'The Half of It, Dearie' Blues
| "'The Half of It, Dearie' Blues" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Fred Astaire and Kathlene Martyn | |
| Written | 1924 |
| Composer | George Gershwin |
| Lyricist | Ira Gershwin |
| Language | English |
| Recorded by | Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald |
"'The Half of it, Dearie' Blues" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was introduced by Fred Astaire and Kathlene Martyn in the 1924 musical Lady be Good.[1]
Notable recordings
- Fred Astaire with George Gershwin at the piano - Fred Astaire - Complete London Sessions. In this first ever recording of the number, on April 19, 1926, Astaire includes a short tap-dancing section and asks Gershwin: "How's that, George," to which Gershwin replies: "That's fine, Freddy, keep going."
- Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959)