Love Songs: Best of Verve Songbooks

Ella Fitzgerald | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 18, 1996)
• Original Release Date: June 18, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000473Q
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,372 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Are you one of those people who can't walk through the jazz section without mooning over the lavishly packaged and heart-droppingly expensive 16-disc Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books set? If so, you're not alone, and Verve knows it. So to keep you from bemoaning your fate, the company has been releasing single-disc compilations drawn from the set -- the first was an overview entitled Best of the Song Books: The Collection, the second a perfect bachelor pad accessory called simply Best of the Song Books: The Ballads. This latest one appears redundant at first glance -- why follow Best of the Song Books: The Ballads with Best of the Song Books: Love Songs? -- but a listen dispels that impression quickly. Though there are several excellent slow numbers, including glorious versions of "Prelude to a Kiss" and "I Concentrate on You," the album is dominated by mid- and uptempo standards such as "I'm Beginning to See the Light," "I Let a Song Go out of My Heart" and "Love You Madly." The settings vary from the lush orchestrations of Nelson Riddle and Billy May to standard small-group arrangements, though the focus is on larger ensembles. That's kind of too bad, since Ella always seemed to loosen up a bit more with her small groups -- one of the most beautiful moments on this disc is her rendition of "Solitude," on which she is accompanied only by Barney Kessel's guitar. But every track is a wonder, and though it won't stop you from pining after the whole thing, this disc is a welcome window on the Song Books set. -All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't stop playing it! Really!, March 20, 2000

By 

"wijic" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Songs: Best of Verve Songbooks (Audio CD)

If you don't like scat, this is the Ella CD to buy. Ella's voice is just perfect, and even though I didn't recoginze any of the songs at first, I can't stop playing them now. Some of the best are "Love you Madly" "All the Things You Are" "Prelude to A Kiss" "Out of this World" "Lover" etc... Okay, so I can't pick just one. Not all of there are slow sentimental love songs, like "Just One of Those Things" and "How About Me?", so it's not really something to cuddle to. However, the songs are a lot of fun, and if you give it a chance, you won't be able to stop listening to it either!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ella As Smooth As Honey!, March 29, 2004

By 

S. Henkels (Devon, Pa United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Songs: Best of Verve Songbooks (Audio CD)

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!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best, October 27, 2000

By 

Neil - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Songs: Best of Verve Songbooks (Audio CD)

My wife and I were searching for the perfect music for our perfect wedding. We sifted through hours of listening to all the greats - Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, etc. etc...and we finally got to Ella. We bought this album because of the "Love" title - and for no other reason...and we ended up using EVERY song at the wedding. We haven't stopped listening since. Her voice is perfect here - and her use of it is truly a marvel. I highly recommend this one.