Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book (1959) VBR

Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book VBR

Year 1959

Disc 1
1. Sam And Delilah
2. But Not For Me
3. My One And Only
4. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
5. Beginner's Luck
6. Oh, Lady Be Good
7. Nice Work If You Can Get It
8. Things Are Looking Up
9. Just Another Rhumba
10. How Long Has This Been Going On?
11. 'S Wonderful
12. Man I Love, The
13. That Certain Feeling
14. By Strauss
15. Someone To Watch Over Me
16. Real American Folk Song (Is A Rag), The
17. Who Cares?

Disc 2
1. Looking For A Boy
2. They All Laughed
3. My Cousin In Milwaukee
4. Somebody From Somewhere
5. Foggy Day, A
6. Clap Yo' Hands
7. For You, For Me, For Evermore
8. Stiff Upper Lip
9. Boy Wanted
10. Strike Up The Band
11. Soon
12. I've Got A Crush On You
13. Bidin' My Time
14. Aren't You Kind Of Glad We Did?
15. Of Thee I Sing (Baby)
16. "The Half Of It, Dearie" Blues
17. I Was Doing All Right
18. He Loves And She Loves

Disc 3
1. Love Is Sweeping The Country
2. Treat Me Rough
3. Love Is Here To Stay
4. Slap That Bass
5. Isn't It A Pity?
6. Shall We Dance
7. Love Walked In
8. You've Got What Gets Me
9. They Can't Take That Away From Me
10. Embraceable You
11. I Can't Be Bothered Now
12. Boy! What Love Has Done To Me!
13. Fascinating Rhythm
14. Funny Face
15. Lorelei
16. Oh, So Nice!
17. Let's Kiss And Make Up
18. I Got Rhythm

I read in a book on Nelson Riddle that Ella Fitzgerald had wanted him for her first songbook which was on Cole Porter but unfortunately Riddle was booked with Nat King Cole and at times Sinatra so he was unavailable in '56. Fortunately three years he became available and perhaps it was serendipity or fate but when these two artists recorded the Gershwin songbook--it became an instant classic. I believe Riddle was at the peak of his arranging powers and Ella was in full voice with none of the wobbly vibrato that would later mar her last session with Riddle- "Dream Dancing", I believe on Pablo also produced by Norman Granz. But this set is a must have if you're into Ella's songbook series and of course this musical marriage between these two pros would result in six albums. Riddle was quoted as saying that Ella was his favorite female singer and his sensitivity to her artistry is brilliantly reflected in this album. For instance, Riddle took the risk of slowing down a tune that Ella had performed as a quick tempo scat song, but here the song takes a poignant meaning that makes this version a near classic on a par with the duo's rendition of "The Man I Love". In fact I believe this album is so popular that one can only purchase used since all the original copies are sold out. Nevertheless if you like Ella with Riddle, this songbook is the one to start with as well as their other two in the series, the Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer songbooks.