Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook
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Audio CD (09 October, 2001)
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Editorial Review

Recorded in 1960 and '61, this is one of the last and very best of Fitzgerald's songbooks spotlighting individual composers. Arlen's lyrical songs,filled with bluesy touches and abstractions from the blues form, are perfectjazz fodder (he wrote for Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club, circa 1930), andbeautiful tunes in their own right. Fitzgerald is in peak voice; she's attentiveto the nuances of soulful lyrics (Ira Gershwin's "The Man That Got Away"), andlightly teases some witty ones (like Johnny Mercer's "Ac-cent-tchu-ate thePositive"). Billy May's big-band arrangements are models of self-effacingfleetness--punchy without hysteria, smooth without syrup--and enlivened by altosaxophonist Benny Carter and trumpeter Don Fagerquist. But May also brings adelicate sensibility to introductory verses, interludes, and tender ballads.Strings on a few tracks are for variety, not window-dressing. Arlen's gracefulAmerican art songs have never had a better showcase--even if they could haveskipped "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead." --Kevin Whitehead ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

A timeless recording!
One of Ella's & this series' best! I never thought Ms. Fitzgerald could take on the challenge of doing a complete Harold Arlen set so successfully. I use to think a belter like Judy Garland could only do his melodies justice. I was wrong! Here, Ella showed that good taste & restraint works just as well! Don't get me wrong, Ella still used projection & dramactics to display the needed emotion for each song but she did it subtlety. She never overwhelmed which critics of Ethel Merman would say.Now to the songs! There are several I didn't know until I heard this tribute. Let's Take a Walk Around the Block sure romaticized the depreesion. Ella surely knew how to have fun with this dated song & still keep it fresh. This Time the Dreams on Me, which is also on the Johnny Merecr Songbook, makes me say they don't write them like that anymore. Arlen & Mercer were unbeatable. Why can't sophisticated love lyrics like that be written as often today.The classics on these 2 discs, which there are many, have never been done better! Blues In the Night opens the set with a 7 minute version that never gets boring. This was before Hey Jude & American Pie. I've never heard Ella in better voice, belting out the song in an original arrangement of this overdone but fabulous song! Accentuate the Positive is joy, gospel, & glorious pop all wrapped together. Both songs with opposite moods show how versatile Ella's singing was. With everyone knowing Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, it took Ella to record it. Why didn't Verve release it orginally? Ella has has much fun with this dark novelty song as she must have had with her own sweeter but tragic A Tisket A Tasket. Fitzgerald is up there on the fun tunes. I must mention arranger Billy May doing the impossible of taking a big band & having them deliver an unique, fresh, creative, bright & brassy back-up jazz sound. Only the saxes on My Shining Hour sounds out of place. Another complaint is thatsongs such as Right as the Rain & Anyplace I Hang My Hat should have been included. Still, so many Arlen masterpieces are.In conclusion, if one desirestimeless material done by a timeless artist; this double album is it.

Ella, and Billy May...
Tonight I played the album which made me a devoted Ella Fitzgerald fan; it is Ella Fitzgerald sings the Harold Arlen Songbook. From the first time I played the LP my father left me, I loved her voice, and the atmosphere on this particular recording. I liked the swinging but sophisticated arrangements by Billy May. And right now when I switch my music off, I read on the Internet Billy May has passed away. He has the age for it (87), but it is a great loss anyway, although I didn't know he was still with us.
Ella sings beautiful (especially on the second dis): Over the Rainbow, Happiness is just a thing called Joe, One for my baby, the man that got away... listen to them; learn to love Ella, and think of Billy May... both their genius are somewhere over the rainbow now.

ELLA AND BILLY MAY
If you don't know other songbooks from the ELLA's 16 collection,you might enjoy those two cds a lot.But many of those excellent songs have been covered so well by the likes of SINATRA,GARLAND etc.that you are bound to be disapointed.ELLA is not at ease with with BILLY MAY's driving orchestral direction.Compare MAY's wonderful work with ANITA O'DAY(SWINGS COLE PORTER)to experience the difference.It's simply a mismatch.However,if you don't pay attention to these sorts of details,you can buy it eyes closed,because no songbook of ELLA is without interest.THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC and BLUES IN THE NIGHT were allready famous songs at that time;GET HAPPY will forever be associated with JUDY GARLAND.My favorite here is MY SHINING HOUR.A medium FITZGERALD can still be a crowd pleaser. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N6T2
Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop    3. Standards    4. Traditional Pop    5. Vocal Jazz   

Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 May, 1997)
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Editorial Review

Only Frank Sinatra has put his indelible stamp on as many pages of the American Popular Songbook as Ella Fitzgerald. But while Sinatra specialized in mood-themed albums (his composer-based collections were compiled from material already released), Fitzgerald's ambitious songbooks devoted themselves to one great songwriter after another: Cole Porter, the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, and so on. Her two-volume Rodgers and Hart project ranks with the best, and if Buddy Bergman's arrangements are a bit sweeter than his Cole Porter settings, or Nelson Riddle's Gershwin treatments, they suit the material just fine. And what a wide range of material it is (with original verses intact!), intermingling novelty show tunes ("Give It Back to the Indians," "Johnny One Note"), sophisticated standards ("Manhattan," "Blue Moon," "The Lady Is a Tramp"), and lush ballads ("Isn't It Romantic," "It Never Entered My Mind"). But the most exquisite thing Fitzgerald ever recorded is her seven-minute "Bewitched" (a.k.a. "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered") on volume 2, casting a spell of hushed reverie that makes time stand still. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (14)

Been playing it for weeks!
I've had both CDs in this set in my car for weeks and I can't move on!The combination of Ella Fitzgerald's instrument and Rodgers and Hart's songs is incomparable.I also like the variety Buddy Bregman's arrangements add to the whole package.In my opinion, the hallmark of Rodgers and Hart is the smart, quirky lyrics and patterns, not to mention the beautiful melodies.Try "Dancing on the Ceiling" to see what I'm getting at. There's even a touch of the bawdy in that Ella does all of "Bewitched" (other artists usually sing about half); "Horizontally speaking, he's at his very best."Wow!Other standouts in this collection are "With a Song in My Heart," "Where or When" and of course, "My Funny Valentine."This may be the best CD I've bought in years.I could listen to it all day, oh wait, I do listen to it all day!

One ofthe Best!
One of the best! Buddy Bregman superbly arranges for Ella. He makes Johnny One Note & With a Song in My Heart fit her range while still being innovative & aesthetic. A major thing is that Sing For Your Supper, He Was to Good to Me, Falling in Love With Love, Glad to be Unhappy, Why Can't I, Nobody's Heart, Most Handsome Boy in the World, Tree In the Park, It's Gotta To Be Love, It's Easy to Remember, You Are Too Beautiful, You're Nearer, I'll Tell Man in the Street, Quiet Night, Where's That Rainbow, Lady Must Live, &I'd Like to Recognize the Tune should have been added to this set. What I'm saying is Rodger & Hart wrote a massive amount of great songs. Back whenI cassette taped my own Great American Songs Books by my favorite artists, I found out R&H had more songs recorded than any of their peers! It was easy to find great versions of their masterpieces! Ella & Buddy make this ***** by including forgotten treasure such as To Keep My Love Alive, about a female bluebeard, & Everything I've Got & I Wish I Were In Love Again. Those last 2 make S&M an underrated pastime. Hart could make a love song an intellectual or satirical excercise. Whenever his fellow lyricists tried, where they inspired by him? Did they suucced? Listen to Bewithced. What song so well covers the entire history of an affair? Was there any other song? Rodgerswas at least Hart's equal. Who could write such beautiful nonrepetitive melodies. Too many compsoers, old & new, just repeat the same melody. Actually, Hart got equal billing with Rodgers when lyricists were genarally subornate to composers. Producer & manager, Norman Granz, should have put into this R&H tribute the same massive care that the Gershwin set received. Those 17 missing songs& the instrumental Slaughter On 10th Avenue should have been in the set. Rogers & Hart songs are far superior to the Gerswhins' songs! To hear the magnificent 17, check Mel, Sassy, Carmen, Barbra, Judy, Eydie, Lena, & Maureen McGovern. Still, don't get me wrong, this is really a ********** gem.

These albums are for the ages.
One of the most important reasons to stay alive. ... Read more

Asin: B0000047EH
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Standards    5. Traditional Pop    6. United States of America    7. Vocal Jazz   

Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Songbook
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 June, 1997)
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Editorial Review

Long considered a jewel in Verve Records' very impressive crown, Fitzgerald's songbook collections of various composers--a series that was started by the success of this set--are all wonderful, but her natural wit and intelligence was at its most perfect with Cole Porter's erudite, urbane songs. While not as scat-oriented as her small group outings, these Porter sets offer her most realized pop performances.Also, the gold remastering does a fine job of bringing out the nuances in the arrangements, making this a treasure for the serious collector and the casual listener alike. A true American music gem. --Skip Heller ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Generally glorious Cole Porter collection from Fitzgerald
Though Irwin Winkler's 2004 Cole Porter biopic DE-LOVELY was a near-disaster in trying to explain what made Porter and his songs so special, it at least made me interested in hearing more of his music. It was in that spirit of adventure that I came upon this 2-disc collection of Cole Porter songs sung by the much-celebrated Ella Fitzgerald. The experience of hearing such great, unflashy singing and Porter's witty, sophisticated, and even sometimes touching music and lyrics (in some stellar orchestral arrangements) turned out to be quite memorable.

The booklet that accompanies this set has an essay from Fred Lounsberry, supposedly an expert on Cole Porter. He does an intriguing (if maybe overly academic) job of articulating what makes Porter's music so appealing. Read his essay to perhaps get the larger picture. For me, though...I just love the way that Porter writes all these songs about romance and love, and writes about it with such intelligence. In light of all the cheesy, cliched love ballads that seem to be proliferating on the radio airwaves (Hoobastank's power ballad "The Reason" is a nauseating recent example), who couldn't treasure words like "What is this thing called love? / This funny thing called love? / Just who can solve its mystery? / Why should it make a fool of me?" It was the mystery---and the pain---of love that Cole Porter so eloquently portrayed in many of his songs, and very few songwriters have done it better.

And very few artists have sung Porter's songs better than Ella Fitzgerald. Or, at least, I can hardly imagine many other artists (other than, maybe, Frank Sinatra) singing such a wide range of Porter with such consistency, versatility, and sheer polish. Listening to these recordings, you hardly doubt that both she and Porter were made for each other. Both bring wit and sophistication to their art without making a big show of themselves. Okay, I could imagine some listeners perhaps feeling that Fitzgerald's singing is slightly too aloof when a particular song demands something a little more emotionally intense. But, for me, I found her singing often thrilling anyway. In song after song, she shows a real sense of style, and certainly her diction is beyond reproach. You can understand every word she sings, and sometimes you can even feel those words, too. (Listen to the poignant "Miss Otis Regrets", Track 3 of Disc 1; you'll see what I mean.) Such clarity, style, and breathtaking control count for a lot with these multi-layered tunes; with Fitzgerald, you feel like you're listening to Cole Porter rather than hearing Ella Fitzgerald flashily dominating the substance of these wonderful songs. In a time when grotesque belting seems to pass for great singing (thank you, "American Idol," for making tastelessness in singing acceptable), it's almost refreshing to hear Ella Fitzgerald's stylish, un-pretentious, ego-free interpretations of these classic American songbook staples.

On a whole, "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook" offers nearly 2 hours of unadulterated pleasure. With so many songs offered here, it's amazing how consistently good these performances are; it's hard to pick a favorite, because they're almost all worthwhile. Almost. The only real dud I can find in this collection is "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)" (Track 9, Disc 1); it is simply too slow for my taste. Fitzgerald and arranger Buddy Bregman seem to be trying to emphasize slow, sexy sultriness over the youthful impetuosity the lyrics imply; but, despite Fitzgerald's best efforts, the result simply sounds leaden. (Alanis Morrissette might have massacred the song in DE-LOVELY, but at least the much-faster tempo sounded more convincing there than the slow tempo does here.)

That, though, is the only real failure in a set that steps right much more often than it steps wrong. Perhaps you shouldn't restrict yourself to hearing only Ella Fitzgerald's take on these classic songs. Still, if you're interested in Cole Porter, you certainly can't go wrong with this set. At her best, Fitzgerald will help you understand what is so entrancing about Porter and his uniquely witty take on being in love in this world. Highly recommended.

Almost Perfect
Ella Fitzgerald's voice is flawless, without peer.That goes without saying.And these CDs showcase the beauty of her sound.I took off one star because I'm just a bit disappointed because some of these songs were written as exuberant show tunes (I think, I'm no expert), and Ms. Fitzgerald's voice is more suited to slow, sexy jazz numbers.For example, in my opinion, "Let's Do It" is a very funny ("sentimental centipedes do it!"), witty tune encouraging us all to have a little fun and fall in love.The version on this CD sounds like it's moving through molassas -- all the wit is drowned away in drowsy, hypnotic vocals.Ms. Fitzgerald's voice is pitch-perfect, her diction is technically flawless, but... I guess I wish she'd just cut loose once in awhile and give voice to the joy and sparkle of Mr. Porter's songs.That said, her voice is just too delicious to give less than 4 stars.Enjoy!

Unforgettable moment
This CD is a masterpiece, and Ella Fitzgerald's voice is like a dream. When she sings "Ev'ry Time We Say Good-Bye" it's a very moving moment -- very sad, but unforgettable... ... Read more

Asin: B0000047EG
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Standards    5. Swing    6. Tin Pan Alley Pop    7. Traditional Pop    8. Vocal Jazz   

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (02 November, 1993)
list price: $271.98 -- our price: $271.98
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Editorial Review

This 16-CD set collects all of Ella Fitzgerald's Songbooks, a monumental tribute to the American popular song and its greatest composers, recorded for Verve between 1956 and 1964. There is likely no other singer possessed of the mix of talents that Fitzgerald brought to the project, a combination of sheer vocal technique, creativity in phrasing and rhythm, and fidelity to lyrics and intent. The sheer scale of the project contributes to its value, for Fitzgerald went far beyond the standard repertoire, rediscovering little-known gems by many of her subjects: Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Rodgers and Hart, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, and Duke Ellington. The discs of Ellington material still stand out, illuminated by the presence of Duke and his band. They put Ellington, a master melodist as well as a great composer, in his rightful place in the pantheon of American songwriters. --Stuart Broomer ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (16)

16 CD's worth of timeless jazz history - priceless!
I was able to hear Ella at Ravinia here in Chicago a year or two before her death and at the time was more familiar with her name than with the breadth of her musical talent.The evening was one of those experiences that is etched permanently in my mind, and I feel truly privileged to have heard Ella in person.

It was after that that I looked longingly at this set of hers for a couple of years before I had the nerve to bite the bullet and buy it, despite its high asking price.Looking back at the literal "days" of listening pleasure I've received from this set, as well as the visual feast that is included, with the individual CD jackets featuring the original cover artwork, I have to say it has been one of the wisest "impulse" purchases I've ever made.(Wise is not an adjective usually applied to an impulse purchase, but in this case it is an accurate description.The only other impulse purchase I've made that conjures up a similar emotional response from me is the Bose Wave System, which makes Ella sound just fine, by the way(!)...)

I felt passionate enough about this set to actually take the time and scan in the individual CD covers so they would appear within iTunes in my Mac when I played the tracks on my computer.Given that the scanned images were still available, I've uploaded them onto Amazon's website on this page for your perusal, enjoyment, right-clicking to save for your own use in iTunes, whatever.Oh, and did I say, enjoy this set!

The best thing you'll ever buy.
Really.The best thing you'll ever buy.

BOXSET IS NOT COMPLETE!!!
As good as this boxset is, it is not complete.Heart and Soul, one of her finest ballads is missing for example. ... Read more

Asin: B0000046RN
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Box Sets (Audio Only)    3. Jazz    4. Pop    5. Standards    6. Swing    7. Tin Pan Alley Pop    8. Traditional Pop    9. Vocal Jazz   

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 March, 1999)
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Editorial Review

While legends such as Billie Holiday and Count Basie made their greatest impact with visceral, blues-soaked statements, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington succeeded by lending their work unmatched grace and precision. This is a roundabout way of saying that no one is better suited to interpret the Duke than Ella, and the evidence is contained within these three CDs. Discs 1 and 3, recorded in June 1957, feature the support of the full Ellington band and are a complete joy, from Fitzgerald's terrific scat vocal on "Rockin' in Rhythm" through the extended four-part suite "Portrait of Ella Fitzgerlad," which adds Ellington's spoken observations and Billy Strayhorn's piano accents. However, the real highlight is the middle disc, recorded in the fall of that year, which finds Ella fronting a small band boasting Ellington's former tenor star Ben Webster. Most of this disc includes wonderful violin from Stuff Smith and supple guitar from Barney Kessel; the remaining cuts feature Oscar Peterson's trio. Of particular note are the three warming Ella-Kessel duets and the consistently charming work of Webster. By combining big-band and small-band sides, this collection emphasizes the flexibility of both Ellington's songs and Fitzgerald's interpretive powers. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (8)

Perfectly Imperfect
If you can only afford one Ella songbook set, make Ellington the one. Ella and Duke are perfectly matched. Having her sing with the composer is a unique feature of this set. There is an exuberant spontaneity here which is unmatched by any other songbook album. This mean that there are some imperfections and improvisations, and that's what jazz is. The material is fabulous. The obvious reciprocal adoration and respect of these two legends permeate everything. It is one of the all time great jazz albums ever. Not to be missed.

music of the heavens
This set is about as good as it gets. Most of it is Ella with Duke's band, and as you'd expect everything is A1. The arrangements are stellar, the solists complement Ella to perfection. The opening reeds on "I got it bad" make my hair stand on end every time. There is also some beautiful small group stuff, notably with Ben Webster and Stuff Smith, which also swings like hell. (Squatty Roo, Cottontail ...) Finally you get a lot of outtakes of Chelsea Bridge ... OK, it's filler stuff to some, but some of us find it interesting to hear how Duke would fine tune the sound of the band as he went along ...

The packaging sucks (those irritating cardboard sleeves where you can't get the bloody CD's out properly) ... but hey ... jewel cases are cheap ...

Rockin' In Rhythm...
I listened to the first track, Rockin' In Rhythm five or six times before going onto the second track; and experienced the delight of discovering something truly good and remarkable from two artists, about whom I thought I knew everything good and remarkable.Back in the 1970's I collected Ella songbooks on vinyl (Gershwin, Porter, Rogers & Hart), but never got around to the Ellington collection.How fortunate that I inadvertently saved this little gem for a rainy day.Listening to it is like discovering Ellington and Ella anew.Except with the added appreciation of a fan.I would never tire of Rockin' In Rhythm, so reliable a source of joy it is...my soul smiles for the privilege to witness this collaboration. ... Read more

Asin: B00000HYIC
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Standards    5. Swing    6. Traditional Pop    7. Vocal Jazz   

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
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Reviews (10)

Good album but way too short
I own most of Ella Fitzgerald'ssongbooks on CD so I was happy to add this to my collection.The only problem with it isthat it's way too short.Unlike most of Ella's other songbooks this one only has 12 tunes. Lesserknown songs such as `Let's Begin','I'll Be Hard to Handle','You Couldn't Be Cuter' and `Remind Me' would have been fine on a two LP collection of 25+ songs but here they take the place of standards like "Long Ago and Far Away", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and The Folks Who Live On The Hill.

The folks at Verve could have at last added "I Won't Dance" and "Pick Yourself Up" from "Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson"as bonus tracks to fill in the CD.Both albums were recorded around the same time so there is no difference in the sound of Ella's voice or Nelson Riddle's arranging style.

Don't underate this!
One must laugh when reading these 8 reviews. If only all albums had this much artistry & care! While 3/4 of the reviews are *****, the comments would make one think it was rated much lower. One comment states her range was better on the Mecrer Songbook but she really goes flat on Day In Day Out. Another comment is that her Berlin Songbook is farbetter but I feel that one was her worst songbook. She was mismatched with the Berlin material. Reallly! It'a all personal taste! Ella didn't have the range of Sarah Vaughan, Eydie Gorme, Jane Morgan or Shirley Bassey but she had other great talents. In the later years when other singers would have beenin their declines, Ella smartly picked a new manager & better quality songs & arrangements. She also kept her voice in tact as long as possible. No one singer has all the great qualities. She had so much variety in being able to do scat, straight jazz, pop, blues, & satire. She gave us knowledge of many great songs that would have been otherwise left forgotten. From this cd, She Didn't Say Yes, & I'll Be Hard To Handle are musts to any collection. I can't think of any singer who could have done those 2 better. Ella coud really swing & dramatize at same time. Not many could. I'm surprised no mentioned the at 1st 6 songs are better than the last 6. Here I think arranger Nelson Riddle was doing straight forward pop arrngements for the side A of the orginial lp & being adventurous with the B side. While I see how one may not like Way You Look Tonight, I give it ***** for an unique arrangement. In those days too many songshad to end in 3 minutes. This was allowed time to paint a complete canvas. If one wants a great introduction to a great American composer, start with this, please.

Classic album, masterly treatment, but all too brief.
Ella's Kern collection, with the singer in peak form backed by splendidly jazzy Nelson Riddle arrangements, is an essential component of her complete Verve Songbook masterwork, and a triumph of content over form.Coming late in the series, the project unfortunately received short shrift as a single-LP album whereas two or more discs had been the norm for prior Songbooks.While the songs themselves are an adequate sampling of Kern standards, there is simply not enough space on one disc to do justice to Kern's wealth of composition.A multi-disc boxed set (similar to Fitzgerald's grandiose Gershwin and Ellington Songbooks), with material ranging from extensive selections from Show Boat and Roberta to lesser-known gems from the P. G. Wodehouse Princess Theater shows, would have been ideal for Kern; but alas! this was not to be, as the Verve Songbook series was then perceived as having run its course.The magnificent performances of Fitzgerald and the Riddle orchestra more than atone for this unintended slight to a great American composer.Whatever its shortcomings, the album is not to be missed by followers of the artists, Kern, musical theatre or the American popular song. ... Read more

Asin: B0000046X8
Sales Rank: 78317
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Standards    5. Traditional Pop    6. Vocal Jazz   

Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Gershwin Songbook
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 May, 1998)
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Editorial Review

George and Ira Gershwin are probably the songwriters who have contributed the most standards to the American repertory, and Fitzgerald covers pretty much all of them in this mammoth enterprise. (The 53 songs were recorded in 1959 and originally came out in a five- LP box set.) Considering the scope of this collection, naming titles would be futile: rest assured that your favorite Gershwin tune is likely to be included. The singer's well-known versatility and musicality are in evidence, but what's especially amazing is the complete symbiosis between her and arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle. Fresh off injecting a shot of swing into Sinatra's career, Riddle enhances Fitzgerald's vocals rather than overwhelming her, and Fitzgerald, in turn, is stimulated by the musicians percolating behind her. Pure genius. --Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Features

• Box set
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (19)

Ella + Gershwin = Pure Magic
I've been reviewing a lot of Gershwin CDs this week, mainly the historical sets of Gershwin's own recordings of Rhapsody in Blue, the Piano Concerto in F, the first-ever American in Paris, the 1935 original Porgy & Bess excerpts, etc.Those are all must-have CDs for any Gershwin lover, and so is this wonderful 4-disc set with Ella singing 53 songs to Nelson Riddle's very classy accompaniments.Not everything here is a "best-ever" - I still prefer Billie Holiday and Old Blue Eyes in "You Can't Take That Away From Me" - but this great-sounding Verve set is simply THE one to have of George & Ira's Songbook.

Highly recommended.

Too Much Too Bland
It's too bad that about 12 of the songs were on this set. Ella & Nelson can't make those 12 listenable. I feel that this isfar too costly for its mediocrity. It does have great stuff on it but not enough! Her Oh Lady Be Good is well worth it because of containing only great Gershwin.I do love My Cousin In Milwaukee which describes Ella's singing style. OK, MILWAUKEE IS MY HOME TOWN. Rather, than this, Ella's Rodgers & Hart Songbook deserves to have been a massive box set: 51 songs plus the instrumental Slaughter on 10th Ave.

Remote and controlled
After all the fun, humour, sex and emotion of the Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter and Duke Ellington songbooks I couldn't wait to hear this. I'm disappointed. I love Ella above all other performers, but in this set she seems very subdued and so little of her sense of fun or mischief is in evidence thatI find it hard to believe that she enjoyed making these recordings. The heavy reverb with which her voice is recorded also increases the sense of remoteness.
The reponsibility lies with Nelson Riddle who plays just about everything too darned slow! A song that epitomises this is "They Can't Take That Away From Me", which is a fun swing, romantic song that could have been written for Ella, but here performed at flat-lining pace in the search for a heart rending ballad perhaps?
All you who love this album, please forgive me, but I'd love to know what you make of the other songbooks, do you find them wild and unrestrained?
I nevertheless give it 3 stars, because some of the songs are really worth remembering and it is still Ella after all. ... Read more

Asin: B000006P6L
Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop   

Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 November, 2000)
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Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (2)

Bluest of Skies
Ella is superlative. We know that. Berlin's tunes neither have the wry urban sophistication of Porter nor the jazzy complexity of Ellington, but they have a compelling simplicity and honesty. Ella's versions are the best out there. In fact, "Blue Skies" is in my mind one of the top five Ella songs, and that says a great deal indeed. There are many standouts here, including "Putting on the Ritz", which is a great party song. Enjoy!

How Can You Miss With Ella And Berlin
This handsomely repackaged collection of 32 masterfully crafted songs by American composer Irving Belin stands as part of the greatest body of work produced by any 20th century popular singer. In compiling her monumental songbook collection Fitzgerald paid tribute to America's "big five", Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. She also recorded the works of Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer and Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, superb but arguably second tier composers.

Of the "big five", Berlin is admittedly the most sentimental and perhaps least urbane. Where Richard Rogers could tell of ladies playing craps, (The Lady Is A Tramp) and Cole Porter could write of sniffing cocaine, (I Get A Kick Out Of You) and illicit love, (Love For Sale) Berlin was content to praise the joys of Easter Bonnets, White Christmas and Alexander's Ragtime Band. But let's not forget his more than capable hand at romance with the likes of Cheek To Cheek, Blue Skies and I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.

As with all of Ella's songbooks, the arrangements, the selections and of course her superlative styling make this essential listening. I do have a preference for the Cole Porter and Rogers & Hart songbooks, but this collection still rates five stars. How could you miss with Ella and Berlin? ... Read more

Asin: B000050J5Y
Sales Rank: 61777
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Standards    5. Traditional Pop    6. Vocal Jazz   

Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (28 October, 1997)
list price: $14.98 -- our price: $14.98
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Reviews (5)

What a difference a songbook makes!
Would Ella held onto her place in Americana if not for her songbooks? I love the majority of them. She may well been relegated to novelty singer because of her Decca material. Starting in 1956 new manager, Norman Granz, had her record on his own Verve label the best & most enduring of America's music. Ella recorded albums that will always be in stores, catalogs, & on line. Mainly, the Songbooks and Nelson Riddle arranged material. Every song here was not defintive but collectively they sparkled! Johnny Mercer wrote so many great lyrics & a few good melodies that had this been a bigger collection, like her massive Gershwin, it could had very well been *****.Other reasons it's only **** are the including of the medicore SINGLE-O & WHEN A WOMAN LOVES A MAN & Ella's flatness on DAY IN-DAY OUT & SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE. Still, Ella had class, diction, good taste when alllowed, & a great swinging flair.

THE MAN FROM SAVANNAGH
Now people read this, JOHNNY MERCER was probably AMERICA's most prolific songwriter.From 1930 to 1976 JOHNNY wrote more than 1,000 songs.He also sang with his good natured SOUTHERN accent and co-founded CAPITOL records.Still, many people don't know him apart from singers who sang his songs.You might not know it but you certainly have heard many of his songs : THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC,I'M AN OLD COWHAND FROM THE RIO GRANDE,MOONRIVER are only a few of them not present here.ELLA and conductor NELSON RIDDLE have chosen true swinging greats TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS,SOMETHING'S GOTTA LIVE but also some songs not often recorded like SINGLE-O and MIDNIGHT SUN.ELLA has recorded other MERCER songs in the HAROLD ARLEN SONGBOOKS

"Laura" and "Midnight Sun" hits!
The below review was mine from a long time ago, so I added it again under my name.

I haven't heard the rest of the album, but I'm going to give it a four just on the strength of "Laura" and "MidnightSun." Laura, a fine ballad from the superb film-noir classic, lives upto the film's standard with Ella's timeless vocal, along with a beautifularrangement. The repeating crescendo, representing the hypnotic tick of thegrandfather clock at the film's end, is what first pulls you in. Then,Ella's classic reading of the already descriptive lyric puts image afterglorious image in your head. The arrangement, gentle as a breeze, takes onits own life without upstaging her, and as she hold that last note andtrails off, you'll want more, you'll want to hear it again, and as I did,you'll almost certainly play it once more.

"Midnight Sun"almost rises to the level of "Laura." The classic tunepopularized by swing-era vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, was given a trulyclassic lyric by Johnny Mercer that should go down in music history, ifonly for the incredible rhyming job ("Your lips were like a red andruby CHALICE/Warmer than the summer night/The clouds were like an alabasterPALACE/Rising to a snowy height/Each star its own Aurora BOREALIS/Suddenlyyou held me tight/And I saw the midnight sun..."). Ella masterfully(as always) guides herself through the words, singing them so well that,once again, you can see what's happening. And, as an added bonus, there's avibe accompaniment, as a nod to Hamilton. Both of these are among her veryfinest work and should be near the top of her "Very Best" list. ... Read more

Asin: B0000047G2
Sales Rank: 12808
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Standards    5. Swing    6. Traditional Pop    7. Vocal Jazz   

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 May, 1997)
list price: $50.98 -- our price: $50.98
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• Box set
• Limited Edition

Reviews (11)

If you could own only one music collection ...
This set has every worthwhile song ever recorded by what may be the best musical duo ever. And even though the price tag may seem high for a collection of ancient standards that for the most part had already been remastered for single-CD collections, I see it as a good value for money given the quality of the packaging and the fact that almost everything Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong ever recorded is here.

That last part is what really earns this set five stars. There is no shortage of adjectives to describe this unlikely pair -- I've heard satin and sandpaper, for example, or honey and gravel -- and it is the unique contrast between their vocal styles alluded to with those descriptions and the chemistry they share that help them create what can only be viewed as magic.

By putting everything in one set, Polygram all but eliminates the need to accumulate any additional CDs from this duo. To wit: this is the only set I know of that includes Ms. Fitzgerald's and Mr. Armstrong's most playful song (Makin' Whoopee), their best known standard (Cheek to Cheek), and my personal favorite (Summertime).

If you have heard any of these songs and you enjoyed the music even partly as much as I do, then this is a must-have collection.

a note about missing songs...
Ella & Louis never recorded Baby' it's Cold Outside together. Luois taped that with Velma Middleton. Many, many people get that mixed up, so that is NOT mising because it never was...

Good, but not complete
I cannot believe that there are other songs out there that are not on this CD.It states that it is COMPLETE, yet songs like Dream a little dream of me, and Baby it's cold outside are overlooked.In total, this is a good CD, and is a excellent starting set for people who have nothing by them. ... Read more

Asin: B0000047EI
Sales Rank: 9007
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Jazz    3. Pop    4. Standards    5. Swing    6. Traditional Pop    7. Vocal Jazz   

Love Songs: Best of Verve Songbooks
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (18 June, 1996)
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Reviews (8)

Ella As Smooth As Honey!
Another great Ella Collection! This one has a few semi- hard to find tunes from her work with Duke Ellington that are among the disc's best. These are "Love You Madly", "Solitude",and"Prelude to a Kiss". Finding the best of Ella is not easy, given her vast legacy and super- high quality, but this is a good place to start. And since it's a mix of various Ella "Songbooks", the mix of composers like Duke Ellington, Mercwer, Gershwin, Arlen, and Porter is a nice touch too!

Ella is the best!
The songs on this one are just as wonderful as the other "song books".
For anyone that has never listened to Ella.This is one to try.

Ella is perfect - as always
To me, Ella is one of those one-name superstars.The purity of her voice and her ability to interpret a song makes her simply the best.This collection has some beautiful selections and some amazing performances from Ella.This is by far the best album of hers out there and it's always in my CD player.I can't recommend this selection strongly enough. ... Read more

Asin: B00000473Q
Sales Rank: 50765
Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Pop   

The Best of the Song Books:The Ballads
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (26 July, 1994)
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Editorial Review

Never as dramatic in her interpretations as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald nonetheless imbued the songs she chose with a personal touch. This disc, one of several recent distillations of her epochal Songbook series, wisely chooses a number of relatively lesser known pieces ("Let's Begin," "You're Laughing at Me") to complement classic readings of "I'm Old Fashioned," "Oh, Lady Be Good!" and "Ill Wind (You're Blowing Me No Good)." Ella's singing tended to shield her pain, but the resigned note she brings to some of these numbers is touching. A good starter disc for those who would investigate her wide-ranging Verve catalog. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Gives me chills in the best way
No one sings like Ella. Her voice is a warm instrument in itself, and she flows through this set in comfortable perfection. This and the two other 'Best of the Songbooks' albums are simply outstanding. 'Oh Lady Be Good' and 'I'm Old Fashioned' are especially heartfelt -- listen to the range and enunciation on both. Every note she hits sounds like it's smack in the center of her comfort zone. 'There's a Small Hotel', more obscure, is magnificent -- with a tasteful arrangement and rich performance by Buddy Bregman's orchestra -- treasureable.

Ella has been appreciated for a long time, but in the context of modern popular she is untouchable. Even after you've heard it a hundred times, each song is a discovery. An Ella album in the evening is like a glass of the best wine after a day of Coke and water.

Now it can be told!
Ella has the dreamiest voice you would ever want to hear.
I just get lost in a daydream when I hear her voice.
Every song on this CD is wonderful!

Ella sets the standard
If you don't already own any Ella Fitzgerald recordings, you should buy all three in this "Best of the Songbooks" collection.Ella shows us how jazz is to be sung. ... Read more

Asin: B0000046U6
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Big Band    3. Jazz    4. Pop    5. Standards    6. Swing    7. Traditional Pop    8. Vocal Jazz   

The Best of the Song Books
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (21 September, 1993)
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Editorial Review

Trying to cull a single-CD "Best of" from the 16-CD set of The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books may seem like a daunting task, but it's also foolproof. The complete set is a monument to the century's greatest songs and, arguably, its greatest singer, and this selection is a series of gems programmed to simulate a Fitzgerald performance, carefully sequencing joyous uptempo swingers and moving ballads. Recorded between 1956 and 1964, Fitzgerald's finest years, the CD includes arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and Buddy Bregman, as well as a superb rendering of "I've Got It Bad" with the Ellington orchestra and Johnny Hodges. Balancing the orchestral settings are some intimate small-group performances, including a witty rendition of Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets" and Rodgers and Hart's "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered." This is an ideal introduction to the "Song Books," a selection so good it will appeal to owners of the box sets. --Stuart Broomer ... Read more

Reviews (28)

The Great Songbird of the Great American Songbooks
Is there any song in the Songbooks that she did not record?

She was the First Lady of Jazz, she was a multi-Grammy awardee, she was a terrific and versatile singer who has worked with almost all of the jazz giants, the Count, the Duke, the King, the Goodman, the Gillespie, the Ol' Blue Eyes, and the list goes on and on, she has recorded thousands of songs, she was a melody's best friend...the legendary Ms. Ella Fitzgerald.

This is one of the best compilations of the Songbooks series. It features a repertoire of 16 classics.The Top Five tracks for me are: Gershwin Brothers' "Love Is Here To Stay," "'S Wonderful" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me"; Irving Berlin's "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm"; Rodgers and Hart's "Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered." My second choices are: Arlen's "Hooray For Love" and "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea"; Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" and The Duke's "I've Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)." Not to mention two Johnny Mercer-penned lyrics, "Midnight Sun" and Something's Gotta Give." These two tracks were beautifully arranged and conducted by the great Nelson Riddle.

This CD is a gem. I highly recommend it. It's a great addition to Great American Songbook collection.

Ella at her best
It seems unfair to give this masterful collection four rather than five stars for what can only be termed religious reasons, but there you go.An outstanding CD, capturing Fitzgerald in all her perfection.If you love her, it's all here, but I find myself wishing she put more personality, more emotion, more soul into her music.In that spirit, I take one star and give it to Sarah Vaughan, my favorite jazz vocalist of them all.

The Best of the Best of the Best
It has been awhile since I have read all of the wonderful reviews for this CD. As the man who chose the songs, sequenced them and wrote the album notes, it is one of the high points of my career that so many of you love listening to this CD as much as I did making it. It was indeed a difficult assignment, narrowing down all the songs from Ella's songbook series to just these, but I hope I put in something for everybody. I agree that as a collection, there is no better representation of the best of singing, songwriting and musical arranging available.

Before I sound egotistical about it, remember that the reason the collection is so good is because Ella Fitzgerald is singing; Gershwin, Porter, Rodgers, Hart, Berlin, Ellington, Arlen, Kern and Mercer did the writing; and Bregman, Riddle, May, Strayhorn and Weston did the arranging.

What could possibly be better? ... Read more

Asin: B0000046R2
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Big Band    3. Cool    4. Jazz    5. Pop    6. Standards    7. Swing    8. Traditional Pop    9. Vocal Jazz   

The First Lady of Song
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 April, 1993)
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Editorial Review

This three-CD compilation of Ella Fitzgerald's years with Verve covers the period from 1954 to 1966, with a single throwback to a 1949 Jazz at the Philharmonic concert for a jam session version of "Perdido" with Charlie Parker. The settings range from the almost spartan (intimate, beautiful versions of "Angel Eyes," with guitarist Barney Kessel, and "Lush Life," with pianist Oscar Peterson) to orchestras and big bands, while the material ranges from classic standards to bop tunes like "A Night in Tunisia" to the Lennon-McCartney "Can't Buy Me Love." What ties it all together, of course, is Fitzgerald's singular talent, her ability to find the potential in her material and expand it with her unique vocal abilities. This set is a tribute to producer Norman Granz as well, for he consistently worked to involve Fitzgerald in the fruitful collaborations that enliven this set. There are meetings with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie, as well as excerpts from the Songbook recordings and a number of live performances. --Stuart Broomer ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (7)

Superb
Your rating system does not have enough stars available to rate this collection. The sound of Ella's voice, the music selected to make this compilation and the engineering that has re-mastered her earliest recordings is just simply ten stars!

my first Ella purchase, glad to have found her
I was torn when trying to choose my first CD by Ella. If funds had allowed I would have gone for a boxset. Still might save my money for awhile and buy the Complete Songbooks Boxset. That one could keep me busy for awile I think. This CD is great fun to listen to. I've only had it about 2 weeks, and already it is one of my favorites. There is not one song on here that I don't sing along to. The music is mostly sunny. There are three Ella and Louis duets here. Ella and Louis are perfection together. I'm glad they recorded together more than once. I have to sing the praises of mp3 downloading right now because without it I don't think I'd have found Ella. A troubling thought! Downloading the songs for free let me listen to an ENTIRE song as much as I wanted and to whichever song I wanted to, before I bought.

Finally a box set title that is so true
The world lost a great asset with the passing of Ella Fitzgerald. Luckily her legacy lives on in her recordings. There are a plethora of recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, so why get this one? Because here in a simple three disc set is the great cross section of Ella. There is the soft, cooing Ella who wraps her silky voice around Summertime, Angel Eyes, and How Long Has This Been Going On?. There is the high energy bopping Ella with It Don't Mean a Thing (if it Ain't Got That Swing), Something's Gotta Give and Too Darn Hot. And there is the most personalble Ella doing her fresh and honest attempt at Mack the Knife. There is nothing new here really - most of these songs are available on other CD's. But this is the package that brings so many facets of a great lady together into one extremely loving and listenable package.

If you don't know Ella - buy this and listen repeatedly to it - you'll be richer for the experience.

If you know and love Ella - this is simply a great package to put on the stereo, sit back and enjoy one of the finest singers ever to grace us with her voice. ... Read more

Asin: B0000046PE
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Box Sets (Audio Only)    3. Jazz    4. Pop    5. Standards    6. Swing    7. Traditional Pop    8. Vocal Jazz   

Ella Abraca Jobim [Original CD]
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (11 July, 1995)
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Reviews (13)

ella-gant bossa nova
the general reception to this album has been more mixed than nicola conte on the ibiza dancefloor.i personally enjoy this album, maybe bcos i am just such a compulsive jobim fan.ok, there may be missing sparks between ella and jobim, but nonetheless, this album is so rare that it makes it a must for collectible.who needs another bestseller which is pouring all over the shelves?

A catastrophe
Singers who put out tens of albums usually record a few stinkers. This must rank as Ella's numero uno stinker. The arrangements are embarassingly bad and Ella has no feel for the material and simply does not know the first thing about singing Latin Jazz. I'm not a big fan of American singers doing Brazilian songs but Sarah Vaughn's interpretations sound like masterpieces compared to these tracks- each and every one a catastrophe.

There are so many good Ella albums out there- do yourself a favor and don't buy this one!

Something's missing
Great songs and arrangements; one of the greatests singers of the XXth Century and superb musicians but...
Why did they cut the songs "Don't Ever Go Away (Por causa de vocé)" and "Song of the Jet (Samba do avião)"?
Ella and Jobim don't deserve this. ... Read more

Asin: B000000XNZ
Sales Rank: 64161
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Bossa Nova    3. Brazilian Jazz    4. Jazz    5. Pop    6. Standards    7. Swing    8. Traditional Pop    9. Vocal Jazz   

Ella: Legendary Decca Recordings
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (29 August, 1995)
list price: $71.98
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• Box set

Reviews (2)

Luscious, fantastic Ella!
Whether one is a fan of Ella before listening to these songs, or not, you will DEFINITELY be one after listening. Her diction, smooth, luscious singing of all of these songs is unique, only a tiny part of the reason that Ella is the Queen of Jazz singing. If you are new to listening to Ella, this compilation of songs is THE way to be introduced to this wonderful songstress. Her sweetness and sincerity glows out of each word and phrase. She truly belongs to the Ages, and as long as ANYone is listening to Jazz singing, there will never be anyone to outshine her!BUY THIS COMPILATION while you can!

Great box set, great music
The 4 disc set "The Legendary Decca Recordings" is a fantastic collection of 80 songs that Ella Fitzgerald recorded while at Decca records. The earliest material dates from 1938 and goes up to 1955. Let me first state that there is not a bad song in this collection. Some of what you'll hear are standards, some will be lesser known or maybe totally unknown songs, but everything is thoroughly enjoyable. The sound quality is incredible; this material is 45-60 years old, but it might as well have been recorded yesterday. I'm not kidding, it's that good.

Disc one is entitled "The Very Best Of Ella" and contains songs picked as favorites by Milt Gabler, Ella's Decca producer. This disc contains a really wild song called "Stone Cold Dead in the Market" a Calypso-flavored number about a woman who kills her abusive husband. Great song, and chances are you've never heard it before. Disc two is entitled "Ella & Friends," and featured duets with Louis Armstrong, the Ink Spots, Louis Jordan, the Delta Rhythm Boys, and the Mills Brothers. This disc has a good deal of excellent standards. Disc three is entitled "Ella Sings Gershwin & Others" and features works by Gershwin, Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, etc. Disc four is entitled "Ella & The Arrangers," and features works arranged by Gordon Jenkins and Andre Previn, among others and also features many standards.

All these discs come, fittingly, in a large and sturdy glossy cardboard case, not the usual plastic double-cd holders. You also get a full-sized paperback book with info on the songs and Ella's tenure at Decca. The whole package is artfully done, and was obviously put together with a good deal of work and care. If you love Ella Fitzgerald, jazz, or listening to classic American songs sung by one of the greats, get this set; you'll enjoy every minute of it. ... Read more

Asin: B000003N49
Sales Rank: 116835
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Bop    3. Box Sets (Audio Only)    4. Jazz    5. Pop    6. Standards    7. Swing    8. Traditional Pop    9. Vocal Jazz   

Cote D'Azur Concerts On Verve
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (29 September, 1998)
list price: $143.98 -- our price: $143.98
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Editorial Review

This eight-CD set is a sleek affair, packaged in a plain-Jane, silver-ribbed box with just a peephole in the center. The peephole, though, looks in on the fluorescent jewel cases, each of which faithfully reproduces fantastic Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald sets from July 1966 at France's Cote d'Azur. The Ellington tunes show his orchestra in long form, taking multiple sets (with some tune repetition across the CDs) and thriving in Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's tightly scripted ensemble sections. This is some fairly standard Ellington for the era, with hard-flying solos from Paul Gonsalves and myriad others. What's great is the ability to really dig in to the band, hear it work, set after set, on the tunes and the polyphonic interplay of the ensemble's sections. And then there's the eighth CD, which presents a band rehearsal with Ellington doing what drove some mad: humming sections to instruct the band, calling out key changes quickly and sounding altogether like a practitioner of an oral tradition in musical pedagogy. It's awesome to hear him and the band, banter and all. Then there are the Ella Fitzgerald sets, which are possibly the better portion here. Fitzgerald sounds mightily driven, sometimes almost boundary breaking in her execution. Vocally, she's both tight and loose, brimming with turns of phrase and belting lyrics with popping exactness. The dates caught on this box aren't regarded as the greatest for either of the marquee artists, but in terms of the sheer quality of music and their fullness of vision, Fitzgerald's tunes vie with anything else she did in her career. Sure, many of the tunes are fast and jumping, but their propulsion is largely thanks to Fitzgerald's heightened sense of play. The spiral-bound booklet accompanying this box set is a treat, with all its pop-art slyness and off-the-cuff frankness. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Features

• Box set
• Live

Reviews (3)

an absolute must
In 1984,I was reading a french jazz magazine,andsaw an article about Sam Woodyard;they say he was very sick,without money,and they were searching for people to help.I answered;then,one day,being in Paris,I called Sam,just to come home and talk with him.He agreed,and we became friends.He was 60,I was 19,and I became a friend of one of my truelegends of jazz,one of the greatest big band drummers with the king,Jo Jones.I spent hours at his home,Boulevard Montparnasse,and at the hospital when he was very sick;and he told me everything from his years with Duke.He had an immense respect for the Duke,and treasured his years with him.A this time,just before his death (he died Sept.20,1988),I only had two lps on VERVE from these Cote d'Azur concerts.Now,you can listen to hours of music,including the marvelous tracks with Ben Webster and Ella.This is an absolute must for every Duke's fan,for evry jazz lover.And if you like Sam's drumming,this is the "cerise sur le gateau",a french sentence meaning "the cherry on the cake",the absolute must.We have the chance,in this reissue,to listen to a rehearsal of Duke's band,and this is amazing;listen to the way the band discover "the old circus train";I wish I could get accustomed to a tune the way they were.

Worth every penny!
A few months ago I decided to invest in the complete Cote D'Azur concerts. It has been worth every penny.If you like Duke Ellington, this is agreat batch of his music. You get to hear Johnny Hodges play "Thingsain't what they used to be."Also you get to hear the mindblowingtenor work of Paul Gonsalves like of "Diminuendo in Blue and Blow byBlow."But the main reason I bought this CD is because I am a bigElla fan.Her performance of "Cotton Tail" is UNBELIEVABLE! Also she sings one of her trademarks, "Mack the Knife".This boxset is worth every penny and gets my highest recommendation.

Gee, I'm the first?
Playing favorites among recordings with so much good material out there is pointless. Still, if you were stranded on a desert isle and could take only two releases with you, what might they be? Myself? I'd choose Miles Davis:The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel 1965, and Ella Fitzgerald And DukeEllington: Cote D'Azur Concerts.

With very few exceptions, I findbig-bands and their arrangements tedious and uninspired. My bias shouldn'tbe a surprise, since I have an affinity for extended improvisationalsmall-band styles of the '50s and '60s. But the imagination, layeredtextures and execution of Ellington's work is absolutely fascinating.Magic.

Duke Ellington is a relatively new discovery for this listener.Although Ellington/Strayhorn compositions are staples of many bands, it wasFred Hess's cover of "Such Sweet Thunder" that piqued mycuriosity. Happily, this live set delivers this and other pieces from theThunder suite (including "Half The Fun," another infectious gemthat stays between the ears long after I've listened to it). Puremagic.

Two minor quibbles. First; "Goin' Out Of My Head," oneof the Fitzgerald features, is hopelessly dated and corny. Ella's preface,"something from the new generation," doesn't help the song godown any easier. Second; liberties are taken with repeated renditions ofsome songs, but overall the band seems locked into a particular reading ofany given tune. Of course, the corollary to this point is the Davis set Ireferred to earlier. Davis plays with song structure to such a degree thathis renditions sacrifice their individual identity. This is one reason whyI find the Davis and Ellington sets so complimaentary to oneanother.

Someone, I forgot who, said the nature of jazz music transcendspoor recording and playback devices. I do not entirely agree. This set wasrecorded before a live audience in '66, under less than ideal conditions.Despite the limitations of the day, the sound quality is surprisitnlygood-- credit must go to those who recorded and re-mastered this set--exhibiting clean high-end dynamics and rich low-end detail. What sonicimperfections there are, oddly enough, tend to aid the presentation ratherthan distract: Occasionally a solo instrument is slightly off-mic creatingan unusual audio mix. The effect is unexpectedly fresh and pleasing.

Now,I'd wager your desert isle choices are different than mine. Music is sosubjective. My top picks would be different too, had I not heard thisEllington set. ... Read more

Asin: B00000AFEM
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Big Band    3. Bop    4. Box Sets (Audio Only)    5. Classic Jazz    6. Jazz    7. Pop    8. Standards    9. Swing    10. Tin Pan Alley Pop    11. Traditional Pop    12. Vocal Jazz   

The Best of the Songbooks: The Collection
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 September, 1996)
list price: $35.98
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Features

• Box set

Reviews (2)

absolutely essential
Ella's voice is legendary, and that legend is well deserved. The songs areall classics, and the instrumentals backing them up is superb. What else isthere? This box set is flawless.

The Best Of The Best
Ella's songbook collection is some of (if not) the best recordings of American standard music.This cd is really the best of the best.One of the Best Singers singing the Best Music of our time.This is and essentialcollection everyone should have. ... Read more

Asin: B00000475B
Sales Rank: 62769
Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Box Sets (Audio Only)    3. Jazz    4. Pop    5. Standards    6. Swing    7. Traditional Pop    8. Vocal Jazz