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Among Ella Fitzgerald's gigantic discography, the eight volumes of her Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Complete American Songbook form a sacred pantheon. The idea for these records came from producer Norman Granz, who managed the singer and was the boss of Verve. The first volume, Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Songbook, which came out in 1956, was a runaway success with critics and the public alike. So much so that in that same year, Ella followed it up with Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook and then again in 1957 with Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook. This volume, which is given over to the songs of Irving Berlin, was conceived in sessions from 13 to 19 March 1958, with an orchestra directed by the classy and reserved Paul Watson. It's hard to sum up this double album in few words (it originally came out in two separate volumes) without breaking out reams of superlatives. Newcomers to her work can take this record as an easy base camp from which to ascend Ella Everest. Across a repertoire to die for (Berlin passed away in 1989 at the age of 101, having written more than 800 songs!), with light and gay numbers taking centre stage, Ella's voice picks out the great writer's romanticism, which never feels cloying. For fellow composer Jerome Kern, at the heart of Irving Berlin's writing was his faith in American vernacular: his songs were indivisibly linked with the country's history and image. Here, in ubiquitous favourites like Cheek to Cheek, in Watson's arrangements, in ambient swing, in freewheeling and sensual singing, we see the then-41-year-old American reaching the summit of perfection. This is one to play and play and play, again and again and again... © Marc Zisman/Qobuz
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Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, MainArtist - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer - Morris Stoloff, Arranger, Orchestrator
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Norman Granz, Producer - George Horn, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Randles, Producer, Recording Producer - Hugo Cipolatti, Adapter
℗ 1958 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ella Fitzgerald, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Irving Berlin, ComposerLyricist - Paul Weston, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weston & His Orchestra, Orchestra, FeaturedArtist - Val Valentin, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Norman Granz, Producer
℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Among Ella Fitzgerald's gigantic discography, the eight volumes of her Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Complete American Songbook form a sacred pantheon. The idea for these records came from producer Norman Granz, who managed the singer and was the boss of Verve. The first volume, Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Songbook, which came out in 1956, was a runaway success with critics and the public alike. So much so that in that same year, Ella followed it up with Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook and then again in 1957 with Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook. This volume, which is given over to the songs of Irving Berlin, was conceived in sessions from 13 to 19 March 1958, with an orchestra directed by the classy and reserved Paul Watson. It's hard to sum up this double album in few words (it originally came out in two separate volumes) without breaking out reams of superlatives. Newcomers to her work can take this record as an easy base camp from which to ascend Ella Everest. Across a repertoire to die for (Berlin passed away in 1989 at the age of 101, having written more than 800 songs!), with light and gay numbers taking centre stage, Ella's voice picks out the great writer's romanticism, which never feels cloying. For fellow composer Jerome Kern, at the heart of Irving Berlin's writing was his faith in American vernacular: his songs were indivisibly linked with the country's history and image. Here, in ubiquitous favourites like Cheek to Cheek, in Watson's arrangements, in ambient swing, in freewheeling and sensual singing, we see the then-41-year-old American reaching the summit of perfection. This is one to play and play and play, again and again and again... © Marc Zisman/Qobuz
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 31 track(s)
- Total length: 01:30:57
- Main artists: Ella Fitzgerald
- Composer: Irving Berlin
- Label: Verve
- Genre: Jazz Vocal Jazz
© 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1958 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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