"Oh, Lady Be Good!" is a 1924 song in the key of G, with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was written for the Broadway musical Lady, Be Good!, whose book was by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson and which starred Fred and Adele Astaire. Walter Catlett introduced the song in the show. The musical had been called Black-Eyed Susan during its development, but the authors renamed it after the song once they had heard it. The chorus later sang the song in the 1941 film Lady Be Good, which has no connection to the musical. Early recordings in 1925 were made by Carl Fenton, Paul Whiteman and Cliff Edwards. Ella Fitzgerald's 1947 recording, which features a notable scat solo, became a hit, and in 1959 she recorded a ballad version arranged by Nelson Riddle. The song became a widely covered jazz standard of the Swing era and of modern jazz, and a favourite theme for jam sessions. Other notable versions include those by Benny Goodman's trio (1936), Artie Shaw (1939), Charlie Parker and Lester Young (1946), Fred Astaire (1952), Kenny Burrell (1959), Mel Tormé with Buddy Rich (1978) and the John Wilson Orchestra (2016).
