Almost Perfect

Ella Fitzgerald's voice is flawless, without peer. That goes without saying. And these CDs showcase the beauty of her sound. I took off one star because I'm just a bit disappointed because some of these songs were written as exuberant show tunes (I think, I'm no expert), and Ms. Fitzgerald's voice is more suited to slow, sexy jazz numbers. For example, in my opinion, "Let's Do It" is a very funny ("sentimental centipedes do it!"), witty tune encouraging us all to have a little fun and fall in love. The version on this CD sounds like it's moving through molassas -- all the wit is drowned away in drowsy, hypnotic vocals. Ms. Fitzgerald's voice is pitch-perfect, her diction is technically flawless, but... I guess I wish she'd just cut loose once in awhile and give voice to the joy and sparkle of Mr. Porter's songs. That said, her voice is just too delicious to give less than 4 stars. Enjoy!

Generally glorious Cole Porter collection from Fitzgerald

Though Irwin Winkler's 2004 Cole Porter biopic DE-LOVELY was a near-disaster in trying to explain what made Porter and his songs so special, it at least made me interested in hearing more of his music. It was in that spirit of adventure that I came upon this 2-disc collection of Cole Porter songs sung by the much-celebrated Ella Fitzgerald. The experience of hearing such great, unflashy singing and Porter's witty, sophisticated, and even sometimes touching music and lyrics (in some stellar orchestral arrangements) turned out to be quite memorable.



The booklet that accompanies this set has an essay from Fred Lounsberry, supposedly an expert on Cole Porter. He does an intriguing (if maybe overly academic) job of articulating what makes Porter's music so appealing. Read his essay to perhaps get the larger picture. For me, though...I just love the way that Porter writes all these songs about romance and love, and writes about it with such intelligence. In light of all the cheesy, cliched love ballads that seem to be proliferating on the radio airwaves (Hoobastank's power ballad "The Reason" is a nauseating recent example), who couldn't treasure words like "What is this thing called love? / This funny thing called love? / Just who can solve its mystery? / Why should it make a fool of me?" It was the mystery---and the pain---of love that Cole Porter so eloquently portrayed in many of his songs, and very few songwriters have done it better.



And very few artists have sung Porter's songs better than Ella Fitzgerald. Or, at least, I can hardly imagine many other artists (other than, maybe, Frank Sinatra) singing such a wide range of Porter with such consistency, versatility, and sheer polish. Listening to these recordings, you hardly doubt that both she and Porter were made for each other. Both bring wit and sophistication to their art without making a big show of themselves. Okay, I could imagine some listeners perhaps feeling that Fitzgerald's singing is slightly too aloof when a particular song demands something a little more emotionally intense. But, for me, I found her singing often thrilling anyway. In song after song, she shows a real sense of style, and certainly her diction is beyond reproach. You can understand every word she sings, and sometimes you can even feel those words, too. (Listen to the poignant "Miss Otis Regrets", Track 3 of Disc 1; you'll see what I mean.) Such clarity, style, and breathtaking control count for a lot with these multi-layered tunes; with Fitzgerald, you feel like you're listening to Cole Porter rather than hearing Ella Fitzgerald flashily dominating the substance of these wonderful songs. In a time when grotesque belting seems to pass for great singing (thank you, "American Idol," for making tastelessness in singing acceptable), it's almost refreshing to hear Ella Fitzgerald's stylish, un-pretentious, ego-free interpretations of these classic American songbook staples.



On a whole, "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook" offers nearly 2 hours of unadulterated pleasure. With so many songs offered here, it's amazing how consistently good these performances are; it's hard to pick a favorite, because they're almost all worthwhile. Almost. The only real dud I can find in this collection is "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)" (Track 9, Disc 1); it is simply too slow for my taste. Fitzgerald and arranger Buddy Bregman seem to be trying to emphasize slow, sexy sultriness over the youthful impetuosity the lyrics imply; but, despite Fitzgerald's best efforts, the result simply sounds leaden. (Alanis Morrissette might have massacred the song in DE-LOVELY, but at least the much-faster tempo sounded more convincing there than the slow tempo does here.)



That, though, is the only real failure in a set that steps right much more often than it steps wrong. Perhaps you shouldn't restrict yourself to hearing only Ella Fitzgerald's take on these classic songs. Still, if you're interested in Cole Porter, you certainly can't go wrong with this set. At her best, Fitzgerald will help you understand what is so entrancing about Porter and his uniquely witty take on being in love in this world. Highly recommended.

Unforgettable moment

This CD is a masterpiece, and Ella Fitzgerald's voice is like a dream. When she sings "Ev'ry Time We Say Good-Bye" it's a very moving moment -- very sad, but unforgettable...