| Composer | George Gershwin |
| Lyricist | Ira Gershwin |
| Year Written | 1924 |
About This Song
“Fascinating Rhythm” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1924 Broadway musical Lady Be Good and was introduced by Cliff Edwards, and Fred and Adele Astaire. The Astaires also recorded the song in 1926 with Gershwin on piano. “Fascinating Rhythm” was, and still is, a jazz number. For that reason, it has never been out of favor with jazz artists, both vocal and instrumental.
View lyrics
Got a little rhythm, a rhythm, a rhythm
That pitter-pats through my brain
So darn persistent, the day isn’t distant
When it’ll drive me insane
Comes in the morning without any warning
And hangs around me all day
I’ll have to sneak up to it, someday and speak up to it
I hope it listens when I say:
Fascinating rhythm, you’ve got me on the go
Fascinating rhythm, I’m all a-quiver
What a mess you’re making, the neighbors want to know
Why I’m always shaking, just like a fliver
Each morning I get up with the sun
Start a-hopping, never stopping
To find at night no work has been done
I know that once it didn’t matter, but now you’re doing wrong
When you start to patter, I’m so unhappy
Won’t you take a day off, decide to run along
Somewhere far away off, and make it snappy
Oh, how I long to be the gal I used to be
Fascinating rhythm, oh, won’t you stop picking on me?
Recordings
1949
Tony Bennett, going as Joe Bari at that time, recorded “Fascinating Rhythm” in April 1949 as a demo record to send to studios.
Release History
| 1949 | Leslie Records 78 — Leslie 919 |
1958
Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Fascinating Rhythm” on December 22, 1958. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.
CO 61982
Release History
| 1959 | Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1294 — In Person! With Count Basie |
| 1959 | Columbia LP 12″: CS 8104 — In Person! With Count Basie |
1959 to current
| unknown | Columbia LP 12″: LE 10125 — In Person! With Count Basie |
| unknown | CBS LP 12″: 35DP159 — In Person! With Count Basie [Japan] |
| unknown | CBS LP 12″: 20AP1418 — In Person! With Count Basie [Japan] |
| unknown | Philips LP 12″: 840059BY — In Person! With Count Basie [UK] |
| 1959 | CBS LP 12″: BPG 62250 — In Person! [UK] |
| 1959 | Philips LP 12″: BBL 7398/SBBL 542 — In Person! With Count Basie [UK] |
| 1973 | Embassy LP 12″: EMB 31002 — Trolley Song (1973) |
| 1976 | Warwick LP 12″: PR 5021 — The Very Best Of Tony Bennett: 20 Greatest Hits [UK] |
| 1976 | Warwick/CBS LP 12″: CBS 5021 — The Very Best Of Tony Bennett: 20 Greatest Hits [UK] |
| 1983 | CBS LP 12″ (Mono): 32373 — In Person! [UK] |
| 1994 | Columbia CD: CK 64276 — In Person! With Count Basie (1994) |
| 1999 | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab CD: UDCD743 — In Person! |
| 2008 | Jasmine CD: JASCD482 — Together At Last/A Perfect Combination (2008) |
| 2011 | Columbia: The Complete Collection — Disc 14 — In Person! |