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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Ella recorded five LPs' worth of Gershwin tunes for her songbook series, which was frankly a little much, so this single disc skims the cream. These songs are the ur-texts of American pre-war pop, straightforward love songs made to flow off a singer's tongue, and here they're in the hands of a master. Nelson Riddle's arrangements tend toward the soupy side--the bombastic string sections are distinctly nonjazz--but Ella, as always, sings with absolute taste and authority. She doesn't seem to be living inside the lyrics the way she does with, say, the Cole Porter songbook, but the simplicity of the Gershwins' melodies and sentiments let her get across some gently nuanced, technically exquisite singing. --Douglas Wolk
Product Description
Ira Gershwin was at these storied 1959 sessions! Here are 17 of the best from the five original LPs: Oh, Lady, Be Good!; But Not for Me; 'S Wonderful; I Got Rhythm , and more!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
For those who want to hear Ella weave her magic in crisp, sparkling STEREO this is one of the VERY best of her many CDs. On this one she performs a unique, slow-tempo "Oh Lady Be Good" (that's right, SLOW and MELLOW as you've never heard it before and as only she could do it - and this alone is worth the price of admission). All the other top Gershwin goodies ("A Foggy Day", "But not For Me", "The Man I Love", etc.) are enhanced by Nelson Riddle's incomparable arrangements recorded in magnificent wrap-around sound that puts you right in front row center. So buckle up. This is a thrill-ride you'll want to experience again and again and again!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Jon Hill
Format:Audio CD
This is one of the top collections of Ella Fitzgerald. Her smooth voice brings such joy when you hear her sing "I Got Rhythym." The best song on this CD is probably "Someone To Watch Over Me," which is an absolutely lovely song. It almost makes you cry. I highly recommend that you buy this CD if you are interested in Ella Fitzgerald; this is some of her top work.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Her intonation, timing and sweet delivery are astonishing on this CD. Superb pop/swing arrangements by Nelson Riddle. Beautiful, romantic and entertaining. I don't care who you are, you will regard this as one of the greatest CDs you have ever heard. Not pure jazz like her other "must have" CD's, but this collection of superb Gershwin tunes is her most beautiful.
The liner notes included with this CD sum it up perfectly: "If, as is widely believed, Ella Fitzgerald is the best female jazz singer... her songbook albums constitute her best work... the Gershwin volume is the best of the songbook series and... this is the best of the Gershwin collection, then what you have here is the best of the best of the best of the best."
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gershwin and Ella
If you like the one of the greats of the American Songbook, and you love the voice and style of Ella, what's not to like about this album. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Norm Raffish
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Wonderful
I have both Ella and Louis albums. Although I enjoy listening to the duo, nothing is like PURE Ella. Read more
Published 3 months ago by L. Bertsch
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Lady is Great!
What can I say, it's Ella Fitzgerald. The recordings are high-quality. Recommend it for those that love the big band era music. You will not be disappointed.
Published 4 months ago by K. Bush
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
What more can you say about ELLA. The best voice, the best phrasing, the whole total package. This CD is one of her best. You cannot afford to not own it.
Published 8 months ago by Patrick M. Luci
3.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't Swing.
Beautifully sung and probably definitive performances but Ella is a little reserved and it just doesn't feel loose enough to really be called "jazz"
Published on June 7, 2010 by Bach
4.0 out of 5 stars
So Smoov
Are there finer female voices in the galaxy than Ella and Patsy? I doubt it.
Published on October 28, 2009 by J. Kornfeld
5.0 out of 5 stars
Turns every tune to pure gold!
No matter what Ella sings, she has the knack for turning any tune
to pure gold! Her vocal talents haven't been matched by anyone as
far as I know. Read more
to pure gold! Her vocal talents haven't been matched by anyone as
far as I know. Read more
Published on October 9, 2009 by Dennis A. Lengyel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ella Deserves Six Stars for This One!
I believe that this is Ella's finest recording session. I know that that is saying a lot---especially when you consider how great she was on the "Duke Ellington Songbook. Read more
Published on August 23, 2007 by Bradford K. Talamon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Oh, Lady, Be Good! Best of the Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald
I love Ella and I love Gershwin. They're both great! The musical arrangements by Nelson Riddle are another story. Read more
Published on January 9, 2007 by PRL
4.0 out of 5 stars
no one like Ella...
frankly, there's no one out there i'd rather hear sing gershwin than ella fitzgerald, and this is an excellent compilation of ella singing some gershwin classics. Read more
Published on August 17, 2004 by M. R. Ray
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