Slap That Bass

"Slap That Bass" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, introduced by Fred Astaire and Dudley Dickerson in the 1937 film Shall We Dance.^[3]

"Slap That Bass"
Song by Fred Astaire
B-side	"They All Laughed"
Published	1937 by Chappell & Co.[1]
Released	April 1937
Recorded	March 21, 1937[2]
Studio	Los Angeles, California
Genre	Jazz, Pop Vocal
Label	Brunswick 7856
Composer(s)	George Gershwin
Lyricist(s)	Ira Gershwin
Fred Astaire singles chronology
"They Can't Take That Away from Me" (1937) "Slap That Bass" (1937) "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" (1937)

The song refers to the slap style of double bass playing that was popular at the time.

Notable recordings

• Uri Caine – Rhapsody in Blue (2013)
• Georgia Brown – Georgia Brown Sings Gershwin/Georgia Brown (2003)
• Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959)
• Susannah McCorkle – How Do You Keep the Music Playing (1985)
• Chris Connor – Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song (1957)