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Ruth Leon recommends… One For My Baby – Fred Astaire

norman lebrecht

March 12, 2023

One For My Baby – Fred Astaire (the greatest dances on film)

Working my way through the file of the numbers you have nominated I’ve been having fun looking at some amazing performances that had slipped out of my conscious memory but snapped back as soon as one of my readers reminded me of it. Here’s one, recommended by Martin. I’m including it especially for Julian who loves “the dance videos – Fred Astaire etc (not into ballet!)”.

Inevitably, most of the dances readers have nominated are performed by either Astaire or Kelly. Here’s Fred Astaire dancing and singing “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)”.This song was written for him to perform in the movie “The Sky’s the Limit” (1943). Words by Johnny Mercer and music by Harold Arlen, dance by Fred Astaire.

This song has been recorded multiple times by Frank Sinatra but I like this version best mainly for Mr Astaire’s dazzling tap dancing.