Customer Reviews

Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Gershwin Songbook

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I rarely write reviews of products (they speak for themselves) but after readings "Brian"'s review of this recording, I felt compelled. (Brian must be among the group of people who like to criticize just to make themselves feel better... they feel themselves authorities in some manner). Ella Fitzgerald singing the Gershwin Songbook has to be in the top two recorded piceces of popular music of all time ("Judy at Carnegie" is the only other contender for number one). There is no other artist who captures the essence of the Gershwins as Ella in this set. The orchestration is full and rich ,but does not distract from Ella's voice. The scores are kept authentic... Ella does not try to "sell" or "personalize" the songs like Sinatra did with Cole Porter's music. Yes, there are some Gershwin tunes here that the masses may not have heard, but that doesn't make them less valuable than the "Lady Be Good"'s and the "They Can't Take that Away from Me"'s. The art of music is in interpretation and Ella interprets Gershwin like no other. Where else have you heard Gershwin so completely and purely interpreted? I challenge anyone to find a similar recording, period. ***** is not high enough.

If I had to flee my pad with only one item, it would be this box set. O.k, that's kind of cheating because I'd be taking more than CD out with me, but what the heck -- it's my place going up in smoke, isn't it? Ella's silky yet crystal-clear voice with perfect intonation and inflection, combined with the unsurpassable songs of George and Ira Gershwin and the orchestrations of Nelson Riddle make this a classic in every sense of the word. If at least three of the songs in this box set don't give you goosebumps I will come over and mow your lawn. The ending of "The Man I Love" will propel you into the troposphere. This set is a once-in-a-century combination of musical talent. It is a pure joy.

YOU MUST BUY THIS CD...Anyone not familiar with the three names above, who wants to hear great songs by the Great Gershwins in a nice,whizbang set will go bonkers over Ella singing these tunes with the great Nelson Riddle arranging.In fact,no other straight Gershwin set comes close.Remember, these tunes were written in the 1920's-1930's. They are as fresh now as ever,and this CD collection proves it.True,a couple of them(say "I've Got You Under My Skin","Love is Here to Stay") have had better interpretations(mainly Frank and Nelson a year or two earlier).But,still this CD is loaded with freshness,wit,humor,and razzle dazzle bounciness.For swingers don't miss "Things are Looking Up","Who Cares","Soon","Of Thee I Sing","You've Got What Gets Me",and my favorite "Slap that Bass." The greatness here is that many of these songs have not been recorded over and over,so that many listeners,even jazz fans,may hear some (seemingly)brand new tunes.In fact,every song here is worth repeat listenings,and there are NO duds here,amazing for a 53-song CD.The ballads are just as good, from the familiar like "The Man I Love","A Foggy Day",to less known pieces like "Oh So Nice Nice",and "My One and Only". After hearing this CD you'll realize why Ella was called the "First Lady of Song".This is a timeless collection,I think Ella's tip top. And listen to the lyrics too,some of the most amusing and at times heart rending ever composed.The sad thing is that one will spend a freezing day you know where before hearing anything like this in the new song scene today.

Originally released having the honor as being the first stereo recordings,they were released separately as five separate albums in 1959, these gems preformed by Ella Fitzzgerald and Nelson Riddle have undergone many changes, being released later as an LP Boxed set, and a three CD set, down to the current release, yet they remain evergreen in American Popular Music. The world heard many previously unrecorded Gershwin songs such as "The Real American Folk Song" and "Just Another Rhumba". Ella Fitzgerald released a series of American Songbooks, which she would late expand to include Antonio Carlos Jobim. In these albums with exception of the last (not in the Verve series) she was in great voice, and introduced the American culture of the late 50's and early 60's to the great composers of the 20's and 30's. The combination of Ella and Nelson Riddle on these cuts is a combination that is hard to beat, Great intpertations of songs like "S'Wonderful" from Funny Face are comparable to the Frank Sinatra/Riddle recording of Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin". A truly great recording, of two of America's treasures.

Reading the only one-star review of this album (very partial indeed), I felt it was my obligation to clarify some points that were misjudged by an unskillful person who only wants to attack Ella Fitzgerald: 1- This is a songbook, not an original Broadway cast album; it is written in the box. If you buy an album that is a songbook and you do not like songbooks, you are blind or you cannot read. 2- Fifty-some songs presented here (some with original verses never heard before) with a variety of ideas (not an easy task) only made possible by the enormous talent of Nelson Riddle; 3- This is a masterpiece recognized by the public and the serious critics; 4- This album was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald; 5- Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday do not appear here; 6- Frank Sinatra was a great popular singer; 7- Billie Holiday was a great jazz singer; 8- Ella Fitzgerald was a great pop AND jazz singer, by the way, the greatest of them all. Good records and bad records every artist have them. It is silly to say that every album that Mr, Sinatra recorded is a gem. Only in the limited eyes of a fan. I say: forget the doo bee doo bees of Mr Sinatra. Listen to Ella's Angel Eyes. It is by far better than his. 9- A timeless classic. Get it. If you want one free, ask the person of the one-star review. He or she probably wants to get rid of it.

If there was a more ambitious, more thoroughly enjoyable album in the history of the recording business, I don't know what it was. Regardless of your musical tastes, this album is one you will play over and over again. Nelson Riddle's arrangments do so much to make this compilation of Gershwin tunes a smashing success. Ella was at the top of her career when the album was recorded. She never sounded better. It is hard to believe that these recordings are nearly a half century old. Truly, this is the finest album every recorded by anyone, the Album of the Century.

I rarely write reviews of products (they speak for themselves) but after readings "Brian"'s review of this recording, I felt compelled. (Brian must be among the group of people who like to criticize just to make themselves feel better... they feel themselves authorities in some manner). Ella Fitzgerald singing the Gershwin Songbook has to be in the top two recorded piceces of popular music of all time ("Judy at Carnegie" is the only other contender for number one). There is no other artist who captures the essence of the Gershwins as Ella in this set. The orchestration is full and rich ,but does not distract from Ella's voice. The scores are kept authentic... Ella does not try to "sell" or "personalize" the songs like Sinatra did with Cole Porter's music. Yes, there are some Gershwin tunes here that the masses may not have heard, but that doesn't make them less valuable than the "Lady Be Good"'s and the "They Can't Take that Away from Me"'s. The art of music is in interpretation and Ella interprets Gershwin like no other. Where else have you heard Gershwin so completely and purely interpreted? I challenge anyone to find a similar recording, period. ***** is not high enough.

Believe the raves of other critics. The music does not get any better than this. Ella phrases like no one else. Her interpretations of the Gershwin tunes are as good as it gets.

I cannot go through the list of songs here; the 1,000 word limit makes the proper commentary impossible (and, Amazon has done this for us). Suffice it so say that you will find some of your favorites here, and you will be able to acquaint yourself with some new favorites.

"Someone to Watch Over Me": most certainly the angels who do watch sound like her. "I've Got A Crush on You" is a classic. Her rhythms are facsinating, and our love for her is here to stay.

Of the many songbooks that Ella Fitzgerald recorded during her tenure at Verve, this one can qualify as an unadulteraterd masterpiece. The reason? The first pairing of Ella & master arranger of singers, Nelson Riddle created such a definitive reading of the brother's songs that Ira who was still living at the time gave it his qualified praise as being true to the songs. Ella has scatted on "Lady Be Good" on various classic occasions but Riddle's beautiful slow arrangement of this tune also brings out the pathos formerly bypassed in previous editions of this song. The pairing of these 2 giants would result in five more albums together and Nelson in his biography, "September in the Rain", loved Ella so much that he placed her as his favorite female vocalist!!! Tall praise indeed coming from an arranger who also colloborated with Judy Garland, Barbara Steisand (his least favorite), Dinah Shore and Linda Ronstadt. If you want another successful colloboration do check out Ella with Billy May doing the Harold Arlen songbook but if you can only afford only one in your collection--get this one!!

I'm going to make this short. If I was stranded on an island for the rest of my days and could only have one album to listen to,this would be it. This record will make you laugh and cry. It is sheer poetry and a testament to not only the greatness of Ella, but the wonderful genius of George Gershwin. Nelson Riddle's arrangements are perfect. Okay...that's it, now buy this record!