Change Partners

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Change Partners (Irving Berlin) was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the 1938 RKO musical Carefree.

According to The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin, eds. Robert Kimball and Linda Emmet (2001), p. 317, on 5 July 1938 the head of RKO’s music Department, Dave Dreyer, wrote to Irving Berlin expressing high expectations for the success of three songs in the Carefree score: “The Yam,” “Change Partners,” and “The Night is Filled with Music.” With regard to “Change Partners” he wrote,

I thought you would be interested to know that we recorded the vocal on “Change Partners” Saturday. When Fred and [director] Mark [Sandrich] heard the orchestra play it the first time, they jumped up and hugged each other. I never saw them show so much enthusiasm about a number before. You will probably receive a wire or a call from Mark about it. They both seemed to think it is even better than “Cheek to Cheek.”

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Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers — in Carefree (1938)

Astaire vocal sequence

(below) Astaire vocal sequence, and Astaire hypnotizing Rogers dance sequence

Fred Astaire with Ray Noble and his Orchestra — recorded on 24 March 1938; issued on Brunswick 8189, c/w “I Used to Be Color Blind” (Irving Berlin)

Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra, vocal: Bob Eberly— recorded on 29 July 1938; issued on the single Decca 2002, c/w “The Yam” (Irving Berlin)

Fred Astaire — from “An Evening with Fred Astaire,” originally aired on NBC TV on 17 October 1958 — sung by Fred Astaire, and danced by Fred Astaire, Barrie Chase, and an unidentified male dancer

Sammy Davis, Jr. — from the LP Sammy Awards, Decca DL 78921, released in 1960, according to SecondHandSongs.com and AllMusic.com, though Discogs.com dates a UK release 1959

Jack Jones — from the 1961 LP Shall We Dance, Kapp Records KL 1228 (Mono)/KS 3228 (Stereo)

Vic Damone with Jack Marshall’s Music — originally released on the 1962 LP Linger Awhile, Capitol Records T 1646 (Mono), ST 1646 (Stereo)

Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim — from the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim, Reprise Records F-1021 (Mono), FS-1021 (Stereo), album recorded on 30 January and 1 February 1967, released in March 1967 — arranged by, conductor: Claus Ogerman

Jazz.com track review by Marc Myers

Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim — from the 1967 Sinatra special A Man and His Music + Ella + Jobim; original airdate: 13 November 1967

The song is performed in a medley including also “Corcovado,” “I Concentrate on You,” and “Garota de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema).” All four songs had been featured on their collaborative album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim, released in March 1967.

David Udolf — from the CD Playing, an album recorded (says the provider) in June and August 1999, but released, according to CD Universe, on 20 August 2002

David Udolf – piano
Chris Amberger – bass
Bob Braye – drums

Hot N Spicy — 2003 performance, according to the Video page of the band’s website

Svein Erik Martinsen – guitar, vocal, percussion, whistling
Bjarke Falgren – violin
Lars Tormod Jenset – bass

Harry Allen (tenor sax) and Keith Ingham (piano) — duet at Jazz at Chautauqua, 17 September 2011 — recorded by Michael Steinman for JAZZ LIVES