Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Songbooks (Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, Irving Berlin – 10 CDs) DOCUMENT

• 166 songs from The Great American Songbook by The First Lady of Song
• From “Night And Day“ via “Someone To Watch Over Me“ or “Summertime“ on to “The Lady Is A Tramp“, “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm“
• Featuring orchestras of first call instrumentalists like Bud Shank, Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, „Sweets“ Edison, Herb Geller, Barney Kessel, Benny Carter, Herb Ellis, Buddy Collette, or Mel Lewis

The legendary series of songbook recordings that Ella Fitzgerald made throughout the 1950s were her ticket to stardom and thus vocal immortality. The five original albums from this series presented on this 10 CD-box set are filled with the greatest compositions by Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, and Irving Berlin. As a bonus, so to speak, this collection features the recording of the Gershwin’s famous opera “Porgy & Bess” by Ella and Louis Armstrong. Ella was at the peak of her vocal game, and the material is made up of some of the most exquisite and durable popular songs ever written, from “Night And Day” “Someone To Watch Over Me” or “Summertime” on to “The Lady Is A Tramp”, “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” and 161 more. The musical accompaniment is incredible, too, featuring orchestras of first call instrumentalists like Bud Shank, Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, “Sweets” Edison, Herb Geller, Barney Kessel, Benny Carter, Herb Ellis, Buddy Collette, or Mel Lewis.

CD 1
ELLA FITZGERALD Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, Vol. 1

All Through The Night / Anything Goes / Miss Otis Regrets (She’s Unable To Lunch Today) / Too Darn Hot / In The Still Of The Night / I Get A Kick Out Of You / Do I Love You? / Always True To You In My Fashion / Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) / Just One Of Those Things / Every Time We Say Goodbye / All Of You / Begin The Beguine / Get Out Of Town / I Am In Love / From This Moment On 

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Paul Smith (p, celeste), Herb Geller (cl, as), Chuck Gentry (bcl, bars), Bud Shank (cl, fl, as), Bob Cooper (cl, ob, ts), Ted Nash (cl, fl, ts), Pete Candoli, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, Lloyd Ulyate (tb), George Roberts (bass and baritone tb), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (dr, perc), Corky Hale (harp), Robert LaMarchina, Edgar Lustgarten (cello) Recorded in Hollywood, Los Angeles, February 7–9 and March 27, 1956

CD 2

ELLA FITZGERALD Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, Vol. 2

I Love Paris / You Do Something To Me / Ridin’ High / You’d Be So Easy To Love / It’s All Right With Me / Why Can’t You Behave? / What Is This Thing Called Love / You’re The Top / Love For Sale / It’s De-Lovely / Night And Day / Ace In The Hole / So In Love / I’ve Got You Under My Skin / I Concentrate On You / Don’t Fence Me In

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Paul Smith (p, celeste), Herb Geller (cl, as), Chuck Gentry (bcl, bars), Bud Shank (cl, fl, as), Bob Cooper (cl, ob, ts), Ted Nash (cl, fl, ts), Pete Candoli, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, Lloyd Ulyate (tb), George Roberts (bass and baritone tb), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (dr, perc), Corky Hale (harp), Robert LaMarchina, Edgar Lustgarten (cello) Recorded in Hollywood, Los Angeles, February 7–9 and March 27, 1956

CD 3:

ELLA FITZGERALD Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, Vol. 1

Sam And Delilah / But Not For Me / My One And Only / Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off / (I’ve Got) Beginner’s Luck / Oh, Lady Be Good / Nice Work If You Can Get It / Things Are Looking Up / Just Another Rhumba / How Long Has This Been Goin’ On / ‘S Wonderful / The Man I Love / That Certain Feeling / By Strauss / Someone To Watch Over Me / The Real American Folk Song (Is A Rag) / Who Cares

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Nelson Riddle (arr, con), PeteCandoli, Don Fagerquist, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, Cappy Lewis, Vito Mangano, Dale McMickle, Shorty Sherock, Joe Triscari (tp), Milt Bernhart, Richard Noel, Tommy Pederson, James Priddy, Juan Tizol (tb), Karl DeKarske, George Roberts (bass tb), James Decker, Vincent DeRosa (French horn), Red Callender or Ed Gilbert (tuba), Benny Carter, Ronnie Lang, Ted Nash (as), Plas Johnson (ts), Chuck Gentry (bass sax), Gene Cipriano, Buddy Collette, Justin Gordon, Jewell Grant, William Green, Jules Jacob, Harry Klee, Joe Koch, Wilbur Schwartz, Buck Skalak, Champ Webb (woodwinds), Lou Levy or Paul Smith (p), Herb Ellis or Barney Kessel (g), Joe Comfort or Ralph Peña (b), Alvin Stoller, Mel Lewis or Bill Richmond (dr), Larry Bunker or Frank Flynn (perc), Israel Baker, Henry Hill, Harold Dicterow, Erno Neufield, Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Joseph Livoti, Jacques Gasselin, Walter Edelstein, James Getzoff, Eudice Shapiro, Ben Gill, Murrary Kellner, Nat Ross, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Misha Russell, Paul Shure, Dan Lube, Gerald Vinci
(violin), Alvin Dinken, Lou Kievman, David Sterkin, Stanley Harris, Paul Robyn, Barbara Simons (viola), Elizabeth Greenschpoon, James Arkatov, Armand Kaproff, George Neikrug, Dave Filerman, Kurt Reher (cello), Katharine Julyie (harp)

Recorded at Capitol Studio A, Hollywood, Los
Angeles, in January, March, and July 1959

CD 4

ELLA FITZGERALD Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, Vol. 2

Looking For A Boy / They All Laughed / My Cousin In Milwaukee / Somebody From Somewhere / A Foggy Day / Clap Yo’ Hands / For You, For Me, For Evermore / Stiff Upper Lip / Boy Wanted / Strike Up The Band / Soon / I’ve Got A Crush On You / Bidin’ My Time / Aren’t You Kind Of Glad We Did / Of Thee I Sing (Baby) / The Half Of It, Dearie’ Blues / I Was Doin’ All Right / He Loves And She Loves / Love Is Sweeping The Country / Treat Me Rough 

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Nelson Riddle (arr, con), Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, Cappy Lewis, Vito Mangano, Dale McMickle, Shorty Sherock, Joe Triscari (tp), Milt Bernhart, Richard Noel, Tommy Pederson, James Priddy, Juan Tizol (tb), Karl DeKarske, George Roberts (bass tb), James Decker, Vincent DeRosa (French horn), Red Callender or Ed Gilbert (tuba), Benny Carter, Ronnie Lang, Ted Nash (as), Plas Johnson (ts), Chuck Gentry (bass sax), Gene Cipriano, Buddy Collette, Justin Gordon, Jewell Grant, William Green, Jules Jacob, Harry Klee, Joe Koch, Wilbur Schwartz, Buck Skalak, Champ Webb (woodwinds), Lou Levy or Paul Smith (p), Herb Ellis or Barney Kessel (g), Joe Comfort or Ralph Peña (b), Alvin Stoller, Mel Lewis or Bill Richmond (dr), Larry Bunker or Frank Flynn (perc), Israel Baker, Henry Hill, Harold Dicterow, Erno Neufield, Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Joseph Livoti, Jacques Gasselin, Walter Edelstein, James Getzoff, Eudice Shapiro, Ben Gill, Murrary Kellner, Nat Ross, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Misha Russell, Paul Shure, Dan Lube, Gerald Vinci (violin), Alvin Dinken, Lou Kievman, David Sterkin, Stanley Harris, Paul Robyn, Barbara Simons (viola), Elizabeth Greenschpoon, James Arkatov, Armand Kaproff, George Neikrug, Dave Filerman, Kurt Reher (cello), Katharine Julyie (harp)

Recorded at Capitol Studio A, Hollywood, Los Angeles, in January, March, and July 1959

CD 5

ELLA FITZGERALD Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, Vol. 3

Our Love Is Here To Stay / Slap That Bass / Isn’t It A Pity? / Shall We Dance? / Love Walked In / You’ve Got What Gets Me / They Can’t Take That Away From Me / Embraceable You / I Can’t Be Bothered Now / Boy! What Love Has Done To Me! / Fascinating Rhythm / Funny Face / The Lorelei / Oh, So Nice! / Let’s Kiss And Make Up / I Got Rhythm

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Nelson Riddle (arr, con), Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, Cappy Lewis, Vito Mangano, Dale McMickle, Shorty Sherock, Joe Triscari (tp), Milt Bernhart, Richard Noel, Tommy Pederson, James Priddy, Juan Tizol (tb), Karl DeKarske, George Roberts (bass tb), James Decker, Vincent DeRosa (French horn), Red Callender or Ed Gilbert (tuba), Benny Carter, Ronnie Lang, Ted Nash (as), Plas Johnson (ts), Chuck Gentry (bass sax), Gene Cipriano, Buddy Collette, Justin Gordon, Jewell Grant, William Green, Jules Jacob, Harry Klee, Joe Koch, Wilbur Schwartz, Buck Skalak, Champ Webb (woodwinds), Lou Levy or Paul Smith (p), Herb Ellis or Barney Kessel (g), Joe Comfort or Ralph Peña (b), Alvin Stoller, Mel Lewis or Bill Richmond (dr), Larry Bunker or Frank Flynn (perc), Israel Baker, Henry Hill, Harold Dicterow, Erno Neufield, Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Joseph Livoti, Jacques Gasselin, Walter Edelstein, James Getzoff, Eudice Shapiro, Ben Gill, Murrary Kellner, Nat Ross, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Misha Russell, Paul Shure, Dan Lube, Gerald Vinci (violin), Alvin Dinken, Lou Kievman, David Sterkin, Stanley Harris, Paul Robyn, Barbara Simons (viola), Elizabeth Greenschpoon, James Arkatov, Armand Kaproff, George Neikrug, Dave Filerman, Kurt Reher (cello), Katharine Julyie (harp) Recorded at Capitol Studio A, Hollywood, Los Angeles, in January, March, and July 1959

CD 6:

ELLA FITZGERALD & Louis Armstrong – Porgy & Bess

Overture / Summertime / I Wants To Stay Here (Aka I Loves You Porgy) / My Man’s Gone Now / I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ / The Buzzard Song / Bess, You Is My Woman Now / It Ain’t Necessarily So / What You Want Wid Bess? / A Woman Is A Sometime Thing / Oh, Doctor Jesus / Medley: Here Come De Honey Man/Crab Man/Oh, Dey’s So Fresh And Fine / There’s A Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon For New York / Oh Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess? / Oh, Lawd, I’m On My Way! 

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Louis Armstrong (voc), tp on “Summertime,” “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’,” “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” “A Woman Is a Sometime Thing,” and “There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York”, Russell Garcia (arr, cond), Victor Arno, Robert Barene, Jacques Gasselin, Joseph Livoti, Dan Lube, Amerigo Marino, Erno Neufeld, Marshall Sosson, Robert Sushel, Gerald Vinci, Tibor Zelig (v), Myron Bacon, Abraham Hochstein, Raymond Menhennick, Myron Sandler (viol), Justin Di Tullio, Kurt Reher, William Van Den Burg (cellos), Frank Beach, Buddy Childers, Cappy Lewis (tp), Milt Bernhart, Marshall Cram, James Henderson, Lloyd Ulyate (tb), Vincent DeRosa (fh), Bill Miller, Paul Smith (p), Tony Rizzi (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (dr) Recorded in Los Angeles on August 18 and 19 and October 14, 1957

CD 7:

ELLA FITZGERALD sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook, Vol. 1

Have You Met Miss Jones? / You Took Advantage Of Me / A Ship Without A Sail / To Keep My Love Alive / Dancing On The Ceiling / The Lady Is A Tramp / With A Song In My Heart / Manhattan / Johnny One Note / I Wish I Were In Love Again / Spring Is Here / It Never Entered My Mind / This Can’t Be Love / Thou Swell / My Romance / Where Or When / Little Girl Blue 

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Buddy Bregman (arr, cond), Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn (tp), Vincent DeRosa (flgh), Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, Lloyd Ulyate (tb), George Roberts (btb), Bud Shank, Maurice Stein, Willie Schwartz (as), Bob Cooper, Ted Nash (ts), Chuck Gentry (bs), Corky Hale (harp), Paul Smith (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (dr) + strings Recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, CA, from August 21 until 31, 1956

CD 8:

ELLA FITZGERALD sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook, Vol. 2

Give It Back To The Indians / Ten Cents A Dance / There’s A Small Hotel / I Didn’t Know What Time It Was / Ev’rything I’ve Got / I Could Write A Book / The Blue Room / My Funny Valentine / Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered / Mountain Greenery / Wait Till You See Her / Lover / Isn’t It Romantic / Here In My Arms / Blue Moon / I’ve Got Five Dollars / My Heart Stood Still

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Buddy Bregman (arr, cond), Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn (tp), Vincent DeRosa (flgh), Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, Lloyd Ulyate (tb), George Roberts (btb), Bud Shank, Maurice Stein, Willie Schwartz (as), Bob Cooper, Ted Nash (ts), Chuck Gentry (bs), Corky Hale (harp), Paul Smith (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (dr) + strings Recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, CA, from August 21 until 31, 1956

CD 9:

ELLA FITZGERALD Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book, Vol. 1

Let’s Face The Music And Dance / You’re Laughing At Me / Let Yourself Go / You Can Have Him / Russian Lullaby / Puttin’ On The Ritz / Get Thee Behind Me Satan / Alexander’s Ragtime Band / Top Hat, White Tie And Tails / How About Me / Cheek To Cheek / I Used To Be Color Blind / Lazy / How Deep Is The Ocean / All By Myself / Remember

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Paul Weston (arr, cond), Don Fagerquist (tp), Fred Stulce (cl), Ted Nash, Babe Russin (ts), Chuck Gentry (bs), Gene Cipriano (wdwd), Paul Smith (p), Barney Kessel (g), Jack Ryan (b), Alvin Stoller (dr) Recorded at Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, from March 13 until 19, 1958

CD 10

ELLA FITZGERALD Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book, Vol. 2

Suppertime / How’s Chances / Heat Wave / Isn’t This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain) / You Keep Coming Back Like A Song / Reaching For The Moon / Let’s Go Slummin’ On Park Avenue / The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On) / I’m Puttin’ All My Eggs In One Basket / Now It Can Be Told / Always / It’s A Lovely Day Today / Change Partners / No Strings (I’m Fancy Free) / I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm / Blue Skies

Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Paul Weston (arr, cond), Don Fagerquist (tp), Fred Stulce (cl), Ted Nash, Babe Russin (ts), Chuck Gentry (bs), Gene Cipriano (wdwd), Paul Smith (p), Barney Kessel (g), Jack Ryan (b), Alvin Stoller (dr) Recorded at Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, from March 13 until 19, 1958