Ella Swings Gently with Nelson


Ella Swings Gently with Nelson is a 1962 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with an orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle.
This album is one of a pair, the other being Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson, that were released in 1962.

Review

In 1961, Ella Fitzgerald recorded two albums with Nelson Riddle's Orchestra. Her voice was in peak form and she was surrounded with the elegant arrangements of Nelson Riddle. The Nelson Riddle Orchestra was filled with the creme de la creme of Hollywood studio musicians of the era. Most were veterans of the top big bands of the 1940s and 1950s such as Conrad Gozzo on lead trumpet, Harry Edison playing solo trumpet, George Roberts on bass trombone. "All of Me" was from a different obscure sampler and "Call Me Darling" was previously unissued. Although the accent is on ballads, several of the songs are taken at medium tempos and she swings throughout. Highlights include "Georgia on My Mind", "The Very Thought of You", "It's a Pity to Say Goodnight", "Darn That Dream", "Body and Soul", and a cooking "All of Me".

Track listing

For the 1962 Verve LP album, Verve MG V-4055
Side One:
  1. "Sweet and Slow" – 3:15
  2. "Georgia On My Mind" – 3:29
  3. "I Can't Get Started" – 3:33
  4. "Street of Dreams" – 3:12
  5. "Imagination" – 3:47
  6. "The Very Thought of You" – 2:46
Side Two:
  1. "It's a Blue World" – 2:44
  2. "Darn That Dream" – 2:31
  3. "She's Funny That Way" – 3:14
  4. "I Wished on the Moon" – 2:44
  5. "It's a Pity to Say Goodnight" – 2:34
  6. "My One and Only Love" – 3:12
  7. "Body and Soul" – 3:44
Bonus Tracks; Issued on the 1993 Verve CD re-issue, Verve 519 348-2
14. "Call Me Darling" – 3:41
15. "All of Me" – 3:22
  • Track 14: Originally unissued outtake.
  • Track 15: Originally issued on the 1963 various artists album All-Star Festival: A United Nations Unique Record to Aid the World's Refugees; UN 99500 DL

Personnel