Title: Love Letters from Ella Artist: Ella Fitzgerald Release Date: 6/27/2007 Label: Concord Jazz/Starbucks Entertainm, Verve Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPCs: 888072302136, 0888072302136, 4988005476623, 498800547662, 088807230213 Genre: Vocal Music Styles: Classic Female Blues, Bop, Ballads, Standards, Traditional Pop, Vocal Jazz Moods: Elegant, Exuberant, Joyous, Playful, Springlike, Amiable/Good-Natured, Bright, Carefree, Cheerful, Effervescent, Energetic, Intimate, Refined/Mannered, Romantic, Rousing, Soothing, Sweet, Bittersweet, Boisterous, Fun, Gentle, Lively, Reflective, Sentimental, Sophisticated, Stylish, Warm, Autumnal, Aggressive, Brash, Confident, Happy, Lush, Poignant Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
2. Cry Me a River
3. You Turned the Tables on Me
4. I've Got the World on a String
5. Witchcraft
6. My Old Flame
7. The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)
8. Take Love Easy
9. Our Love Is Here to Stay
10. Some Other Spring

Year Type Label Catalog # 2007 CD Concord Jazz/Starbucks Entertainm 30213 2007 CD Concord Jazz/Starbucks Entertainm 30213 2007 CD Verve 7230213

No other editions were found for this album.

Observing what would have been Ella Fitzgerald's 90th birthday, Concord and its Starbucks partner raided Concord's Pablo vaults and patched together this somewhat brief (40-minute) collection of outtakes and virtual collaborations, hoping for another synergetic success. Ella is in fine late-period (1973-1983) form (some shakiness in the later songs aside), the remastered sound is big and razor-sharp, and the material is impeccable. Four of the ten tracks have been subjected to 2007-vintage overdubbing in London's Abbey Road Studios by the London Symphony Orchestra, with plush arrangements from co-producer Jorge Calandrelli. Technically, the experiment works about as well as Concord's earlier attempt to overdub the current Count Basie Orchestra over Ray Charles; the seams are inaudible. Although the liner notes claim that everything here is unreleased, "I've Got the World on a String" -- a starkly intimate duet with guitarist Joe Pass when heard on the album Fitzgerald and Pass...Again -- sounds like the released take with a rhythm section and the LSO grafted on. The results transport Ella from a living room into Carnegie Hall, so to speak, completely altering the mood and intent of the original. The best moments come when Ella and pianist André Previn -- then on holiday from leading the Pittsburgh Symphony -- have some civilized fun chasing each other on the scat portion of "Our Love Is Here to Stay," and when the Basie band (with the Count on hand) and Ella swing mightily in "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone." There is also one non-orchestrated, midtempo duet with Pass ("The One I Love [Belongs to Somebody Else]"). Though offering short weight at full price, this CD of addenda to the Era of Ella should find an appreciative audience in the coffee checkout line. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Walk Assistant Engineer Abbey Anna Art Direction André Previn Guest Appearance, Piano Andrew Kitchen Assistant Engineer Andrew Pham Package Design, Art Direction Benny Carter Arranger Bill Airey Smith Mixing, Engineer Bill Hughes Trombone Bobby Plater Saxophone Brian Bennison Music Preparation Butch Miles Drums Carmine Lauri Concert Master Charlie Fowlkes Saxophone Christine Pendrill Horn (English) Chuck Berghofer Bass Count Basie Piano Count Basie Orchestra Guest Appearance Danny Turner Saxophone Dennis Wilson Quintet Trombone Dick Lewzey Engineer Doug Sax Mastering Ella Fitzgerald Author Eric Dixon Saxophone Freddie Green Guitar Graham Chambers Librarian Gregg Field Drums, Engineer, Producer, Mixing Jan Persson Photography Joe Pass Guest Appearance, Guitar John Chiodini Guitar John Clayton Bass Jorge Calandrelli Producer, Arranger, Piano Keiron Moore Oboe Kenny Hing Saxophone Lewis Jones Assistant Engineer Marcus Barcham Stevens Concert Manager Mary Hogan A&R Mel Wanzo Trombone Michael Booty Wood Trombone Michael Lang Piano Nick Ingman Conductor Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Bass Nolan Andrew Smith Trumpet Norman Granz Producer Olivia Troop Assistant Paul "Scooby" Smith Assistant Engineer Pete Minger Trumpet Ray Brown Trumpet Scott Hamilton Saxophone Seth Presant Mixing Sonny Cohn Trumpet Steve Genewick Assistant Engineer Steven Stolder Liner Notes The London Symphony Orchestra Guest Appearance Warren Luening Trumpet