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Music : Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook
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Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook by: Ella Fitzgerald |
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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0731458910824 Format: Original recording remastered Label: Umvd Labels Manufacturer: Umvd Labels Number Of Discs: 2 Publisher: Umvd Labels Release Date: October 09, 2001 Studio: Umvd Labels Sales Rank: 9790 Disc 1:
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Editorial Review: Amazon.com: Recorded in 1960 and '61, this is one of the last and very best of Fitzgerald's songbooks spotlighting individual composers. Arlen's lyrical songs, filled with bluesy touches and abstractions from the blues form, are perfect jazz fodder (he wrote for Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club, circa 1930), and beautiful tunes in their own right. Fitzgerald is in peak voice; she's attentive to the nuances of soulful lyrics (Ira Gershwin's "The Man That Got Away"), and lightly teases some witty ones (like Johnny Mercer's "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive"). Billy May's big-band arrangements are models of self-effacing fleetness--punchy without hysteria, smooth without syrup--and enlivened by alto saxophonist Benny Carter and trumpeter Don Fagerquist. But May also brings a delicate sensibility to introductory verses, interludes, and tender ballads. Strings on a few tracks are for variety, not window-dressing. Arlen's graceful American art songs have never had a better showcase--even if they could have skipped "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead." --Kevin Whitehead Customer Reviews
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 Rating: - Ding! Dong! This Ella book is swell !!! Ella Fitzgerald possessed the unique talent to be able to record so many extensive songbooks and always come out smelling like a rose. Her voice is in excellent form throughout this two CD set; and she emotes so very well all the feelings that Harold Arlen could ever have dreamed for his timeless music. While people know Ella Fitzgerald, not everyone knows that Harold Arlen wrote the music for such wonderful classic songs as "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road);" "It's Only A Paper Moon;" "I've Got The World On A String;" "Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All The Time);" and the timeless "Over The Rainbow." Ella does great justice to Arlen's work by throwing herself completely into each tune; and the musical accompaniments ... Read More: Rating: - nearly perfect executionBilly May and Ella make a great combo. Some of the songs are great and some not so but all the performances are excellent. Billy May outdoes himself in the arrangement and orchestration. Wonderful. And Ella is well..... Ella. Rating: - A timeless recording!One of Ella's & this series' best! I never thought Ms. Fitzgerald could take on the challenge of doing a complete Harold Arlen set so successfully. I use to think a belter like Judy Garland could only do his melodies justice. I was wrong! Here, Ella showed that good taste & restraint works just as well! Don't get me wrong, Ella still used projection & dramactics to display the needed emotion for each song but she did it subtlety. She never overwhelmed which critics of Ethel Merman would say. Now to the songs! There are several I didn't know until I heard this tribute. Let's Take a Walk Around the Block sure romaticized the depreesion. Ella surely ... Read More: Rating: - Ella, and Billy May...Tonight I played the album which made me a devoted Ella Fitzgerald fan; it is Ella Fitzgerald sings the Harold Arlen Songbook. From the first time I played the LP my father left me, I loved her voice, and the atmosphere on this particular recording. I liked the swinging but sophisticated arrangements by Billy May. And right now when I switch my music off, I read on the Internet Billy May has passed away. He has the age for it (87), but it is a great loss anyway, although I didn't know he was still with us. Ella sings beautiful (especially on the second dis): Over the Rainbow, Happiness is just a thing called Joe, One for my baby, the man that got away... listen to them; learn to love Ella, and think of Billy May... both their genius are somewhere ... Read More: Rating:  - ELLA AND BILLY MAYIf you don't know other songbooks from the ELLA's 16 collection,you might enjoy those two cds a lot.But many of those excellent songs have been covered so well by the likes of SINATRA,GARLAND etc.that you are bound to be disapointed.ELLA is not at ease with with BILLY MAY's driving orchestral direction.Compare MAY's wonderful work with ANITA O'DAY(SWINGS COLE PORTER)to experience the difference.It's simply a mismatch.However,if you don't pay attention to these sorts of details,you can buy it eyes closed,because no songbook of ELLA is without interest.THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC and BLUES IN THE NIGHT were allready famous songs at that time;GET HAPPY will forever be associated with JUDY GARLAND.My favorite here is MY SHINING HOUR.A medium FITZGERALD can still ... Read More: |
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