Search - Ella Fitzgerald :: Hello Dolly (Dig)

"Frank DeVol is the perfect arranger conductor for Ella Fitz

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 08/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Do you know how difficult it is to choose the best Ella Fitzgerald album ever, or outstanding tracks on this latest remastered recording of "Hello Dolly!", as we take a listeners journey through twelve tunes from the early '60s...what is so nice about this collection is "HELLO DOLLY!", was arranged by Henri Rene nice tempo and has that certain happy feeling..."CAN'T BUY ME LOVE" (Ella's smash hit of The Beatles), "PEOPLE" and "THE SWEETEST SOUNDS", all three arranged by Johnnie Spence very light and refreshing...recorded in London on April 7, 1964.



The balance of the album was arranged and conducted by Frank DeVol and featuring Zoot Sims on tenor sax...recorded in New York City on March 3rd and 4th, 1964...Ella's recordings could fill an entire library, her performances on this collection flawless each tune is more satisfying than the previous one.



HOW HIGH THE MOON (Lewis/Hamilton)

LULLABY OF THE LEAVES (Perkere/Young)

MEMORIES OF YOU (Blake/Razaf)

MISS OTIS REGRETS (Cole Porter)

MY MAN (Yvain/Charles/Pollock/Willemetz)

PETE KELLY'S BLUES (Cahn/Heindorf) (very haunting rendition with Ella's smoky voice)

THE THRILL IS GONE (Henderson/Brown)

VOLARE (Modugno/Migliacci/Parish) (Hank Jones on piano)



Ella's style is so timeless as you're instantly amazed by her voice. There are more complete collections than this one, but this is a great introduction to her career which include collaborations with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra...each cue takes on a delightful bit of improvisation, blending a vibrant expressive of, don't take yourself too seriously attitude.



Evidently Norman Granz, her manager knew a good thing when he took her under his wing...even though a contract was never signed between them, love and respect was there right from the beginning. If you only purchase one album by the "First Lady of Song", this collection is a keeper!



Total Time: 40:00 on 12 Tracks ~ Verve Records 467502 ~ (7/12/2005)"

Great Ella, Swing!

Michele Scasso | Firenze, Italy | 07/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The previous review was correct in all, but in this: Ella's CD entitled "The Intimate Ella" is the re-recording of the soundtrack of "Let No Man Write My Epitaph", and not Pete Kelly's Blues.

Ella sang Pete Kelly's Blues for the the soundtrack of the same movie, in which Miss Peggy Lee also starred, and that was out in 1955, while Ella was under contract for Decca Records.



Anyway, I think this is one album that has been taken for granted and underestimated. It's a great swinging and soft CD. I love each song, both the ballads (listen to Memories Of You...it's a masterpiece!) and the swinging songs (you won't help but fingersnapping listening to Hello Dolly!).



I remember to all that 2006 will be the decennal of Ella's death, and in 2007 Ella would have been 90...so we hope Verve records will continue in this way, issuing a deluxe version of Ella In Hollywood, with many of the hundreds songs that were recorded in more than a week of concerts!!!!!!!!"

Finally

Jeffrey Apodaca | 09/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been listening to the vinyl of this same album for about a year and I am thrilled it has been released now on CD. The vinyl just does not do the isturmentals justice, but Ella sounds the same to me, wonderful. So worth the money and buy it right away so you don't miss out and have to pay $50 for it when it's out of print."