Nice Work If You Can Get It – Ella Fitzgerald & Andre Previn Do Gershwin
Ella Fitzgerald · 1983
36 min · 8 tracks · jazz
A sophisticated blend of jazz elegance and orchestral flair, showcasing timeless Gershwin compositions through Fitzgerald's iconic vocals.
Top tracks — play these first
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A Foggy Day Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Nice Work If You Can Get It — The title track exemplifies Fitzgerald's playful vocal style, seamlessly blending jazz phrasing with Gershwin's lighthearted lyrics about the joys of life and love.
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They Can’t Take That Away From Me — This track showcases Fitzgerald's emotive delivery and impeccable timing, transforming a simple love song into an evocative declaration of enduring affection.
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How Long Has This Been Going On? — Fitzgerald's interpretation combines wistfulness and charm, highlighting her ability to convey deep emotion while maintaining a playful rhythm that draws listeners in.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Fitzgerald's vocal mastery combined with orchestral backing creates a cohesive yet familiar jazz experience.
What we noticed
- Each song maintains a consistent tempo, with only slight variations in dynamics to highlight emotional shifts.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate evening listening vibes
- smooth, relaxing background music
- short, engaging musical moments
- nostalgic and romantic atmospheres
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — This album is highly acclaimed and showcases Fitzgerald's artistic resurgence.
- Themes
- Gershwin's jazz standards· sophisticated orchestral elegance
- Career context
- By the time 'Nice Work If You Can Get It' was released in 1983, Ella Fitzgerald was enjoying a resurgence in popularity after decades as a leading figure in jazz. This album marked her collaboration with conductor and pianist André Previn, signifying a notable partnership that brought her interpretations of classic standards back to the forefront of contemporary music appreciation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Louis Armstrong
Tracklist
- 1 A Foggy Day Start here 6:11
- 2 Nice Work If You Can Get It 5:15
- 3 But Not for Me 3:54
- 4 Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off 2:47
- 5 How Long Has This Been Going On? 5:02
- 6 Who Cares? 4:31
- 7 I’ve Got a Crush on You / Someone to Watch Over Me / Embraceable You 4:57
- 8 They Can’t Take That Away From Me 3:28
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Lady in Satin
Billie Holiday
Features lush orchestral arrangements and intimate vocal delivery, echoing Fitzgerald's sophisticated style.
Love Is the Thing
Nat King Cole
Combines smooth vocals with rich orchestration, sharing a similar elegance and emotional depth.
Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown
Sarah Vaughan
Showcases exquisite vocal phrasing over lush jazz instrumentation, aligning with the album's thematic sophistication.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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