The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books


The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books are a series of eight studio albums released in irregular intervals between 1956 and 1964, recorded by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, supported by a variety of orchestras, big bands, and small jazz combos.Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, arranged by Buddy BregmanElla Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Song Book, arranged by BregmanElla Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book, arranged by Duke Ellington & Billy StrayhornElla Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book, arranged by Paul WestonElla Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, arranged by Nelson RiddleElla Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book, arranged by Billy MayElla Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book, arranged by RiddleElla Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book, arranged by Riddle
Considered a cornerstone of 20th-century recorded popular music, they collectively represent some of the finest interpretations of the greater part of the musical canon known as the Great American Songbook. Verve Records reissued the eight albums in an expansive 1994 box set compilation, which won the 1995 Grammy for Best Historical Recording.
Following Fitzgerald's death, The New York Times columnist Frank Rich was moved to write that the Song Book series "performed a cultural transaction as extraordinary as Elvis's contemporaneous integration of white and African-American soul."
Frank Sinatra was moved out of respect for Fitzgerald to block Capitol from re-releasing his own albums in a similar, single composer vein.

Track listing

The Cole Porter Song Book ''''

Disc one

  1. "All Through the Night" – 3:15
  2. "Anything Goes" – 3:21
  3. "Miss Otis Regrets" – 3:00
  4. "Too Darn Hot" – 3:47
  5. "In the Still of the Night" – 2:38
  6. "I Get a Kick Out of You" – 4:00
  7. "Do I Love You?" – 3:50
  8. "Always True to You in My Fashion" – 2:48
  9. "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" – 3:32
  10. "Just One of Those Things" – 3:30
  11. "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" – 3:32
  12. "All of You" – 1:43
  13. "Begin the Beguine" – 3:37
  14. "Get Out of Town" – 3:22
  15. "I Am in Love" – 4:06
  16. "From This Moment On" – 3:17

Disc two

  1. "I Love Paris" – 4:57
  2. "You Do Something to Me" – 2:21
  3. "Ridin' High" – 3:20
  4. "You'd Be So Easy to Love" – 3:24
  5. "It's All Right With Me" – 3:07
  6. "Why Can't You Behave?" – 5:04
  7. "What Is This Thing Called Love?" – 2:02
  8. "You're the Top" – 3:33
  9. "Love for Sale" – 5:52
  10. "It's De-Lovely" – 2:42
  11. "Night and Day" – 3:04
  12. "Ace in the Hole" – 1:58
  13. "So in Love" – 3:50
  14. "I've Got You Under My Skin" – 2:42
  15. "I Concentrate on You" – 3:11
  16. "Don't Fence Me In" – 3:19
  17. "You're the Top" – 2:08
  18. "I Concentrate on You" – 3:00
  19. "Let's Do It" – 5:25
All songs written by Cole Porter, except where indicated.
Arrangements by Buddy Bregman.
The Rodgers & Hart Song Book ''''

Disc three

  1. "Have You Met Miss Jones?" – 3:41
  2. "You Took Advantage of Me" – 3:27
  3. "A Ship Without a Sail" – 4:07
  4. "To Keep My Love Alive" – 3:34
  5. "Dancing on the Ceiling" – 4:06
  6. "The Lady Is a Tramp" – 3:21
  7. "With a Song in My Heart" – 2:44
  8. "Manhattan" – 2:48
  9. "Johnny One Note" – 2:12
  10. "I Wish I Were in Love Again" – 2:36
  11. "Spring is Here" – 3:38
  12. "It Never Entered My Mind" – 4:06
  13. "This Can't Be Love" – 2:54
  14. "Thou Swell" – 2:03
  15. "My Romance" – 3:42
  16. "Where or When" – 2:46
  17. "Little Girl Blue" – 2:53

Disc four

  1. "Give it Back to the Indians" – 3:10
  2. "Ten Cents a Dance" – 4:06
  3. "There's a Small Hotel" – 2:48
  4. "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" – 3:46
  5. "Ev'rything I've Got" – 3:21
  6. "I Could Write a Book" – 3:38
  7. "Blue Room" – 2:29
  8. "My Funny Valentine" – 3:52
  9. "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" – 7:01
  10. "Mountain Greenery" – 2:13
  11. "Wait Till You See Her" – 1:30
  12. "Lover" – 3:16
  13. "Isn't It Romantic?" – 3:00
  14. "Here in My Arms" – 1:52
  15. "Blue Moon" – 3:11
  16. "My Heart Stood Still" – 3:02
  17. "I've Got Five Dollars" – 2:39
  18. "Lover" – 3:15
All songs composed by Richard Rodgers and all lyrics written by Lorenz Hart.
Arrangements by Buddy Bregman.
The Duke Ellington Song Book ''''

Disc five

  1. "Rockin' in Rhythm" – 5:17
  2. "Drop Me Off in Harlem" – 3:48
  3. "Day Dream" – 3:56
  4. "Caravan" – 3:51
  5. "Take the A Train" – 6:37
  6. "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" – 4:39
  7. "Clementine" – 2:37
  8. "I Didn't Know About You" – 4:10
  9. "I'm Beginning to See the Light" – 3:24
  10. "Lost in Meditation" – 3:24
  11. "Perdido" – 6:10
  12. "Cotton Tail" – 3:23
  13. "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" – 7:38
  14. "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" – 3:30
  15. "(In My) Solitude" – 2:04
  16. "Rocks in My Bed" – 3:56
  17. "Satin Doll" – 3:26
  18. "Sophisticated Lady" – 5:18

Disc six

  1. "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)" – 4:13
  2. "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" – 4:12
  3. "Azure" – 2:18
  4. "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" – 4:08
  5. "In a Sentimental Mood" – 2:44
  6. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" – 4:59
  7. "Prelude to a Kiss" – 5:26
  8. "Mood Indigo" – 3:24
  9. "In a Mellow Tone" – 5:07
  10. "Love You Madly" – 4:37
  11. "Lush Life" – 3:37
  12. "Squatty Roo" – 3:38
  13. "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So" – 4:12
  14. "All Too Soon" – 4:22
  15. "Everything But You" – 2:53
  16. "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" – 6:11
  17. "Bli Blip" – 3:01

Disc seven

  1. "Chelsea Bridge" – 3:20
  2. "Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald" – 16:10:
  3. * First Movement: "Royal Ancestry"
  4. * Second Movement: "All Heart"
  5. * Third Movement: "Beyond Category"
  6. * Fourth Movement: "Total Jazz"
  7. "The E and D Blues" – 4:48
All music written by Duke Ellington, lyricists indicated.
Arrangements by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.
The Irving Berlin Song Book ''''

Disc eight

  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
  9. "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" – 2:36
  10. "How About Me?" – 3:17
  11. "Cheek to Cheek" – 3:48
  12. "I Used to Be Color Blind" – 2:34
  13. "Lazy" – 2:40
  14. "How Deep is the Ocean?" – 3:11
  15. "All by Myself" – 2:29
  16. "Remember" – 3:26

Disc nine

  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
  8. "The Song is Ended (but the Melody Lingers On)" – 2:30
  9. "I'm Putting all My Eggs in One Basket" – 3:01
  10. "Now it Can Be Told" – 3:12
  11. "Always" – 3:09
  12. "It's a Lovely Day Today" – 2:28
  13. "Change Partners" – 3:18
  14. "No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)" – 3:03
  15. "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" – 3:00
  16. "Blue Skies" – 3:43
All songs written by Irving Berlin.
Arrangements by Paul Weston.
The George and Ira Gershwin Song Book ''''

Disc ten

  1. "Ambulatory Suite"
  2. * Promenade " – 2:31,
  3. * March of the Swiss Soldiers" – 2:04,
  4. * Fidgety Feet" – 2:46
  5. "The Preludes"
  6. * Prelude I – 1:36,
  7. * Prelude II – 3:48,
  8. * Prelude III – 1:13,
  9. "Sam and Delilah" – 3:15
  10. "But Not for Me" – 3:31
  11. "My One and Only" – 2:36
  12. "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" – 4:26
  13. "(I've Got) Beginner's Luck" – 3:08
  14. "Oh, Lady be Good!" – 3:58
  15. "Nice Work If You Can Get It" – 3:32
  16. "Things Are Looking Up" – 3:03
  17. "Just Another Rhumba" – 5:34
  18. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" – 3:45
  19. "'S Wonderful" – 3:28
  20. "The Man I Love" – 3:50
  21. "That Certain Feeling" – 3:07
  22. "By Strauss" – 2:29
  23. "Someone to Watch Over Me" – 4:30
  24. "The Real American Folk Song (Is a Rag)" – 3:43
  25. "Who Cares?" – 3:05

Disc eleven

  1. "Looking for a Boy" – 3:02
  2. "They All Laughed" – 3:02
  3. "My Cousin in Milwaukee" – 3:07
  4. "Somebody from Somewhere" – 3:06
  5. "A Foggy Day" – 3:50
  6. "Clap Yo' Hands" – 2:28
  7. "For You, For Me, For Evermore" – 3:23
  8. "Stiff Upper Lip" – 2:50
  9. "Boy Wanted" – 3:33
  10. "Strike Up the Band" – 2:33
  11. "Soon" – 2:20
  12. "I've Got a Crush on You" – 3:26
  13. "Bidin' My Time" – 2:40
  14. "Aren't You Kinda Glad We Did?" – 3:28
  15. "Of Thee I Sing" – 3:07
  16. "The Half of It, Dearie' Blues" – 3:45
  17. "I Was Doing All Right" – 3:25
  18. "He Loves and She Loves" – 2:46

Disc twelve

  1. "Love Is Sweeping the Country" – 3:24
  2. "Treat Me Rough" – 2:54
  3. "Our Love Is Here to Stay" – 3:52
  4. "Slap That Bass" – 3:23
  5. "Isn't It a Pity?" – 3:23
  6. "Shall We Dance?" – 3:08
  7. "Love Walked In" – 3:52
  8. "You've Got What Gets Me" – 2:13
  9. "They Can't Take That Away from Me" – 3:07
  10. "Embraceable You" – 4:49
  11. "I Can't Be Bothered Now" – 2:48
  12. "Boy! What Love Has Done to Me!" – 3:46
  13. "Fascinating Rhythm" – 3:22
  14. "Funny Face" – 3:23
  15. "Lorelei" – 3:21
  16. "Oh, So Nice!" – 3:40
  17. "Let's Kiss and Make Up" – 3:49
  18. "I Got Rhythm" – 3:07
  19. "Somebody Loves Me" – 2:36
  20. "Cheerful Little Earful" – 2:06
  21. "Oh, Lady Be Good!" – 4:04
  22. "But Not for Me" – 2:05
All music written by George Gershwin and all lyrics written by Ira Gershwin, unless otherwise indicated.
Arrangements by Nelson Riddle.
The Harold Arlen Song Book ''''

Disc thirteen

  1. "Blues in the Night" – 7:14
  2. "Let's Fall in Love" – 4:05
  3. "Stormy Weather" – 5:17
  4. "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" – 2:26
  5. "My Shining Hour" – 4:02
  6. "Hooray for Love" – 2:45
  7. "This Time the Dream's on Me" – 4:39
  8. "That Old Black Magic" – 4:13
  9. "I've Got the World on a String" – 4:54
  10. "Let's Take a Walk Around the Block" – 4:03
  11. "Ill Wind" – 3:55
  12. "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive" – 3:37

Disc fourteen

  1. "When the Sun Comes Out" – 5:10
  2. "Come Rain or Come Shine" – 3:24
  3. "As Long as I Live" – 3:48
  4. "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe" – 3:30
  5. "It's Only a Paper Moon" – 3:37
  6. "The Man that Got Away" – 5:21
  7. "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)" – 3:58
  8. "It Was Written in the Stars" – 5:11
  9. "Get Happy" – 3:33
  10. "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" – 5:12
  11. "Out of This World" – 2:46
  12. "Over the Rainbow" – 4:21
  13. "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" – 3:19
  14. "Sing My Heart" – 2:49
  15. "Let's Take a Walk Around the Block" – 4:07
  16. "Sing My Heart" – 2:32
All songs composed by Harold Arlen, with lyricists indicated.
Arrangements by Billy May.
The Jerome Kern Song Book ''''

Disc fifteen

  1. "Let's Begin" – 2:56
  2. "A Fine Romance" – 3:36
  3. "All the Things You Are" – 3:15
  4. "I'll Be Hard to Handle" – 3:47
  5. "You Couldn't Be Cuter" – 3:13
  6. "She Didn't Say Yes" – 3:20
  7. "I'm Old Fashioned" – 3:27
  8. "Remind Me" – 3:50
  9. "The Way You Look Tonight" – 4:28
  10. "Yesterdays" – 2:51
  11. "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" – 3:54
  12. "Why Was I Born?" – 3:44
All music written by Jerome Kern with lyricists as indicated.
Arrangements by Nelson Riddle.
The Johnny Mercer Song Book ''''

Disc sixteen

  1. "Too Marvelous for Words" – 2:31
  2. "Early Autumn" – 3:51
  3. "Day In, Day Out" – 2:49
  4. "Laura" – 3:43
  5. "This Time the Dream's on Me" – 2:54
  6. "Skylark" – 3:12
  7. "Single-O" – 3:19
  8. "Something's Gotta Give" – 2:33
  9. "Trav'lin' Light" – 3:47
  10. "Midnight Sun" – 4:55
  11. "Dream" – 2:58
  12. "I Remember You" – 3:38
  13. "When a Woman Loves a Man" – 3:51
All lyrics by Johnny Mercer, composers indicated.
Arrangements by Nelson Riddle.

Personnel

Recorded from February 7, 1956 – August 21, 1964, in Hollywood, California: