Track Listings (22) - Disc #1| All Artists: Ella Fitzgerald Title: Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Gershwin Songbook Members Wishing: 3 Total Copies: 0 Label: Polygram Records Release Date: 5/19/1998 Album Type: Box set, Original recording remastered Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists Styles: Swing Jazz, Traditional Jazz & Ragtime, Vocal Jazz, Oldies, Vocal Pop, Classic Vocalists, Traditional Vocal Pop Number of Discs: 4 SwapaCD Credits: 4 UPCs: 731453975927, 042282327925 |
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Search - Ella Fitzgerald :: Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Gershwin Songbook
 | Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Gershwin Songbook Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists
George and Ira Gershwin are probably the songwriters who have contributed the most standards to the American repertory, and Fitzgerald covers pretty much all of them in this mammoth enterprise. (The 53 songs were recorded ... more » |
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Amazon.com essential recording George and Ira Gershwin are probably the songwriters who have contributed the most standards to the American repertory, and Fitzgerald covers pretty much all of them in this mammoth enterprise. (The 53 songs were recorded in 1959 and originally came out in a five- LP box set.) Considering the scope of this collection, naming titles would be futile: rest assured that your favorite Gershwin tune is likely to be included. The singer's well-known versatility and musicality are in evidence, but what's especially amazing is the complete symbiosis between her and arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle. Fresh off injecting a shot of swing into Sinatra's career, Riddle enhances Fitzgerald's vocals rather than overwhelming her, and Fitzgerald, in turn, is stimulated by the musicians percolating behind her. Pure genius. --Elisabeth Vincentelli Similarly Requested CDs
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CD ReviewsWhere music becomes art 01/11/2003 (5 out of 5 stars) "I rarely write reviews of products (they speak for themselves) but after readings "Brian"'s review of this recording, I felt compelled. (Brian must be among the group of people who like to criticize just to make themselves feel better... they feel themselves authorities in some manner). Ella Fitzgerald singing the Gershwin Songbook has to be in the top two recorded piceces of popular music of all time ("Judy at Carnegie" is the only other contender for number one). There is no other artist who captures the essence of the Gershwins as Ella in this set. The orchestration is full and rich ,but does not distract from Ella's voice. The scores are kept authentic... Ella does not try to "sell" or "personalize" the songs like Sinatra did with Cole Porter's music. Yes, there are some Gershwin tunes here that the masses may not have heard, but that doesn't make them less valuable than the "Lady Be Good"'s and the "They Can't Take that Away from Me"'s. The art of music is in interpretation and Ella interprets Gershwin like no other. Where else have you heard Gershwin so completely and purely interpreted? I challenge anyone to find a similar recording, period. ***** is not high enough." Smoke Alarm Award Winner Leif Johnson | Irvine, CA USA | 07/25/2001 (5 out of 5 stars) "If I had to flee my pad with only one item, it would be this box set. O.k, that's kind of cheating because I'd be taking more than CD out with me, but what the heck -- it's my place going up in smoke, isn't it? Ella's silky yet crystal-clear voice with perfect intonation and inflection, combined with the unsurpassable songs of George and Ira Gershwin and the orchestrations of Nelson Riddle make this a classic in every sense of the word. If at least three of the songs in this box set don't give you goosebumps I will come over and mow your lawn. The ending of "The Man I Love" will propel you into the troposphere. This set is a once-in-a-century combination of musical talent. It is a pure joy." ELLA IS THE BEST! S. Henkels | 06/03/2001 (5 out of 5 stars) "Reading the only one-star review of this album (very partial indeed), I felt it was my obligation to clarify some points that were misjudged by an unskillful person who only wants to attack Ella Fitzgerald: 1- This is a songbook, not an original Broadway cast album; it is written in the box. If you buy an album that is a songbook and you do not like songbooks, you are blind or you cannot read. 2- Fifty-some songs presented here (some with original verses never heard before) with a variety of ideas (not an easy task) only made possible by the enormous talent of Nelson Riddle; 3- This is a masterpiece recognized by the public and the serious critics; 4- This album was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald; 5- Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday do not appear here; 6- Frank Sinatra was a great popular singer; 7- Billie Holiday was a great jazz singer; 8- Ella Fitzgerald was a great pop AND jazz singer, by the way, the greatest of them all. Good records and bad records every artist have them. It is silly to say that every album that Mr, Sinatra recorded is a gem. Only in the limited eyes of a fan. I say: forget the doo bee doo bees of Mr Sinatra. Listen to Ella's Angel Eyes. It is by far better than his. 9- A timeless classic. Get it. If you want one free, ask the person of the one-star review. He or she probably wants to get rid of it."
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