Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald · 1959
180 min · 53 tracks · jazz · soul · swing
A dazzling showcase of jazz sophistication, blending Fitzgerald's voice with Gershwin's timeless melodies.
Why this album works
This album is significant for its critical acclaim and influence on jazz standards, featuring classics that have become synonymous with Fitzgerald's legacy. It won the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance and helped to popularize the Gershwin catalog, bridging jazz and theatrical songwriting in a way that resonated throughout subsequent decades.
- Best for
- dynamic journey through standards sophisticated melodies for relaxation for evening gatherings
- Context
- By 1959, Ella Fitzgerald was an established star in the jazz world, with this album being her first major foray into interpreting the works of George and Ira Gershwin. This release followed her groundbreaking Verve albums and marked a significant moment in her career as she embraced the Great American Songbook, further solidifying her status as a leading vocalist.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dave Brubeck· Miles Davis· John Coltrane· Thelonious Monk· Chet Atkins· Herbie Hancock· Charles Mingus· Aretha Franklin
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Sam and Delilah 3:18
- 2 But Not for Me 3:35
- 3 My One and Only 2:38
- 4 Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off 4:30
- 5 Beginner’s Luck 3:10
- 6 Oh, Lady Be Good 4:02
- 7 Nice Work If You Can Get It 3:34
- 8 Things Are Looking Up 3:06
- 9 Just Another Rhumba 5:37
- 10 How Long Has This Been Going On? 3:48
- 11 ’S Wonderful 3:32
- 12 The Man I Love 3:54
- 13 That Certain Feeling 3:05
- 14 By Strauss 2:32
- 15 Someone to Watch Over Me Standout 4:35
- 16 The Real American Folk Song 3:46
- 17 Who Cares? 3:05
Disc 2
- 1 Looking for a Boy 3:05
- 2 They All Laughed 3:05
- 3 My Cousin in Milwaukee 3:11
- 4 Somebody From Somewhere 3:09
- 5 A Foggy Day 3:34
- 6 Clap Yo’ Hands 2:31
- 7 For You, for Me, for Evermore 3:26
- 8 Stiff Upper Lip 2:53
- 9 Boy Wanted 3:36
- 10 Strike Up the Band 2:37
- 11 Soon 2:23
- 12 I’ve Got a Crush on You 3:30
- 13 Bidin’ My Time 2:42
- 14 Aren’t You Kind of Glad We Did? 3:31
- 15 Of Thee I Sing (Baby) 3:10
- 16 “The Half of It, Dearie” Blues 3:49
- 17 I Was Doing All Right 3:29
- 18 He Loves and She Loves 2:46
Disc 3
- 1 Love Is Sweeping the Country 3:27
- 2 Treat Me Rough 2:56
- 3 Love Is Here to Stay 3:54
- 4 Slap That Bass 3:21
- 5 Isn’t It a Pity? 3:25
- 6 Shall We Dance 3:09
- 7 Love Walked In 3:53
- 8 You’ve Got What Gets Me 2:15
- 9 They Can’t Take That Away From Me 3:11
- 10 Embraceable You 4:52
- 11 I Can’t Be Bothered Now 2:49
- 12 Boy! What Love Has Done to Me! 3:48
- 13 Fascinatin’ Rhythm 3:22
- 14 Funny Face 3:23
- 15 Lorelei 3:21
- 16 Oh, So Nice 3:41
- 17 Let’s Kiss and Make Up 3:51
- 18 I Got Rhythm 3:05
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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