Whisper Not (Special Packaging) [Original recording remastered]

Ella Fitzgerald | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 9, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B00006316P
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,094 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY ON COMPACT DISC!, April 12, 2002

By 

Giovanni (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whisper Not (Special Packaging) (Audio CD)

Fans of Ella Fitzgerald will be thrilled to finally see this one put on compact disc for the first time. One of those rare departures for the beloved Ella Fitzgerald from the wildly successful and now classic Songbook Series, WHISPER NOT teams Ella with arranger/conductor extraordinaire Marty Paich. Infusing the charts with his West Coast arranging magic, Ella zips through a handful of tunes, starting right in with a scintilating version of the old chestnut SWEET GEORGIA BROWN. The title track seemed to be a favorite among the be-bop scene (Dizzy Gillespie had a good hit with WHISPER NOT, and Stan Getz covered it nicely as well) and Ella and Marty seem to take their cues from those shuffling versions without too much ado. Ella's reading of THANKS FOR THE MEMORY is wistful and plaintive, recalling her version many years earlier for Decca (is it me or were there times when Ella re-recorded a song years later and still had the same sweetness and tone as the original?) Other swingers are a souped up version of OL' MACDONALD (no doubt inspired by Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle's updating of this kid's tune) and a tune of the day (back in '66) WIVES AND LOVERS (while this one is a Jack Jones signature, it is a nice change to hear a female version, and nicer yet since the female is Ella!) Special LP style packaging is a really nice touch not available on domestic releases up until now; a good way of bridging the gap that UMV has caused between themselves and jazz fans since buying Verve out. Hoping they continue releasing the great albums that deserve to be out there. Just like this one!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album is a classic., October 27, 2003

By 

"gerhart30" (Kokomo, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whisper Not (Special Packaging) (Audio CD)

Finally my wait is over for this recording to become available on CD. I bought it on LP when it first came out and I was 20 years old. I loved it then and I love it now. I have my favorite cuts, including "You've Changed," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "Lover Man," and the title cut, but every cut is a winner making this album a classic up there with Sgt. Pepper's and Dark Side of the Moon. The sounds of the Marty Paich orchestra compliment Ella's voice to perfection.

Maybe the reason I like this recording so well has to do with when I first heard it, but I don't think so. I think this is one of the best jazz vocal albums ever made.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's been said she knocks 'em dead..., August 1, 2006

By 

Brian Drabik (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Whisper Not (Special Packaging) (Audio CD)

It's worth the full price of the entire album just to hear her sing "Sweet Georgia Brown." No one else can ever sing it like her, they should have retired the song after she recorded it. Plus the arrangement is fantastic.

I also love that wig she's wearing on the cover.