Album Club: 25.5.2012: Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the Cole Porter Songbook (1956)

[keiths]

Album Club: 24.5.2012: Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the Cole Porter Songbook (1956) (Vinyl, CD)



Spotify


YouTube (a few tracks):
Miss Otis Regrets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX-b1Ksetcc
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGNLLJz4Ajw
I Get A Kick Out Of You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUOM0rsYdAQ
Anything Goes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as-whCYL4ns
It's Delovely: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txBnEh-SpGg
Why Can't You Behave?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UxiEb2kmKE

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Fi...orter_Songbook

This was Ella Fitzgerald's first album for Verve records and the first of her 8 legendary 'songbook' recordings.

Recorded with a full studio orchestra with arrangements by Buddy Bergman, this album finds Ella at the absolute pinnacle of her vocal powers. All the songs are classics and, to me, pretty timeless with Ella's perfect diction and Bergman's classy and sympathetic arrangements drawing you in to the songs revealing the humour and often pathos within.

Norman Grantz's production is brilliant and the (mono) recording crystal clear, only really showing its age with a somewhat restricted frequency range.

I have this on two original 1956 vinyl (UK pressing on His Master's Voice) LPs and on CD. I used to have the Speaker's Corner double LP reissue (which is very highly recommended) but, unfortunately, I sold that several years ago when I thought I'd left vinyl for good.

So please listen without prejudice - regardless of whether you think it's going to be your cup of tea or not - and I look forward to your votes and comments.

[Barry]

Oh what a refreshing choice Keith!

It might appear a bit 'old hat' to some of our younger members, but these songs are real delight: beautiful delivery, phrasing and wonderful articulation.

Mind you, the superb and witty lyrics of Cole Porter help enormously, but Ella singing almost anything is good.

Check out her collaborations with Louis Armstrong.

Not the sort of thing I would play everyday, but I do like Sarah Vaughan, Natalie Cole and Nina Simone as well.

I'll give it 8/10.

Nice one Keith

[John]

Really looking forward to this Ella was a true legend I not heard this one so will be new for me
Like Barry said her stuff with Louis is really good and some of her life albums are amazing hearing her make up lines to Mack the Knife always makes me feel happy

[Tim]

Wonderful choice Keith

[Welder]

Pah, yer cheating Keith.
Even me at yer most obnoxious cant pick any holes in it.
Yep, it’s a classic.
Not my favorite which is probably Whisper Not, mainly because of Marty on the piano.

I used to have this on Vinyl and it seems I haven’t replaced it.
Currently listening to, Things ain’t what they used to be.

8/10

[keiths]

Thanks for the comments so far.

It's not a record I play every day, but it (and several other Ella 'Songbook' LPs) do get a spin quite often. My Reserve List choice was a toss-up between this and Sinatra's "Songs For Swingin' Lovers" - two artists with probably the best diction going (I don't think either of them has sung a single word that I've struggled to identify).

[Martinh]

Hi Keith,

How can anyone not like this, it's a classic. Solid 8/10 from me.

I played this yesterday afternoon, but switched it off when my wife came home as I thought she'd call me an old fart.

It's not in the same league as the Radical Dance Faction, but not bad at all

[tommy6206]

10 out of 10 from me. I have loads of vinyl of Ella Fitzgerald and a few versions of the Cole Porter song book.Superb choice 10/10 from me..

[Tim]

Well I'm an Ella fan and I had no trouble listening to this at work on headphones today, whilst sat at my desk. I think it's superb so for me it gets the mark you listed as superb - 9/10

[Bazil]

I really would never listen to this if not for the Club. I mean what can you say , like I voted "Superb" 9/10.