Louisiana – Fred Astaire (w. Al Starita & His Boy Friends)

Visiting Americans – Fred Astaire

This British recording created something of a departure for Fred Astaire. His recordings up to this point usually included his sister Adele, either duetting with Fred or appearing on one side of the record. Also his recordings were songs from his shows, “Louisiana” is not a show tune but must have been a song he admired.
It seems strange to credit Fred Astaire as a “comedian” but it’s a nice touch to acknowledge Al Starita, a fellow American. Here using the term “boy friends” around two years before Carroll Gibbons adopted it. Remember, Al Starita got there first!
With this upload my selection of visiting Americans comes to a close. However, there’s still the reverse side of most of the records I’ve recently featured to follow.
Recorded c.March 1929.

****** Transfer and video by Jonathan Holmes ******

source