with it. [2] There are a couple of songs from the movies that weren't included, namely "The Piccolino" from TOP HAT, and the reprise of "A Fine Romance/The Way You Look Tonight" from the end of SWING TIME. Admittedly, the latter may not be considered a full song, since it is quite short - but it's a nice little ending that I personally enjoy. However, "The Piccolino" is a major number from TOP HAT, and I'm not sure why it wasn't included. Still, because of what is included, I think this is well worth purchasing for any Astaire/Rogers fans. [I also recommend the 2-disk CD set "Fred Astaire at MGM", if you'd like to own the songs from "THE BARKELYS OF BROADWAY", his final film with Ginger Rogers.]

But, as I said in my title, I want to pay homage to dear Mr. Kern. I bought this CD because after I saw Fred & Ginger's movie "Swing Time," I fell head-over-heels in love with the Jerome Kern score, and Mr. Kern immediately became my favorite composer (though all the other greats of the first half of the 20th century are very close seconds: Berlin, Porter, R & H, Gershwin, etc.).

This CD is worth the price (heck, MORE than worth the price) just for the breathtakingly beautiful score of "Swing Time" (Disc 2, Songs 1-6). As far as I know, the original score to "Swing Time" is not, by itself, on CD (don't quote me on that). So buy this CD, for it is simply unthinkable that any fan of American standards (pre-1950) not experience the magic of this music. (Yes, MAGIC; it motivated me to buy this CD, and I only own, including this one, THREE CDs!!!)

Well, now I'm off, because writing this has made me want to listen to it...for the HUNDREDTH time!!!