Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" cover

Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from "Let No Man Write My Epitaph"

Ella Fitzgerald · 1960

42 min · 13 tracks · jazz · soul · swing

A smoky blend of heartfelt ballads and soulful grooves that showcases Fitzgerald's unparalleled vocal dexterity.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady emotional exploration throughout
  • smoky atmosphere for intimate moments
  • for reflective evenings
  • heartfelt ballads with rich storytelling
  • soulful grooves for quiet contemplation

Maybe skip if you want

  • seekers of high-energy tracks
  • prefer fast-paced listening experiences

Where this album fits

Themes
smoky barroom nights· heartfelt longing
Career context
Released in 1960, this album marked Ella Fitzgerald's continued evolution as a jazz vocalist after her commercial success in the late 1950s. Following her critically acclaimed 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook' (1959), this work further solidified her status as a leading figure in jazz, showcasing her ability to convey deep emotion through song.
Stylistic neighbors
Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Louis Armstrong
Sounds like this from elsewhere
Lady in Satin by Billie Holiday — Shares deep emotional delivery and smoky atmosphere, focusing on heartfelt ballads.
I Put a Spell on You by Nina Simone — Combines soulfulness and jazz with themes of longing and introspection in a smoky setting.
Sarah Vaughan with Michel Legrand by Sarah Vaughan — Features lush arrangements and emotional depth, blending jazz vocals with a soulful ambiance.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Black Coffee 3:30
  • 2 Angel Eyes 3:30
  • 3 I Cried for You 3:29
  • 4 I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, Baby 3:31
  • 5 Then You’ve Never Been Blue 3:13
  • 6 I Hadn’t Anyone Till You 2:51
  • 7 My Melancholy Baby 3:00
  • 8 Misty 2:54
  • 9 September Song 3:43
  • 10 One for My Baby (and One for the Road) 4:20
  • 11 Who’s Sorry Now 3:29
  • 12 I’m Getting Sentimental Over You 2:38
  • 13 Reach for Tomorrow 2:24

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata