Ella: The Best of Ella Fitzgerald

~ Release by Ella Fitzgerald (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Annotation

Notes

One of the best available compilation covering the Decca days.
Definitely recommended for newcomers.
Note, though, that this is exactly the first disc of the 4 cd boxset Ella: The Legendary Decca Recordings (also GRP), that more serious listeners should consider a buy instead of this.

Annotation last modified on 2007-11-23 19:16 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1A‐Tisket, A‐Tasket
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1938-05-02)
alto saxophone:
Louis Jordan (US jazz, blues and r&b musician and songwriter) (on 1938-05-02)
double bass:
Beverly Peer (on 1938-05-02)
drums (drum set):
Chick Webb (on 1938-05-02)
guitar:
Bobby Johnson (US guitarist) (on 1938-05-02)
piano:
Tommy Fulford (on 1938-05-02)
reeds:
Garvin Bushell (on 1938-05-02)
tenor saxophone:
Wayman Carver (on 1938-05-02) and Teddy McRae (on 1938-05-02)
trombone:
George Matthews (trombone) (on 1938-05-02), Nat Story (on 1938-05-02) and Sandy Williams (American jazz trombonist) (on 1938-05-02)
trumpet:
Mario Bauzá (on 1938-05-02), Taft Jordan (on 1938-05-02) and Bobby Stark (on 1938-05-02)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (on 1938-05-02)
orchestra:
Chick Webb and His Orchestra (on 1938-05-02)
part of:
Grammy Hall of Fame (number: 1986)
recording of:
A‐Tisket, A‐Tasket (on 1938-05-02)
lyricist:
[traditional] (special purpose artist), Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) and Van Alexander (aka Al Feldman)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 13188)
Ella Fitzgerald32:39
2Undecided
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
orchestra:
Chick Webb and His Orchestra
cover recording of:
Undecided
lyricist:
Sid Robin (US lyricist & composer) (in 1938)
composer:
Charlie Shavers (in 1938)
Ella Fitzgerald3:19
3Stairway to the Stars
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
orchestra:
Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra
cover recording of:
Stairway to the Stars
lyricist:
Mitchell Parish
composer:
Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli
publisher:
EMI United Partnership Ltd. and Robbins Music (publishing company owned by EMI Music Publishing Ltd.)
Ella Fitzgerald3:18
4Five O’Clock Whistle
guitar:
Ulysses Livingston (on 1940-09-25)
reeds:
Pete Clark (Jazz altoist born around 1910) (on 1940-09-25), Chauncey Haughton (on 1940-09-25) and Sam Simmons (Jazz saxophonist) (on 1940-09-25)
trombone:
John McConnell (US jazz trombonist) (on 1940-09-25)
trumpet:
Irving Randolph (on 1940-09-25)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (on 1940-09-25)
recording of:
Five O’Clock Whistle (on 1940-09-25)
writer:
Kim Gannon, Gene Irwin (aranger, writer) and Josef Myrow
Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra3:10
5Cow Cow Boogie
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (on 1943-11-03)
orchestra:
The Ink Spots
cover recording of:
Cow Cow Boogie (on 1943-11-03)
composer:
Benny Carter, Gene de Paul and Don Raye
cover recording of:
Cow Cow Boogie (in 1943)
composer:
Benny Carter, Gene de Paul and Don Raye
Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots2:55
6Flying Home
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1945-10-04)
double bass:
Felix Globbe (American jazz (and classical) bassist.) (on 1945-10-04)
drums (drum set):
Irv Kluger (on 1945-10-04)
guitar:
Hy White (on 1945-10-04)
piano:
Moe Wechsler (on 1945-10-04)
saxophone:
Sid Cooper (flute & clarinet player) (on 1945-10-04) and Harry Feldman (on 1945-10-04)
trombone:
William Pritchard (on 1945-10-04)
trumpet:
Chuck Genduso (trumpeter) (on 1945-10-04)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (in 1945, on 1945-10-04)
orchestra:
Vic Schoen and His Orchestra (in 1945)
cover recording of:
Flying Home (sung/scat version, eg. by Ella Fitzgerald) (on 1945-10-04)
lyricist:
Sid Robin (US lyricist & composer)
composer:
Benny Goodman (clarinetist and bandleader) and Lionel Hampton
publisher:
Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers, Ltd and Regent Music (BMI)
version of:
Flying Home (instrumental version)
cover recording of:
Flying Home (instrumental version) (in 1945)
composer:
Benny Goodman (clarinetist and bandleader) and Lionel Hampton
publisher:
Ragbag Music (ASCAP) and Regent Music (BMI)
Ella Fitzgerald42:30
7Stone Cold Dead in the Market
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
orchestra:
Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five
cover recording of:
Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had It Coming)
lyricist and composer:
Houdini (Calypso artist Wilmoth Hendricks aka Edgar Leon Sinclair)
Louis Jordan & Ella Fitzgerald2:41
8You Won’t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1946-01-18)
alto saxophone:
George Koenig (on 1946-01-18) and Bill Stegmeyer (on 1946-01-18)
baritone saxophone:
Milton Schatz (on 1946-01-18)
bass:
Trigger Alpert (on 1946-01-18)
clarinet and reeds:
Bill Stegmeyer (on 1946-01-18)
double bass:
Trigger Alpert (on 1946-01-18)
drums (drum set):
Cozy Cole (on 1946-01-18)
guitar:
Danny Perri (on 1946-01-18)
piano:
Joe Bushkin (on 1946-01-18)
solo trumpet:
Louis Armstrong
tenor saxophone:
Art Drelinger (on 1946-01-18) and Jack Greenberg (on 1946-01-18)
trumpet:
Louis Armstrong (on 1946-01-18) and Billy Butterfield (on 1946-01-18)
vocals:
Louis Armstrong (on 1946-01-18) and Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (on 1946-01-18)
orchestra:
Bob Haggart and His Orchestra (on 1946-01-18)
conductor:
Bob Haggart (on 1946-01-18)
arranger:
Bob Haggart
cover recording of:
You Won’t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart) (on 1946-01-18)
writer:
Freddy James and Larry Stock
Ella Fitzgerald42:55
9I’m Just a Lucky So and So
bass guitar:
Junior Raglin (bass)
drums (drum set):
Sonny Payne
guitar:
Jimmy Shirley
piano:
Billy Kyle
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
cover recording of:
I’m Just a Lucky So and So
lyricist:
Mack David (American lyricist and songwriter) (in 1945)
composer:
Duke Ellington (US composer, pianist & jazz bandleader) (in 1945)
publisher:
Paramount Music Corporation and PolyGram International (renamed Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. circa 1998)
Ella Fitzgerald2:56
10I Didn’t Mean a Word I Said
bass guitar:
Junior Raglin (bass)
drums (drum set):
Sonny Payne
guitar:
Jimmy Shirley
piano:
Billy Kyle
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
cover recording of:
I Didn’t Mean a Word I Said (on 1946-02-21)
lyricist:
Harold Adamson
composer:
Jimmy McHugh (songwriter)
Ella Fitzgerald3:19
11Oh Lady Be Good
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
orchestra:
Bob Haggart and His Orchestra
cover recording of:
Oh, Lady Be Good!
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin (in 1924)
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (in 1924)
publisher:
Chappell Music Ltd., George Gershwin Music, Ira Gershwin Music and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28)
part of:
American Splendor
part of:
Lady, Be Good (full musical)
Ella Fitzgerald3:09
12How High the Moon
bass guitar:
Ray Brown (jazz bassist)
trumpet:
Leonard Graham
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
cover recording of:
How High the Moon
lyricist:
Nancy Hamilton (in 1940)
composer:
Morgan Lewis (in 1940)
publisher:
Chappell (company that specialized in library and production music), Chappell & Co., Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA) and Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Ella Fitzgerald3:17
13My Happiness
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1948-04-30)
background vocals:
The Song Spinners
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (on 1948-04-30)
cover recording of:
My Happiness (on 1948-04-30)
lyricist:
Borney Bergantine (in 1933) and Betty Peterson (in 1948)
composer:
Borney Bergantine (in 1933)
publisher:
Chappell Music (UK) and Happiness Music Corp.
Ella Fitzgerald3:19
14In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
orchestra:
Sy Oliver and His Orchestra
cover recording of:
In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)
lyricist and composer:
Leroy Carr
Ella Fitzgerald2:39
15Smooth Sailing
bass guitar:
Arnold Fishkind (on 1951-06-26)
drums (drum set):
Johnny Blowers (on 1951-06-26)
guitar:
Everett Barksdale (on 1951-06-26)
background vocals:
The Ray Charles Singers (on 1951-06-26)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (on 1951-06-26)
instrumental cover recording of:
Smooth Sailing (Instrumental) (on 1951-06-26)
composer:
Arnett Cobb
publisher:
Wayne Music (smooth sailing - Cobb)
Ella Fitzgerald3:07
16Air Mail Special
bass guitar:
Ray Brown (jazz bassist)
drums (drum set):
Rudy Taylor (vocalist and songwriter)
electronic organ:
Bill Doggett
glockenspiel [bells]:
Dick Jacobs (arranger, musician and bandleader)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (in 1956)
orchestra:
The Ray Brown Trio (in 1952)
cover recording of:
Good Enough to Keep (Air Mail Special) (in 1956)
composer:
Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman (clarinetist and bandleader) and James R. Mundy
publisher:
Peter Maurice Music, PW 3 ASCAP Songs, Regent Music Corp. and Rytvoc, Inc. (ASCAP)
Ella Fitzgerald43:03
17You’ll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini), Parts 1 & 2
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
orchestra:
Sy Oliver and His Orchestra
cover recording of:
You'll Have to Swing It (Mr Paganini)
writer:
Sam Coslow
Ella Fitzgerald5:10
18Blue Lou
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
orchestra:
Sy Oliver and His Orchestra
cover recording of:
Blue Lou
composer:
Irving Mills and Edgar Sampson
Ella Fitzgerald2:47
19Lullaby of Birdland
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1954-06-04)
double bass:
Sandy Block (Jazz bassist, band leader) (on 1954-06-04)
drums (drum set):
Jimmy Crawford (US swing-era jazz drummer) (on 1954-06-04)
guitar:
Everett Barksdale (on 1954-06-04)
piano:
Hank Jones (piano) (on 1954-06-04)
tenor saxophone:
Sam “The Man” Taylor (US jazz/blues saxophonist 1916-1990) (on 1954-06-04)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer) (on 1954-06-04, in 1956)
orchestra:
Sy Oliver and His Orchestra (on 1954-06-04)
conductor:
Sy Oliver (on 1954-06-04)
cover recording of:
Lullaby of Birdland (George Shearing/George David Weiss (as B. Y. Forster) jazz standard) (on 1954-06-04)
lyricist:
B. Y. Forster (pseudonym of George David Weiss)
writer:
George David Weiss
composer:
George Shearing (British jazz pianist)
publisher:
EMI Longitude Music, Good Music Limited and Planetary Nom (London) Ltd.
sub-publisher:
ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works)
Ella Fitzgerald42:52
20Hard Hearted Hannah
bass guitar:
Joe Mondragon
drums (drum set):
Larry Bunker
piano:
Don Abney (US jazz pianist)
vocals:
Ella Fitzgerald (American jazz singer)
cover recording of:
Hard Hearted Hannah
writer:
Milton Ager, Charles Bates, Bob Bigelow and Jack Yellen
composer:
Milton Ager, Charles Bates and Jack Yellen
Ella Fitzgerald2:58

Credits

Release

ASIN:US: B000003N4I [info]