Fantastic Songbook Sampler!

This may look like a cheap knockoff disc, but I assure you, this is as good as it gets! Excellent sound and tracks from all over the songbook series make this one to own.

One standout is "Nice Work If You Can Get It." (Sinatra also did a great one.) Anyone who was a fan of the show "Cybill" will notice that when Ms. Sheperd recorded her show's theme (this song), she was clearly inspired by Ella's take. "All the Things You Are" has a beautiful intro and Ella equals the band behind her. A sparkling track.

"It's Only A Paper Moon" finds Ella at her playful best, as does "Alexander's Ragtime Band," which she sings imitating a trombone. "Cheek to Cheek" is lovely as always. I really wish "Puttin' On the Ritz" included the introductory verse that comes before the first verse (with lyrics, the song seems lost without that verse), but it pulls together thanks to Ella and the arrangement.

This arrangement of the standard "Laura" will blow you away. The haunting theme to the film noir classic gets a brilliant reworking here, with a sort of "Twilight Zone"-sounding phrase repeating behind it. It's hypnotic, eerie, and it pulls you right in. And Ella's reading of the already vividly visual lyrics will have you picturing it all clearly in your mind.

I have heard that Ella was not too happy about "Over the Rainbow" and that the first version she recorder sounded very bored. The second (this one) transcends musical boundaries. If you close your eyes, you can actually picture what she's singing, and it is a prime example of how Ella was able to turn a song into an experience. Also, this is where I first heard the introductory verses not used in "The Wizard of Oz":

"When all the world Is a hopeless jumble And the raindrops tumble all around, Heaven opens a magic lane

"When all the clouds Darken up the skyway, There's a rainbow highway to be found Leading from your window pane...

"To a place behind the sun... Just a step beyond the rain........

Somewhere over the rainbow...."

Great!

This collection is actually better, IMHO, all-around than the much-touted "The Best of the Songbooks" disk. These selections seem to have a more jazzy and emotional feel to them than the ones selected for the "The Best Of" CD. I just can't figure out why neither of them include "Blue Skies" from the Berlin songbook! ;-)

pure magic!

This fine Verve disc was my introduction to the musical world of Ella, hearing it previewed one winter's evening back in the 80's on a local public radio station, as I lounged (do guys 'lounge'? Maybe I was just being a slug) in front of the fire with a glass of port in my hand. It was absolutely the perfect accompaniment! I sought this CD out soon after, and have loved it ever since. The remastering that was done for this CD was absolutely stunning, I can't believe that these originated from recordings with some years on them, they've been made to sound brand-new! This is truly as good as it gets. If you haven't heard Ella, you haven't lived!