Been playing it for weeks!

I've had both CDs in this set in my car for weeks and I can't move on! The combination of Ella Fitzgerald's instrument and Rodgers and Hart's songs is incomparable. I also like the variety Buddy Bregman's arrangements add to the whole package. In my opinion, the hallmark of Rodgers and Hart is the smart, quirky lyrics and patterns, not to mention the beautiful melodies. Try "Dancing on the Ceiling" to see what I'm getting at. There's even a touch of the bawdy in that Ella does all of "Bewitched" (other artists usually sing about half); "Horizontally speaking, he's at his very best." Wow! Other standouts in this collection are "With a Song in My Heart," "Where or When" and of course, "My Funny Valentine." This may be the best CD I've bought in years. I could listen to it all day, oh wait, I do listen to it all day!

One of the Best!

One of the best! Buddy Bregman superbly arranges for Ella. He makes Johnny One Note & With a Song in My Heart fit her range while still being innovative & aesthetic. A major thing is that Sing For Your Supper, He Was to Good to Me, Falling in Love With Love, Glad to be Unhappy, Why Can't I, Nobody's Heart, Most Handsome Boy in the World, Tree In the Park, It's Gotta To Be Love, It's Easy to Remember, You Are Too Beautiful, You're Nearer, I'll Tell Man in the Street, Quiet Night, Where's That Rainbow, Lady Must Live, & I'd Like to Recognize the Tune should have been added to this set. What I'm saying is Rodger & Hart wrote a massive amount of great songs. Back when I cassette taped my own Great American Songs Books by my favorite artists, I found out R&H had more songs recorded than any of their peers! It was easy to find great versions of their masterpieces! Ella & Buddy make this ***** by including forgotten treasure such as To Keep My Love Alive, about a female bluebeard, & Everything I've Got & I Wish I Were In Love Again. Those last 2 make S&M an underrated pastime. Hart could make a love song an intellectual or satirical excercise. Whenever his fellow lyricists tried, where they inspired by him? Did they suucced? Listen to Bewithced. What song so well covers the entire history of an affair? Was there any other song? Rodgers was at least Hart's equal. Who could write such beautiful nonrepetitive melodies. Too many compsoers, old & new, just repeat the same melody. Actually, Hart got equal billing with Rodgers when lyricists were genarally subornate to composers. Producer & manager, Norman Granz, should have put into this R&H tribute the same massive care that the Gershwin set received. Those 17 missing songs & the instrumental Slaughter On 10th Avenue should have been in the set. Rogers & Hart songs are far superior to the Gerswhins' songs! To hear the magnificent 17, check Mel, Sassy, Carmen, Barbra, Judy, Eydie, Lena, & Maureen McGovern. Still, don't get me wrong, this is really a ********** gem.

These albums are for the ages.

One of the most important reasons to stay alive.