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Favorite Ella Recordings

Ella Fitzgerald's career spanned many decades, and her vocal style varied markedly over the years. So too her choice of accompaniment, ranging from simple piano to full orchestra. Her recorded catalog is staggering in size.

Although I've purchased and enjoyed several albums, I feel I'm shooting in the dark. I need help from some of the experts out there to narrow my choices.

What I'm looking for is the smaller group, more intimate albums, that have what I'll call the "timeless" feel to them. Maybe I'm not describing this properly, but some of her work has arrangements that died (properly!) before I was born. While I can usually filter this out if the vocal is really good, my wife and kids think I've fallen off the planet when I play them.

Decent remastering is always a plus. My system does a great job with vocals, and a good transfer definitely enhances the experience.

CD format only please (yes I know analog would be preferred, but that's not my system (at least for now!)

Thanks!
bama214
waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
947 posts
 

What Pbb said.

The Ken Burns "whitman's sampler" isn't a bad overview either--not to mention cost-effective--but the Songbooks are worth every penny.
cmo
471 posts
 
My Favorite Ella recordings are the ones she made with Satchmo and his band......... I agree with easy e too check out some of the other great female jazz singers from the 30's through the mid 60's. While I don't think Ella could ever be overrated there are some others who don't get the same attention in some circles.

PS dont forget Billie Holiday....... Songs for Distingue Lovers is one of my favorites and fits your small ensemble very well (the band swings so hard it's insane).
trebleclef
73 posts
 
Hmm Tough call. If you only want CD format I would suggest the "Pure Ella" on Decca. What this is a reissue of the Ella Sings Gershiwn. Just her and piano. The cd has a couple of extra tracks. The reason you want to pick this up is that (word has it) GRP did the remastering and for whatever reason the tapes were destroyed in the process.
Of the songbook series I like the Harold Arlen the best. In my collection I have more of her than any others. But I like quite a few.
swklein
136 posts
 
Without question, the two best Ella CDs available (particularly if you hate the orchestral backgrounds of the Songboooks) are "Pure Ella" (a 1950s classic, Ellis Larkin on piano as the only accompaniment) and the XRCD of the later Pablo session "Take Love Easy" with Joe Pass on guitar. Both offer exquisite sound and timeless performances. Another favorite of mine on LP is the Ellington small group Songbook-- don't know if that's made it to CD or not, but the LP sound is stunning.
audiobugged
528 posts
 
As a major Ella fan, & owner of the above mentioned cd's.

The Verve Complete 16 mini-lp cd Songbooks box set is well worth the price to cover Ella's bests.

The 2 Xrcd's are very wonderful also.

As far as "Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie" is concerned the standard Verve cd is good.

However you must purchase the Classic Records gold cd re-issue, you will be blown away by this cd!!! As this is as close to analog as Ella gets on the compact disc format.

Enjoy!
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