Customer Reviews

Sunshine of Your Love

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Apparently when this came out, it was dismissed by critics. I know that some of the really devoted jazz critics didn't think that she should be singing "Hey Jude" or "A House Is Not a Home." But I think that this album is an excellent overview of her ability to sing anything and make it good. She also gives an absolutely incredible rendition of the song "This Girl's In Love With You." She transforms this potentially kitchy sixties artifact into a heart-pounding, chills-producing moment of genius. What she does with this song is a stunning testament to pure talent. You also have to keep reminding yourself that she is singing these songs live. It's almost hard to believe that she could produce art right in front of you. On this album, the First Lady of Song once again reminds us why she was given the title in the first place.

Ella was trying to be contemporary at the time, and fortunately it was a grear step that has aged well over the years.

I know some feel it's blasphemy to give her anything less than six stars -- but I read even she thought this was a masterpiece.

I listen to this record once a week at least. I thought it was camp when I first heard it, but it is Camp that trancends irony and hits me on a gut level very hard. The record starts out sublimely, Hey Jude sounds perfect, and now I can't hear the Beatles version without wanting to yell at Ringo to speed it up. track 2 is classic and worth the price of the record. the rest is spirited and Miss E sounds great.

I walked into owning this album on vinyl many years ago when my wife I first started living together. And despite what the 'naysayers' out there may tell you, it is bloody brilliant!
While it may not be 'Ella at Duke's Place', it is definitely one of mine and my wife's favourites and one that I am still wanting to get on CD because that vinyl is starting to look ragged and a little worn nowadays!
Brilliant stuff! Just listen to the horn line in the title track and make up your own mind - only Ella could have pulled this one off!

I listen to this record once a week at least. I thought it was camp when I first heard it, but it is Camp that trancends irony and hits me on a gut level very hard. The record starts out sublimely, Hey Jude sounds perfect, and now I can't hear the Beatles version without wanting to yell at Ringo to speed it up. track 2 is classic and worth the price of the record. the rest is spirited and Miss E sounds great.

Face it! Ella has the Midas touch; her voice is liquid gold... And if anyone can swing Hey Jude; ELLA CAN!!! Are you listening Scott? She can swing anything!!! Critics have been extremely unfair to this album, because their heads are so far up their critic azz that they can't help but be close-minded. They make their livings out of being narrow-minded and petty. Worse still is that people pay them, and others still read them like they know gospel-truth when it comes to evaluating what you can hear with your own ears...
Anyway, Scott Yanow at [...] gives this album 1.5 stars, although he probably never listened to it all the way through (my opinion). He and others call it a mistake. Let's not judge possibly the greatest singer "male or female" of the modern era so quickly. It's not as good as "Ella in Berlin", "Ella in Rome", "Live at Mister Kelly's", or "Twelve Nights in Hollywood" which if you want to hear Ella swinging "Live" are all Five Star ++++++ !!! This is more like a 4.5 for me, however its very value rest in hearing how Ella hasn't lost much from the swinging 40's & 50's until this later live recording circa 1969. Closed minds might think it unwise to swing a rock standard like "Sunshine of Your Love", but that is just ridiculous once you've heard it. I cannot prove any of my statements... you'll just have to listen for yourself. Ella still has IT! Sorry about the angry tone, but just don't let critics tell you what you should & shouldn't be listening to or else you'll miss some rare gems like this one.
P.S. When in doubt... Buy any album that has the words Ella, Fitzgerald, and Live in the title! Also... Buy any album that has the words Ella, Fitzgerald, Louis, and Armstrong! This way you'll never go wrong.

It's not one of the first twenty Ella F. LPs to buy, but she sincerely sings and swings the rock anthems that probably drove her older fans mad; and also does well by the Ellington and standards too. She didn't have to record anything she didn't like and it's obvious from this she didn't. Most of the LPs from this period by older artists doing any rock song were ridiculous and camp now. This is real. Did any pop singer ever have a range this large? Had she been born forty years later she'd have been the black Janus Joplin.

Ella was trying to be contemporary at the time, and unfortunately it was a misstep that hasn't aged well over the years.

I know some feel it's blasphemy to give her anything less than five stars -- but I read even she thought this was a mistake.

Skip this one.