Ella Fitzgerald - The Very Best of the Irving Berlin Song Book

Title: The Very Best of the Irving Berlin Song Book Artist: Ella Fitzgerald Release Date: 7/17/2007 Re-Released On: 7/24/2007 Label: Verve Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPCs: 602517314221, 0602517314221, 060251731422 Genre: Vocal Music Styles: 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. Cheek to Cheek
2. Let's Face the Music and Dance
3. Change Partners
4. Alexander's Ragtime Band
5. Isn't It a Lovely Day (To Be Caught in the Rain)
6. How Deep Is the Ocean?
7. Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails
8. (You Forgot) To Remember
9. Puttin' on the Ritz
10. Always
11. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
12. Blue Skies

Year Type Label Catalog # 2007 CD Verve 0009144022 2007 CD Verve 09144

No other editions were found for this album.

At the top of the American songwriter pantheon, one finds George Gershwin and Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. But for someone whose songs meant so much to the world of the swinging sophisticate (just take a gander at any of Fred Astaire's classic films with songs by Berlin), his songs were surprisingly simple -- but no less charming. The comparison of Berlin's songs to Astaire's dancing is made often, but the best of their material -- "Cheek to Cheek," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails," "Change Partners" -- was beautifully simplistic and approachable but revealed hidden subtleties and depths of technical mastery. Ella Fitzgerald, no stranger to technical mastery herself, made Berlin the subject of an early song book, circa 1958, and found such riches that it became a two-LP set. The Very Best of the Irving Berlin Song Book presents less than half of that set, but does a good job of selecting the best material. Ella, along with arranger Paul Weston and Verve head Norman Granz, chose many songs that had not been popular, and would be revelations only to vocal fans. Best of the songs here are "Change Partners" and "Blue Skies," the latter with a surprise scat opening by Ella, one of her best on record. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alvin Stoller Drums Babe Russin Sax (Tenor) Barney Kessel Guitar Cameron Mizell Production Coordination Chuck Gentry Sax (Baritone) Don Fagerquist Trumpet Ella Fitzgerald Vocals Gene Cipriano Woodwind Harry "Sweets" Edison Trumpet Harry Weinger Producer Hollis King Art Direction Isabelle Wong Design Jack Ryan Bass James Gavin Liner Notes Julian "Matty" Matlock Clarinet Kevin Reeves Mastering Norman Granz Original Recording Producer Paul "Scooby" Smith Piano Paul Weston Conductor, Arranger Richard Seidel Producer Rolf Ambor Photography Ted Nash Sax (Tenor)