The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books

~ Release by Ella Fitzgerald (see all versions of this release, 3 available)

Annotation

Notes

This huge (and expensive) 16 discs boxset covers the totality of Fitzgerald's Song Books serie that she made for Verve during the late 50s and early 60s.
It features major works drawn from the Great American Song Book, including from Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, George & Ira Gershwin, and Johnny Mercer.
Given its size, nature (and price), this set is not for everyone, and newcomers would certainly be better digging one of the smallest sampler that Verve made out of this (one of the The Best of the Song Books for example).
As well, jazz hardcore fans could find themselves disappointed if they don't already know the material, and actually expect scat and swing (this is orchestral, mostly, and not of the lightest ones...).
But any completist, any serious Ella's fans, or anybody interested in this major cultural event should really consider saving money to buy this superb set.
This specific disc covers the first part of the Cole Porter songbook.

Tracklist

1▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book
2▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book
3▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book
4▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book
5▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
6▼CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
#TitleLength
1Just A-Sittin’ and A-Rockin’
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
Just A‐Sittin’ and A‐Rockin’ (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Lee Gaines (in 1941)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1941) and Billy Strayhorn (in 1941)
3:35
2Solitude
engineer:
Val Valentin (on 1956-09-04)
producer:
Norman Granz
guitar:
Barney Kessel (on 1956-09-04)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (on 1956-09-04)
recorded at:
Radio Recorders Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (on 1956-09-04)
cover recording of:
(In My) Solitude (on 1956-09-04)
lyricist:
Eddie DeLange (in 1934) and Irving Mills (in 1934)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1934)
publisher:
American Academy of Music, Inc., De Lange Music Co., EMI Mills Music Inc. and J. R. Lafleur & Son Ltd.
2:09
3Rocks in My Bed
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
Rocks in My Bed (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist and composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1941)
3:59
4Satin Doll
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
Satin Doll (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Johnny Mercer (in 1953)
additional composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1953)
composer:
Billy Strayhorn (in 1953)
publisher:
Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd., Duke Ellington Music, Tempo Music, Inc. and WB Music Corp.
3:29
5Sophisticated Lady
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
Sophisticated Lady (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Mitchell Parish and Irving Mills (in 1932)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1932)
publisher:
Duke Ellington Music (ended), Mills Music, Inc. (ended), EMI Mills Music Inc., Famous Music Corporation (until 2007-05) and Sony/ATV Harmony (from 2007-05 to present)
part of:
Sophisticated Ladies (1981 musical)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
5:22
6Just Squeeze Me
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
Just Squeeze Me (but Don’t Tease Me) (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Lee Gaines (in 1941)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1941)
4:17
7It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Irving Mills (in 1931)
composer:
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (in 1931-08)
publisher:
Duke Ellington Music and EMI Mills Music
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
4:15
8Azure
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
Azure (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Irving Mills (in 1937)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1937)
2:23
9I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Irving Mills (in 1938), Henry Nemo (in 1938) and John Redmond (in 1938)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1938)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
4:12
10In a Sentimental Mood
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
In a Sentimental Mood (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Manny Kurtz and Irving Mills
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1935)
publisher:
American Academy of Music, Inc., Famous Music Corporation, J. R. Lafleur & Son Ltd., Lafleur Music Ltd., Mills Music and Sony/ATV Harmony
2:48
11Don’t Get Around Much Any More
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lyricist:
Bob Russell (in 1942)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1940)
publisher:
EMI Music, EMI Robbins Catalog Inc., Harrison Music Corp. and Sony/ATV Harmony
sub-publisher:
フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス
version of:
Never No Lament
5:02
12Prelude to a Kiss
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Joe Mondragon (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
guitar:
Barney Kessel (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
piano:
Paul Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
violin:
Stuff Smith (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (from 1957-09-04 until 1957-09-16)
cover recording of:
Prelude to a Kiss (on 1957-10-17)
lyricist:
Irving Gordon (in 1938) and Irving Mills (in 1938)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1938)
publisher:
J. R. Lafleur & Son Ltd. and Lafleur Music Ltd.
5:30
13Mood Indigo
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Ray Brown (on 1957-10-17)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (on 1957-10-17)
guitar:
Herb Ellis (on 1957-10-17)
piano:
Oscar Peterson (on 1957-10-17)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (on 1957-10-17)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (on 1957-10-17)
cover recording of:
Mood Indigo (1930 jazz composition and song) (on 1957-10-17)
lyricist:
Irving Mills (in 1930)
composer:
Barney Bigard (in 1930) and Duke Ellington (in 1930)
publisher:
Duke Ellington Music, Famous Music Corporation, Indigo Mood Music, Mills Music, Inc., EMI Mills Music Inc. (in 1930), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (in 1930) and Lawrence Wright Music Co., Ltd. (in 1930)
sub-publisher:
ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング CMP外国事業部 and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
3:28
14In a Mellow Tone
recorded in:
Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1957-10-17)
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Ray Brown (on 1957-10-17)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (on 1957-10-17)
guitar:
Herb Ellis (on 1957-10-17)
piano:
Oscar Peterson (on 1957-10-17)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (on 1957-10-17)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (on 1957-10-17)
cover recording of:
In a Mellow Tone (on 1957-10-17)
lyricist:
Milt Gabler (in 1939)
composer:
Duke Ellington (in 1939)
publisher:
EMI Robbins and Robbins Music
5:12
15Love You Madly
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Ray Brown (on 1957-10-17)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (on 1957-10-17)
guitar:
Herb Ellis (on 1957-10-17)
piano:
Oscar Peterson (on 1957-10-17)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (on 1957-10-17)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (on 1957-10-17)
cover recording of:
Love You Madly (on 1957-10-17)
composer:
Duke Ellington
4:42
16Lush Life
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Ray Brown (on 1957-10-17)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (on 1957-10-17)
guitar:
Herb Ellis (on 1957-10-17)
piano:
Oscar Peterson (on 1957-10-17)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (on 1957-10-17)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (on 1957-10-17)
cover recording of:
Lush Life (on 1957-10-17)
lyricist and composer:
Billy Strayhorn (from 1933 until 1938)
publisher:
Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc., Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd., Chrysalis One Music, Reservoir Media Music, ミュージック・セールス and Tempo Music, Inc. (from 1949 to present)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
3:41
17Squatty Roo
engineer:
Val Valentin
producer:
Norman Granz
double bass:
Ray Brown (on 1957-10-17)
drums (drum set):
Alvin Stoller (on 1957-10-17)
guitar:
Herb Ellis (on 1957-10-17)
piano:
Oscar Peterson (on 1957-10-17)
tenor saxophone:
Ben Webster (on 1957-10-17)
lead vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (on 1957-10-17)
cover recording of:
Squatty Roo (on 1957-10-17)
composer:
Johnny Hodges
3:39
7▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
8▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book
9▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book
10▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book
11▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book
12▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book
13▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book
14▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book
15▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book
16▶CD: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book