Customer Reviews

The Best of the Song Books

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Ella. Billie. Sassy.

They helped define jazz singing; all modern jazz vocalists are indebted to them. Ella is the least blues-infused, but most accessible of the three. Her ability to swing; her tremendous vocal range, impeccable phrasing and scatting; and her silky smooth voice are one-of-a-kind. It's the audio equivalent of a spirited yet mellow Scotch whisky. As others have noted, it's difficult to pick the "best" of her output, but I think, with very few exceptions, this is a tremendous CD for those who don't want to buy the 3-CD or 16-CD (!) box sets.

Of course it helps that, for example, the composers are other one-name wonders: Mercer, the Gershwins, Rodgers, Hart, Berlin, Arlen, Ellington, Porter, and Kern, and that she's backed by the Ellington, Billy May, and Nelson Riddle orchestras. (Buddy Bregman's orchestra is heard on three songs, most notably on "The Lady is a Tramp, and Paul Weston's on one.) Song sequencing is excellent, generally alternating between uptempo orchestral pieces and ballads. She really swings on "Something's Gotta Give" (with an excellent sax solo by Willie Smith) and, especially, "The Lady is a Tramp." The latter song is given the full big band treatment; it's one of the best versions I've heard. Contrast this with the ballad "I Got it Bad (and That Ain't Good)," a heartfelt rendition with an excellent Johnny Hodges solo. "Hooray for Love" (with the Billy May orchestra) is a bit disappointing compared to the high spirits of "The Lady is a Tramp."

We're treated (finally) to Ella's scatting on the Duke Ellington backed "Cottontail," with Ben Webster sounding absolutely tremendous on his long solo. With the wonderful scat and solos, this is one of the best cuts on the album! Finally, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" which, according to the liner notes "means Ella Fitzgerald to many fans, especially in Great Britain," is another example of Ella's magnificence (though I didn't particularly like the orchestration). If you're a confirmed Ella fan, you should go for one of the boxed sets, but you can't ask for much more in a single disk. (Liner notes include soloists, and brief comment on each song.)

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?

While trying to fit the best of Ella on one CD is kind of like trying to tour the Louvre in one afternoon, this CD is a great collection of uptempo and ballad numbers. The Songbook period was a high point in her legendary career, and the first rate songs, vocals and orchestrations on this album bear this out. This album works better than either the Ballads or Love Songs albums, with its mix of fast and slow songs, but all three are worth owning.

'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm' swings the way only Ella Fitzgerald could do it, 'Bewitched' is perfect, and there are many other gems here. Even if you own the songbook albums, this is a strong collection.

This is a great overview of the Songbook series. So many excellent songs, especially "They Can't Take That from Me," "Something's Gotta Give," and "Love Is Here to Stay." Her strengths are easily apparent on this cd: pitch, excellent diction, simplicity, timing. I never say that Ella was the greatest "female" singer of our time. I think that she was the greatest singer of our time.

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 at one time or another worked with almost all of the jazz giants: Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, and the list goes on and on. She was the most prolific recording artist in her time for she has recorded thousands of remarkable songs. She was a melody's best friend . . . the legendary Ms. Ella Fitzgerald.

This is one of the best compilations of the Songbook 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.

This was the first Ella Fitzgerald CD I ever bought. I haven't regretted it since.

This music has such warm tones to it, like "Love Is Here To Stay" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm." I got this CD just before a large snowstorm in my town, and I listened to it as the snow fell down onto the ground, and it was sublime. I challenge you to do that and not feel warm and secure.

This CD is also great for introducing a young person to Ella Fitzgerald - most of it is very listenable. You get a wide selection of styles, like upbeat tunes (Something's Gotta Give), ballads (Miss Otis Regrets), and loves songs (Love Is Here To Stay).

All in all: a must-have.

You can not go wrong with this CD, especially if Ella is relatively "new" to you as she is to me. It is a marvelous introduction to a consummate stylist. One with a wonderful voice and a stellar delivery that is smooth, yet heartfelt. One can feel the joy, the longing, the heartache...virtually any emotion the songwriter is trying to convey she translates for us. A top collection of songs from such heavyweights as Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter and George Gershwin combined with Ella's voice make this collection a win-win. Technical sound quality on all tracks is excellent.

Ella is new to me. Of course, I'd heard of her and seen her sing on TV variety shows of the 60s and 70s. I had always liked her for the person she was, but had never gotten around to purchasing any of her music. My only regret is that it took me so long to find her. This CD was my first purchase of hers, but definitely not the last.

This compilation is truly a "best of". An entertaining blend of classic ballads and uptempo tunes. My favorites include the rousing "Something's Gotta Give", uptown's "The Lady Is A Tramp", Gershwin's classic " 'S Wonderful" and a plaintive "Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered". Thanks to this CD, I've already started to mine the vast Ella catalogue.

Whether a longtime fan or someone new to the pleasures of Miss Fitzgerald's many vocal skills, this CD is a delight, and a bargain at this price.

This is my first Ella Fitzgerald CD. I love every track on it. She has such a beautiful voice. I listen to it over & over. My toddler enjoys it also. Thanks for all the reviews. They helped me decide to buy this CD.

Even though I have most of the original vinyl releases, my respect for the "great" American composers required that I secure them in a more stable digitalized format. Having said that, I must admit the addition of these "Best of--" collections of the Songbooks to a listener's library is not all gravy. Just as the "Best of--" collections of Sinatra material destroyed the thematic integrity of the original "concept" albums, these Ella samplers tend to blur the focus of the originals, which was squarely on the composer, not the performer.

Ella's is not the kind of voice likely to win points with the greater number of listeners these days. Its high-pitched innocense, unwaveringly perfect intonation, unforced projection and quintessentially pure diction are all at odds with the banal, self-absorbed, "theatrical" shills who have replaced her. But it's also the ideal voice for displaying the genius of the men behind the songs, a transparent medium permitting access to the songs in all their melodic richness and lyric inventiveness.

As far as the selection of material, only two of the songs, while undeniably appealing, don't belong in any limited collection of the best of the Songbooks--Arlen's "Hooray for Love" and Duke's "Cottontail." As for the arrangers, the special genius of Nelson Riddle is all the more apparent in the company of the other arrangers.

The biggest disappointment of the 3 "Best of..." collections? The absence of the delightful Rodgers and Hart tune, "To Keep My Love Alive."

The best reason to own this particular "Best of..." collection? The Inclusion of R&H's "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered," with all of Hart's "blue" and normally censored lyrics.

This is a classic and one of Ella Fitzgerald's best CD's. She sings these classic songs like nobody (NOBODY) else can. She must have the most remarkable voice in modern history, except maybe the tenor opera singers.

This collection features Ella's more mainstream, pop music. The songs themselves command respect, and Ella sings them mostly straight and so very lovely.

But if you want to experience Ella at her peak, you need to hear her live in a jazzier environment, where she takes off the gloves and blows everyone away with your astonishing voice and interpretations. I highly recommend "The Complete Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife."

And if you must own just one Ella CD, or if this is your first Ella purchase, make it "Pure Ella: The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald." You will be totally blown away, starting with the rocking "Mack the Knife," no matter what your musical background or gender.