Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book explained

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book
Type:Studio
Artist:Ella Fitzgerald
Cover:ellaberlin.jpg
Released:1958
Recorded:March 13–19, 1958
Genre:Jazz
Length:94:50[1]
Label:Verve
Producer:Norman Granz
Prev Title:Ella Swings Lightly
Prev Year:1958
Next Title:Porgy and Bess
Next Year:1959

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book is a 1958 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, focusing on the songs of Irving Berlin.[2] It was part of the popular and influential Songbook series.

Grammy Awards

At the inaugural Grammy Awards, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Fitzgerald won the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Female for her performance on the album.[3]

Reception

In a review for AllMusic, Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. wrote: "For fans who have enjoyed other songbook recordings, this reissue is a must-have; for those unfamiliar with Fitzgerald's songbook work, this is an excellent place to start."

David Adler of All About Jazz called the album "essential in any music library," and commented: "Ella Fitzgerald's talent speaks for itself, as does Berlin's. The compatibility of these two American legends is unmistakable."[4]

Track listing

For the 2-LP set originally released on the Verve label in 1958: Verve MGV 4019-2.

Side One:

  1. "Let's Face the Music and Dance" – 2:57
  2. "You're Laughing at Me" – 3:18
  3. "Let Yourself Go" – 2:20
  4. "You Can Have Him" – 3:47
  5. "Russian Lullaby" – 1:55
  6. "Puttin' On the Ritz" – 2:18
  7. "Get Thee Behind Me Satan" – 3:49
  8. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" – 2:43

Side Two:

  1. "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" – 2:36
  2. "How About Me?" – 3:17
  3. "Cheek to Cheek" – 3:48
  4. "I Used to Be Color Blind" – 2:34
  5. "Lazy" – 2:40
  6. "How Deep Is the Ocean?" – 3:11
  7. "All by Myself" – 2:29
  8. "Remember" – 3:26

Side Three:

  1. "Supper Time" – 3:19
  2. "How's Chances?" – 2:48
  3. "Heat Wave" – 2:25
  4. "Isn't This a Lovely Day?" – 3:29
  5. "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song" – 3:35
  6. "Reaching for the Moon" – 2:18
  7. "Slumming on Park Avenue" – 2:24

Side Four:

  1. "The Song Is Ended (but the Melody Lingers On)" (lyrics by Beda Loehner) – 2:30
  2. "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket" – 3:01
  3. "Now it Can Be Told" – 3:12
  4. "Always" – 3:09
  5. "It's a Lovely Day Today" – 2:28
  6. "Change Partners" – 3:18
  7. "No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)" – 3:03
  8. "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" – 3:00

Bonus Track; Issued on the Verve 2000 2CD re-issue, Verve 830533-2

32."Blue Skies" – 3:43 (Note: This track was added to later vinyl re-issues)

All music and lyrics written by Irving Berlin.

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r507219|pure_url=yes}} ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book'']. AllMusic. 2023-03-22.
  2. Web site: Ella Fitzgerald - The Irving Berlin Song Book . Jazz Music Archives . October 3, 2022.
  3. Web site: Artist: Ella Fitzgerald . Grammy Awards . October 1, 2022.
  4. Web site: Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Irving Berlin Songbook . David . Adler . January 1, 2001 . All About Jazz . October 3, 2022.

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