The Best Is Yet to Come
Ella Fitzgerald · 1982
40 min · 10 tracks · jazz
A soulful blend of jazz standards and heartfelt interpretations, showcasing Fitzgerald's timeless vocal mastery and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Don't Be That Way Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
-
→
God Bless the Child — Fitzgerald's rendition captures the song's poignant narrative through her emotive phrasing, elevating the classic into a personal meditation on resilience.
-
→
The Best Is Yet to Come — The title track showcases Fitzgerald's ability to infuse optimism and warmth into her delivery, making it a standout anthem of hope and renewal.
-
→
Autumn in New York — Her interpretation brings an evocative sense of longing to the lyrics, illustrating her unique capacity to convey deep emotion through subtle vocal nuances.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Fitzgerald's vocal mastery shines through a blend of standards and arrangements, though the album lacks a strong cohesive arc.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate lush orchestral arrangements that complement her voice, particularly on ballads like 'Autumn in New York'.
- The pacing varies, with some tracks maintaining a steady tempo while others slow down to emphasize emotional delivery.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
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
- steady melodic journey throughout
- soulful reflections on love
- evening relaxation with elegance
- intimate moments of nostalgia
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat party tracks
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Released in her later years, it showcases her enduring vocal mastery and emotional depth.
- Themes
- New York nostalgia· Billie Holiday tribute· post-hiatus resurgence
- Career context
- Released in 1982, 'The Best Is Yet to Come' marked one of Ella Fitzgerald's later studio albums during her prolific career. By this point, she had already established herself as a jazz legend, but this album represented her continued relevance and ability to reinterpret classic songs with fresh emotion and insight.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Louis Armstrong
Tracklist
- 1 Don't Be That Way Start here 4:07
- 2 God Bless the Child 4:46
- 3 I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone 3:53
- 4 You're Driving Me Crazy 3:30
- 5 Any Old Time 4:24
- 6 Good-Bye 4:04
- 7 Autumn in New York 3:28
- 8 The Best Is Yet to Come 5:22
- 9 Deep Purple 4:06
- 10 Somewhere in the Night 3:06
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Lady in Satin
Billie Holiday
Shares a deep emotional resonance and lush orchestration, echoing nostalgia and longing.
Sarah Vaughan with Michel Legrand
Sarah Vaughan
Combines traditional jazz with contemporary arrangements, showcasing vocal elegance and emotional depth.
I Put a Spell on You
Nina Simone
Explores similar themes of love and heartache, wrapped in soulful jazz and rich instrumentation.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.