good performances but HORRIBLE sound quality - skip it!!

When I saw this double CD set in the store I slapped down the money and brought it home. I love anything Ella sings but I was disappointed in this set. It's not Ella's fault. Ella's performances are always good. My gripe here is the sound. Flat, hollow and cheap come to mind. It sounds like they played the vinyl and recorded it and then slapped it on a CD. It's awful. And the worst part is that had I not also bought the "Something to Live For" double CD set, I'd think that the songs here were presented in the best possible quality. "Stairway to the Stars" and "How High the Moon" are in good quality on STLF. They are the same studio recordings. STLF is superb by the way, pick that one up instead. Now I'd like to hear a good sounding "That Old Black Magic" and "When I Get Low I Get High."

Shameful!

I love Ella Fitzgerald, and this should be a great collection. Unfortunately, the sound quality is so poor that Ms. Fitzgerald sounds like Minnie Mouse singing from inside a tin can. No attempt was made to restore these recordings, which is a shame because they should be lovely songs.