The Early Years, Pt. 2

Ella Fitzgerald

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 1997)
• Original Release Date: June 30, 1993
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B0000001NS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,007 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Ella Fitzgerald began her career while still in her teens, singing with drummer Chick Webb's great swing band, and rapidly establishing herself as one of the era's leading singers. When Webb died in 1938, Fitzgerald assumed the leadership of the band. This two-CD set documents the period from 1939 to 1941, and it includes hits like the opening "Undecided," the kind of rhythm tune with which Fitzgerald could already distinguish herself, with a meticulous command of tune and timing. Webb was irreplaceable, but the group remained a distinguished swing band, while Fitzgerald demonstrated the musical way with ballads that would be a hallmark of her career. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ella at her finest, January 15, 2000

By	Susan Wadden (Seattle) - See all my reviews

How fresh is the feeling of Ella, always and forever. At age twenty-one, her voice is sweet, like honey and molasses on a breeze: smooth, rich, effortless. This dense double CD compilation, its musical heritage recorded with impeccable clarity, is an essential addition to any collection of jazz history, for these are the years when Ella blossems into her full (magical) maturity, and when, tragically, her brilliant and well loved band leader, Chick Webb, dies of tuberculosis at the height of his fame. Their last songs recorded together: chew chew chew (chew your bubble gum), little white lies, and don't worry 'bout me, are reason enough to have (and to hold) this gem of a recording. Dense also in poetry are the lyrics of these fine songs: "as we sail away on a crest of a thrill, keep building a stairway to the stars, it would be heaven to climb with you"...so light a voice in so heavy a time, Ella, the early years, 1939-1941...a heavenly sound heralding a heartbreaking war...This music is all that music can be, and more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable to the ear, September 3, 2008

By	E. Scruggs "Deal Lover" (Millsboro, Delaware) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a present for my father. He wanted to hear Ella Fitzgerald's early years. It was a hit with him and some of his friends he shared it with.

5.0 out of 5 stars We love Ella, January 12, 2007

By	Janet S. Brignac "jsbrign" (Baton Rouge,La US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We love Ella Fitzgerald, even my college-aged daughters, whom I bought these cd for. They arrived when promised and are selections from when Ella sang with the Chick Webb band at the beginning of her career. We love the music from this era and the quality of the music was great and you can still tell that it ws recaorded so long ago. I would like to order any other Ella Fitzgerald cds.