Best of Ballads & Blues [Import]

1. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

2. Lowlands

3. Fox

4. Lass Of The Los Countree

5. Devilish Mary

6. Take His Hammer

7. Greensleve

8. Deep River

9. Chilly Winds

10. If I Had Ribbon Bow

11. Shame And Scandal

12. 'buked And Scorned

13. Joshua

14. Glory, Glory

15. Been In The Pen

16. Deep Blue Sea

17. God's Gonna Cut You Down

18. Spiritual Trilogy

Best of Ballads & Blues,Odetta,Dial,Jazz

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: Great compilation... Great C.D. Easy Listening ahhh Frank His Very Best Indeed.

The Very Best of Frank Sinatra Frank Sinatra Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Dino: The Essential Dean Martin Tony Bennett - All-Time Greatest Hits Classic Sinatra Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years The Essential Tony Bennett ASIN: B000002NFI Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

1. Stardust
2. A Foggy Day
3. Let's Fall In Love
4. The Girl Next Door
5. Old Devil Moon
6. The Way You Look Tonight
7. Fly Me To the Moon (In Other Words)
8. Nice Work If You Can Get It
9. I Get A Kick Out Of You
10. Come Rain Or Shine
11. Please Be Kind
12. Don'cha Go 'Way Mad
13. They Can't Take That Away From Me
14. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
15. I've Got You Under My Skin
16. Let's Face The Music And Dance
17. Come Fly With Me
18. My Kind Of Town
19. Luck Be A Lady
20. The Best Is Yet To Come

Tracks:

1. It Was A Very Good Year
2. All Or Nothing At All
3. Night And Day
4. Nancy
5. Young At Heart
6. Love And Marriage
7. All The Way
8. Witchcraft
9. (Love Is) The Tender Trap
10. The Second Time Around
11. Pocketful Of Miracles
12. Softly, As I Leave You
13. Strangers In The Night
14. Summer Wind
15. That's Life
16. Somethin' Stupid
17. Wave
18. My Way
19. Theme From New York, New York
20. Put Your Dreams Away

Amazon.com

A great, comprehensive collection of Sinatra's most popular Reprise tracks, and worth having for any number of reasons, Very Best Of features tons of familiar hits--but requires a caveat for casual Sinatra fans. When Sinatra formed Reprise, he began to re-record many of the sides he'd released on Capitol, in an attempt to transfer his catalog to the new label. It was a smooth move, but his re-recorded versions seldom replaced the originals in the way he'd hoped. And many of the familiar songs here are Capitol remakes. It'd be a task to compare the track listing here with that of the Capitol Years set, but if you want to get serious about your Sinatra, that's the way to go. If you're just a music fan, this is a gem. --Gavin McNett

Customer Reviews:

Great compilation..........2007-06-01

..because it does NOT contain the horrendous "High Hopes". The other point I'd like to mention is that Sinatra would be well advised to wear a hat that fits his head... and NOT one a few sizes too small, like the ridiculous chapeau he is sporting on the cd cover.. any notion of "King Of Cool" goes out the window when you see Ol' Blue Eyes with that ridiculous lid mounted on his melon! Personally, I think he should have worn a fez.... or be pictured naked, wearing only a sombrero and a pair of flippers.

Great C.D........2007-05-28

This is excellent CD if you like frank sinatra. Has some of his best songs on that are well known along with others. I would definately recommend it.

Easy Listening.......2007-05-24

A bit of nostalgia, some of the best recordings ever made. My children were totally speechless(unusually quiet)when I popped this CD into the car stereo on a long drive home from, ironicly, Las Vegas. The rich orchestral sounds accompanying Sinatra's smooth vocals, were a style they had never heard before. After our trip to Nevada, it somehow seemed the appropriate music at the time.

ahhh Frank.......2007-05-19

Frank is the master; this CD has some of his all time signature work.
If you want a wake up call for what we call music today just pick up
this CD and remember. While at it you might consider his ONLY THE
LONELY CD.

His Very Best Indeed........2007-05-06

Though it wasn't as artistically impressive, as his ten year tenure at Capitol Records, Sinatra's longtime stint at his own Reprise record label provided some of the best music of Sinatra's career.

There are many collections that offer a generous selection of Sinatra's best work from this time period. There's the single disc "The Very Good Years", which is the album that turned me on to The Voice when I was just a toddler. Then there's the excellent 4 cd "The Reprise Collection", which is a bit pricey but entirely worthwhile. Finally, there's the mammoth "The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings", which clocks in at an astonishing 20 discs and costs about $ 300.00. Fantastic music, no doubt, but a bit overwhelming, especially for a beginner.

For those looking for a solid middle ground between these collections, look no further than the 2 cd, 40 song collection "The Very Best Of Frank Sinatra". Though it heavily relies on re-recordings of classics from his Capitol era, "The Very Best Of Frank Sinatra" still has a great amount of original material that Sinatra recorded at the label, and the sound quality is fantastic.

Disc 1 is of higher artistic quality, though in all honesty, the one that is less enjoyable. Not that it's bad. Here, you get excellent renderings of standards such as "Stardust", "A Foggy Day", a touching "The Girl Next Door", a swingin' "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and "Let's Face The Music And Dance". In addition to that you do get the usual timeless Sinatra classics, including "The Way You Look Tonight", "Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)", "My Kind Of Town" and "The Best Is Yet To Come".

Three classic songs from the Capitol years have been included in their Reprise versions. First is an updating of "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning", which falters in comparison to the original. The original was sparse, raw and dripping with sadness. This version has a fuller arrangement, is more "polished", and there isn't a sense of pure sadness in Frank's voice the way there is on the original.

Next comes "I've Got You Under My Skin", which is much livelier and grander than the rigid and stiff 1956 arrangement. The Capitol version was restrained and Frank sounded bored. This version is looser and Frank's clearly having fun on this one. Though the 1966 live version with Count Basie is the definitive performance of the song, this is probably the best studio recording Frank did of this Cole Porter standard. Next comes a 1965 reworking of "Come Fly With Me" that easily triumphs over the original. Like the original version of "I've Got You Under My Skin", the original was too laid back and stiff. Sinatra swings this one hard, and it makes for the definitive version.

Disc 2 is the artistically weaker but the more enjoyable. After starting off with his classic "It Was A Very Good Year", the disc tends to lean heavily on re-recordings. Some of them work (the versions of "Witchcraft" and "(Love Is) The Tender Trap" run circles around their Capitol predecessors), others are nice for comparison ("Young At Heart" and "All The Way" don't touch their originals but are still serviceable renditions), while others fall flat ("All Or Nothing At All" is too over the top and should've been featured in the up-tempo version from 1966).

Of course, the usual hits are here, including "Strangers In The Night", "The Summer Wind" and signature hits "My Way" and "New York, New York". Also included are the little known Antonio Carlos Jobim collaboration "Wave" and his classic duet with daughter Nancy, "Somethin' Stupid".

Overall, this is a fantastic introduction for Sinatra beginners who want the cream of the crop of his later years. It's reasonably priced, easy find, has great packaging and liner notes, and has a fantastic selection of songs. A must-have for fans of who I deem God's Gift To Music.

Average customer rating: the best of ella Good, but not enough "PERFECTION" The most talented singer of our time! The Best Singer in the world!!!!

Pure Ella: The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Manufacturer: Verve ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Verve | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Best Of Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday The Best of the Song Books Billie Holiday - Greatest Hits (Sony) Pure Ella ASIN: B0000069ON Release Date: 1998-03-31

Tracks:

1. Mack The Knife
2. Blue Skies
3. A Tisket, A Tasket
4. They Can't Take That Away From Me
5. Misty
6. You'll Have To Swing It (Mr. Paganini)
7. Tea For Two
8. Love Is Here To Stay
9. Night And Day
10. My Funny Valentine
11. The Boy Fom Ipanema
12. Too Marvelous For Words
13. Take The 'A' Train
14. Summertime
15. How High The Moon
16. All The Things You Are
17. Over The Rainbow
18. Oh, Lady, Be Good

Customer Reviews:

the best of ella.......2007-01-17

great cd. i bought it as a gift for my mom and she loves it. i actually really like it too even though i had never heard much by ella before. a great variety of all of her best work and displays her voice so well.

Good, but not enough.......2007-01-10

I really like Ella Fitzgerald. She was probably the greatest Jazz singer ever. This makes almost every song she sings nice, but I think this is not enough for a disc that aims to be the "very best" of Ella. Not all the songs in my opinion were the very best, there were many that were missing and some that are nice but not the best. Also the order sounds a little bit messy to me. In conclusion, I prefer other discs, but this one anyway is cheap and it's a cute introduction to the singer.

"PERFECTION".......2006-11-12

Every track on this CD brought out Ella's
superiority of a vocal artist. I have been
blessed to have seen Ella live in concert
two times. Once as as solo performer at
Indiana University and the other performace
was in Chicago and the billing was titled
"Sinatra, Fitzgerald, & The Duke" I have been able
to relive these wonderful performances with this CD
"Pure Ella" By the way, there is now a performer in
Chicago who has her range and talent. Her name is Lisa
McClowry and she can be be seen live with Tom Linsk most
monday & thursdays at "The Red Head" in Chicago. Be there!
You will not regret it!!!

The most talented singer of our time!.......2006-11-08

Just recently started getting into vocal jazz. I already own a few classic jazz compilations with a few of Ella's songs on them. The first time I heard her voice I was hooked! I escpecially loved her cover of Mack the Knife! im not going to spend time and try to write some pseudo-intellectual dribble. As I already stated, im fairly new to the classic/vocal jazz world so I wont waste anyones time pretending to know a lot about this genre. What I do know is Ella Fitzgewrald a musical goddess.

The Best Singer in the world!!!!.......2005-06-22

This woman is the Best singer I've ever heard.I'm only 20 years old and I just looooove her music so much.

Average customer rating: Bestof Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Ella and Louis sing of life as we know it--and wow, how I appreciate the ride!!! A Must-Have (in one form or another)--but think twice. No,they cant take that away from me... 'Your Daddy's rich and your Momma fine looking'

Best Of Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Pure Ella: The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald Louis Armstrong - All-Time Greatest Hits The Best of the Song Books Love Songs Billie Holiday - Greatest Hits (Sony) ASIN: B0000047FO Release Date: 1997-08-26

Tracks:

1. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
2. Love Is Here To Stay
3. The Nearness Of You
4. Stars Fell On Alabama
5. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You?
6. They Can't Take That Away From Me
7. Autumn In New York
8. Summertime
9. Tenderly
10. Stompin' At The Savoy
11. Under A Blanket Of Blue
12. I Wants To Stay Here
13. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
14. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
15. You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)

Amazon.com essential recording

Ella Fitzgerald's voice was satin to Louis Armstrong's sandpaper, but when you put them together on a single song, their chemistry was unimpeachable. This disc selects highlights from the three albums they made together at Verve (including their Porgy and Bess), and adds a spiffy live track from the Hollywood Bowl. Though they don't harmonize much (Armstrong's voice wasn't built for harmony), Ella's dignified swing and flashes of teasing wit play off Satchmo's gritty, good-humored roar symbiotically. The material is mostly lightweight Tin Pan Alley stuff (lots of Gershwin, plus the likes of "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"), and they fly it like a kite. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Bestof Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong.......2007-01-11

AWESOME!!!! Bought this CD for my husband as Christmas gift. We were both astounded at how wonderful this duo, the music and the sound quality are. Recorded in the late 1950's, this music is still incredible, even after all these years! The songs are timeless, the execution by Armstrong and Fitzerald IMPECCABLE!

Highly recommend this one .... you won't be disappointed!

Ella and Louis sing of life as we know it--and wow, how I appreciate the ride!!!.......2006-10-26

On this CD Ella and Louis Armstrong join forces to make an album that is pure magic. They've been lovingly teased as satin (Ella) and sandpaper (Louis, because of his gravelly voice); but no duo compares to them when they sing together. Louis and Ella obviously enjoyed making this recording; their voices are in excellent form and impart a certain sense of genuine happiness that is hard to find. Ella and Louis have voices that are rich, vibrant and full of electricity! This CD proves it.

The CD starts off with the charming and playful "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off." The album then switches gears and goes into the more soulful love ballad entitled "Our Love Is Here To Stay." Sublime! Other great songs on this CD include "Stars Fell On Alabama;" "The Nearness Of You;" "Stompin' At The Savoy;" and "Tenderly." Louis performs great trumpet solos on songs including "Tenderly" and "Summertime" that make your heart melt. In fact, every song is special on this CD; I also admire their rendition of "Under A Blanket Of Blue."

The musical arrangements are very well done. These tracks feature several great opportunities for us to enjoy Armstrong's trumpet solos.

The liner notes impress me, too. There is an adaptation of an essay by William Ruhlmann who wrote the liner notes for The Complete Ella And Louis On Verve. There are beautiful photos of Ella and Louis; and you get the song credits, too. A nice plus!

Overall, the chemistry between Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong makes for an experience that is truly in its own league. They enjoy their work and it shows. You will appreciate their energy and powerful renditions of these wonderful songs. I highly recommend this CD for fans of classic pop vocals and fans of both Ella and Louis. This is also a great budget priced CD for people who want to know if they will like this style of music.

Moreover, if you do like this CD I suggest you listen to the CD box set entitled The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong and another CD entitled Ella and Louis again. You can also try solo CDs by both Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong; they produced great music individually as well. You truly can't go wrong with this classic CD; and I hope this CD brings you the same joy and thrills that Ella and Louis communicate when they perform these magnificent songs. ENJOY!!!

A Must-Have (in one form or another)--but think twice........2006-10-14

With all due respect to some other reviewers, this is not "an album" made by Ella and Louis: it's a sampler comprising three Ella and Louis albums. Normally I would not even consider, say, a Sinatra anthology mixing three masterworks like "Only the Lonely," "In the Wee Small Hours," and "Come Fly with Me": each is a unique and integrally whole project. But I have the Ella and Louis LPs, so I picked up this compressed anthology to take some pressure off of the vinyl.

Like most "best-of" collections, it suffers a bit from uneven textures (the lush orchestration of "Summertime" seems like an intrusion on the intimate rapport established in the preceding numbers) and audio quality (variances in mics, mixing and engineering can be hard to disguise). So unless some of the tunes on this anthology seem absolutely essential, go with "Ella and Louis," if only for its more coherent, unified feel--like two supreme musical storytellers having an irresistable conversation in real time and in real space. (If you have a piano, imagine inviting both into your living room for the evening.)

Louis' meetings with Ella were his most successful collaborations with another major star (the Ellington get-together doesn't compare), and unfortunately I know of no extended, full-fidelity vinyl sessions featuring Pops with Bing Crosby. What's most noteworthy about their pairing is Ella's restrained deference to Louis, and Louis' passionate, animated trumpet solos (it was not unusual for him to "coast" at this stage of his career). The duets are at times a bit sloppy, or "under-rehearsed," especially following the trumpet solo, but the absence of polish is in this case all for the better. This is a recording about communication of the most "natural" sort, not about perfection or disciplined performance. To hear Pops singing unison, then in 3rds, with Ella on an up-tempo "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" defies description. Simply his presence is enough to showcase Ella's grace and set us up for the sound of surprise when it's Louis' turn to sing solo.

Recently I heard a Wynton Marsalis tribute to Louis at the Lincoln Center. As fluent and dazzling as Wynton was, his performance made me appreciate Louis all the more. Perhaps Leonard Bernstein hit it on the head in his musical essay about jazz, "What Is Jazz?" Alternating between Louis' vocals and trumpet playing, he pointed out the similarity between the two, noting the hint of "pain" intermingled with the joy, or the brilliance of the trumpet sound, as evidence of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, which might be said to be the essence of the blues itself. Fortunately, that sound is captured in virtually every note that Louis sings and plays on this recording.

No,they cant take that away from me..........2006-07-14

Sixty odd years ago,over AFN,Europe,whistles and fade outs and sometimes only very feeble sounds of the devine trumpet or,the girlish , heavenly voice kept us hoping,kept us alive in the red quagmire.The thin ray of sunshine in the deep,dark well of the *paradise.No,they really cant take all this away.Yes , we will never meet again.Soon I would not be
able to remember the tunes I loved,but,thanks Heaven,we had the chance to hear them for so many years after THEY(and many others) left us.We may get sentimental,we may feel sorry for us,but we must be happy at heart,because thanks to vynils and CDs,they are still with us and the good old jazz can still be heard and enjoyed...
Mirko J. Stojnic oldtimer682005@yahoo.ca

'Your Daddy's rich and your Momma fine looking'.......2006-05-24

The two greats the one- and- only Satchmo and the one-and-only Ella get together and make music which makes the listener happy to be alive. As another Amazon reviewer has written one feels that they simply so much enjoy making music that their attitude is infectious. The way each one of them in his/her own way play with the lyric and the music is just a delight. They've got it , in the deepest way. And they give it to their listeners with such incredible swinging lilting grace( Ella) and raspy, gravelly, charm( Satchmo) that one just loves to listen.
I do not agree with the editorial review which says that this music is 'Tin-Pan alley frill" You have some of the great popular songs here including one which is arguably the greatest, " Summertime".
These are the songs:

1. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
2. Love Is Here To Stay
3. The Nearness Of You
4. Stars Fell On Alabama
5. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You?
6. They Can't Take That Away From Me
7. Autumn In New York
8. Summertime
9. Tenderly
10. Stompin' At The Savoy
11. Under A Blanket Of Blue
12. I Wants To Stay Here
13. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
14. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
15. You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart

Enjoy.

Average customer rating: Perfection What a treasure An Incredible Talent Superb is every way. Great to relax to

The Very Best Of Nat King Cole Nat King Cole , and Nat King Cole Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Love Songs 16 Most Requested Songs Dino: The Essential Dean Martin The Very Best of Perry Como Unforgettable: With Love ASIN: B000F2CAMY Release Date: 2006-05-02

Tracks:

1. Stardust
2. Sweet Lorraine
3. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
4. Straighten Up And Fly Right
5. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
6. What'll I Do?
7. Morning Star (previously unreleased film version from St. Louis Blues)
8. Penthouse Serenade (instrumental)
9. Candy
10. Walkin My Baby Back Home
11. Unforgettable
12. Mona Lisa
13. Nature Boy
14. Somewhere Along The Way
15. Smile
16. A Blossom Fell
17. Cant I?
18. Let There Be Love
19. Almost Like Being In Love
20. Ballerina
21. Im Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)
22. Lets Face The Music And Dance
23. Autumn Leaves (French version)
24. When I Fall In Love
25. That Sunday, That Summer
26. Looking Back
27. L-O-V-E (multi-lingual version)
28. I Wish You Love (live at The Sands Hotel, Las Vegas 1/14/60)

Amazon.com

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Nat King Cole's death in 1965, this compilation is the CD companion of an excellent DVD/documentary. Produced with the blessing of his estate, this disc is a thorough survey of his timeless genius--all recorded on the Capitol label. It captures his sumptuous and soothing tenor voice crooning on the pop tunes he made famous, like the ethereal "Nature Boy," the melancholy "Mona Lisa," and the bouncy "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and "Route 66." It also features Cole's often-overlooked skills as an Earl Hines-style pianist. "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps)," and "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup," attest to his international appeal, and see if you can keep a dry eye when you listen to Natalie Cole's posthumous, digitally-enhanced duet with her father on "Unforgettable." From strings to big bands, Nat King Cole is never out of style. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Watch Free Clips about Nat "King" Cole

The World of Nat "King" Cole (high bandwidth) (300k stream)

The World of Nat "King" Cole (low bandwidth) (56k stream)

Customer Reviews:

Perfection.......2007-06-13

All of Nat King Cole is here. You'll love it.

What a treasure.......2007-06-08

If you are big fan of Nat King Cole, or even a young listener just getting into NKC, you will not be disappointed in this offering. It's representative of all his best, (just like the title claims) and will mellow you out with his honey-baritone voice unlike anyone else in recorded history. While the lyrics can be sappy and sentimental, they are reflective of his day, and they really don't detract from the overall experience of this wonderful artist's offerings. He is every bit as influential as Sinatra, Brother Ray, or Ella; a true American national treasure. Enjoy!

An Incredible Talent.......2007-04-11

I've always heard Nat on movie soundtracks,Christmas carols,and in various other malls,friends houses,etc.But there is a distinct difference between just hearing and listening.I started watching reruns of his groundbreaking TV show on BETJ and was awestruck by the presence of his voice and personality.I'm not an expert on Nat King Cole by any stretch of the imagination,but when I listen to this CD(usually on Saturday or Sunday mornings)I am spellbound.This is a great crossection of an incredible artist and man.

Superb is every way........2007-03-09

Nat "King" Cole's recordings are happy memories of the past from a precious singer whose life was cut way too short.

Great to relax to.......2007-03-08

This is a great CD to relax to when you've had a busy day at work, or if you have just had a stressful day in general. Just sit back and relax, I really enjoyed it

Average customer rating: Absolutely the best of Billie Holiday Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday The tragedy of a lonely woman! Billie's Best - Accept No Substitutes A serious and great artist's best work, you need these sides

Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Pure Ella: The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald The Hot Fives & Sevens Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band The Ultimate Collection ASIN: B00005Q45Y Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

1. What A Little Moonlight Can Do - Billie Holiday
2. These Foolish Things - Billie Holiday
3. I Cried For You - Billie Holiday
4. Summertime - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
5. Billie's Blues - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
6. If You Were Mine - Billie Holiday
7. A Fine Romance - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
8. Easy To Love - Billie Holiday
9. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
10. I Must Have That Man - Billie Holiday
11. Me, Myself And I - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
12. They Can't Take Away From Me - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
13. Easy Living - Billie Holiday
14. A Sailboat In The Moonlight - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
15. Travelin' All Alone - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
16. When A Woman Loves A Man - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
17. You Go To My Head - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
18. My Man - Billie Holiday

Tracks:

1. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me - Billie Holiday
2. The Very Thought Of You - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
3. I Can't Get Started - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
4. Long Gone Blues - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
5. Sugar - Billie Holiday
6. Some Other Spring - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
7. Them There Eyes - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
8. The Man I Love - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
9. Body And Soul - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
10. Swing, Brothers, Swing - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
11. Night And Day - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
12. Let's Do It - Billie Holiday
13. God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
14. Solitude - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
15. I Cover The Waterfront - Billie Holiday
16. Gloomy Sunday - Billie Holiday
17. Until The Real Thing Comes Along - Billie Holiday
18. All Of Me - Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra

Album Description

Lady Day: The Best Of Billie Holiday is an ideal introduction to the Voice of Jazz in all its enduring glory. This incomparable collection draws on the 10-CD boxed set Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944) (CXK 85470), representing not only her finest work, but American jazz and pop singing at its zenith. Accompanied sublimely by a Who's Who of the Swing Era (including her soulmate Lester Young, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Buck Clayton, Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Jo Jones, and pianist-arranger Teddy Wilson, who was often at the helm when Holiday entered the studio), Billie Holiday masterfully renders a host of mostly-classic pop tunes. Fans are drawn to her musical triumphs and personal tragedies. She is a mysterious icon in the same vein as Miles Davis. Columbia possesses the first and finest recordings of her entire career! This material has never sounded clearer and more intimate!

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely the best of Billie Holiday.......2007-02-24

Anybody who likes Billie Holiday even part time needs this CD. Even great for those people who only know a few songs just by chance. Love the CD. Even got another as a gift for a friend.

Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday.......2007-01-10

Bought this for my granddaughter. She's a Billie Holiday fan. She loved the CD.

The tragedy of a lonely woman!.......2006-11-21

The stature of this emblematic singer of the jazz is absolutely undeniable. Her powerful, sensitive and expressive voice made of her, one of the most tragic icons in the jazz. She sung as she lived. In this sense she reminds too much to the legendary Edith Piaff in the other side of the Atlantic.

What else might I add for cataloguing this cult artist that it has not been said just before? She is part of the history jazz and her memory will transcend and surmount the next years to come.

Billie's Best - Accept No Substitutes.......2006-06-12

Billie Holiday is the quintessential jazz singer; despite a limited vocal range she set the standard by which all others are measured. It's all about the quality of her voice, the lush tone, and her marvelously idiosyncratic phrasing. Though her career was short and troubled, she recorded a lot, which means novice collectors must avoid innumerable bear traps. In general, her later work should be ignored, by then she was wearing her emotional problems like an ugly hat, despair manifested itself in performances so lackluster they're depressing at best, frequently downright tragic.

For the best of Billie you need to go back to the glory days, 1933-1944, precisely the time period covered by this reasonably priced and beautifully produced 2-CD set. (If you're a player with money to burn go for the 10-CD comprehensive retrospective, The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia, 1933-1944.) All the songs providing the foundation of her reputation are here, as well as many pleasant surprises. The booklet, though not lavish, provides photos, background, and a complete list of personnel for each track. This detail is significant because the players on these selections, in addition to being the finest who ever backed Ms. Holiday, were also the absolute elite of their generation, each worthy of individual exploration. (Names like Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, and Teddy Wilson enjoy legendary status.)

Perhaps most amazing is the sound quality, considering the recordings are WWII vintage they're clear and smooth. About Ms. Holiday's personal life, the less said the better. What is remarkable is that, despite her personal troubles, she managed to create a canon of work that is truly timeless, just as sweet and powerful today as it was then. Not only is this the best Billie Holiday anthology available, it makes a formidable addition any jazz collection. (Dig that cover photo, wow!)

A serious and great artist's best work, you need these sides.......2005-03-11

If there were some way to award music 200 stars, I am sure all of us would have done so for this set!

Like others here, I have it all, but I think her work from the 30s and early 1940s from Columbia and its ancestors is not just her greatest works, but among the great works of world musical culture. Everyone with a set of ears should be more or less required to have this music and enjoy it.

Strange Fruit was not recorded for Columbia but for the Indy label Commodore. Thus, you will not find it on this or any of the Columbia collections like this that capture her work in the period BEFORE Strange Fruit. It was recorded in the 1940s, whereas this collection contains work from Billie in the 1930s and perhaps 1940 and 1941. No doubt Sony wishes it had the rights to that side and everything else Commodore recorded, but they don't.

The truth is, Strange Fruit is not one of Billie's Greatest works. There are about 15 tunes on this CD that have better singing, better musicians backing her, and were more important pieces of Billie's work. Strange Fruit is well known to the people who know about Billie as a person, but don't know much about Billie as a Jazz musician. Her recording, while powerful, was not very nuanced, not very jazzy, and not as good as much of the work here. Indeed, the weakness of her mid-1940s Commodore work as opposed to these recordings is that Billie was persuaded to move away from Jazz and swing to attempt to become a cabarat chanteuse of "serious" songs, a move that some also relate to the inception of heroin and the decline of her voice, a move that brought about a decline in her art.

If you want to hear a better version of "Strange Fruit," listen to Josh White's recording which is so much more powerful, if not as well known. I am not downing the song or its politics, far from it, but Billie's Strange Fruit is more important as a political statement than as a work of Jazz art.

One of the greatest things about these records are the many master musicians of swing and jazz that join her on these recordings. Very shortly after she started recording, the greatest names in Jazz would flock to her sessions and play on her recordings for litte because of the innovation and creativity Billie showed as a jazz creator in her own right. These recordings were a chance for them to jam together in loose arrangements and be more innovative and creative than they were with the orchestras they played with.


These masters of Jazz viewed Billie as a serious artist of Jazz. They delighted in her knowledge of the musical aspects of swing jazz which was unique for such a young singer (she was in her twenties when these records were made) and delighted in her ability to sense what they were doing in their accompaniments and solos and to respond to them in her vocals.

Despite the exaggerated picture of her life as a prostitute that was part of the marketing of the 1950's work of ghost-written fiction called "Lady Sings the Blues," that a drug addled Billie claimed was her autobiography, Billie Holiday grew up around Jazz with her father being a big band guitar player who complained Billie hired every NY guitarist but him for these sessions. Billie's mother specialized in boarding Jazz musicians and catering parties for musicians and singers, parties where the young Billie would often help serve the food. So when she met Lester young in 1937 for these sessions, she had already known the man she named 'Prez in 1934 when he boarded with her mother while he was in the Fletcher Henderson band.

These sides contain most of the great collaboration between Lester Young and Billie. They were great musical friends and personal friends until Billie became a heroin addict, at which point Lester didn't much want to be around her.

However, as much as I am a Lester Young man to the death (his framed picture hangs in my home), too little is said of the other musicians who grace these recordings. Billie's collaboration with pianist Teddy Wilson who plays on and directed most of these recordings (many were recorded as Teddy Wilson Orchestra sides)needs to be explored. Likewise, her work with the great bassists and rhythm players on these records needs to be appreciated. My favorite sides are the ones in which she has the benefit of Basieites like her dear friend Freddy Green on guitar and the great Walter Page on bass. Likewise, Billie's musical closeness with the great Buck Clayton and his role on these sides is also underestimated.

Yet, it doesn't matter if Billie had recorded these sides with some high school band members from Winslow, Arizona. This is good music to listen to, good music to smile to, music to fall in love to, and music to dance too. Contrary to the tendency to get maudlin and milk her image as a tragedy that Holiday developed in the 1950s as her life and her musical skill declined , even the songs on these recordings with the sadest lyrics possess a great joy, swing, and spirit of the wonders of Jazz.

Average customer rating: Good entry point. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: Best of Dinah Washington Perfect... Her beautiful, mellow, smokey voice takes you back to a simpler time The First Lady of R&B

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: Best of Dinah Washington Dinah Washington Manufacturer: Recall Records UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Swingin' Miss 'D' The Essential Dinah Washington: The Great Songs What a Diff'rence a Day Makes! Back to the Blues The Best of Dinah Washington ASIN: B00000K3LW Release Date: 1999-09-15

Tracks:

1. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
2. Every Time We Say Goodbye
3. All Of Me
4. I Get A Kick Out Of You
5. Mad About The Boy
6. Manhattan
7. Everybody Loves My Baby
8. Unforgettable
9. Love Letters
10. Stardust
11. Cry Me A River
12. September In The Rain
13. Love Is Here To Stay
14. Blue Skies
15. Ain't Misbehaving
16. Come Rain Or Come Shine
17. It Could Happen To You
18. Dream
19. What A Difference A Day Makes
20. Love For Sale

Tracks:

1. Stairway To The Stars
2. I Wanna Be Loved
3. Am I Blue
4. My Old Flame
5. Easy Living
6. I Thought About You
7. You Don't Know What Love Is
8. Our Love Is Here To Stay
9. Make The Man Love Me
10. If I Had You
11. When I Fall In Love
12. Look To The Rainbow
13. Willow Weep For Me
14. I've Got A Feeling I'm Fallin'
15. Never Let Me Go
16. Good Morning Heartache
17. It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream
18. It's Magic
19. More Than You Know
20. I'll Close My Eyes

Album Description

40 great recordings by this sensational vocalist who liked to dabble in everything from the blues to jazz to r&b to pop . Includes 'Mad About The Boy', 'September In The Rain', 'I Get A Kick Out Of You' and 'What A Difference A Day Makes'. Double slimline jewel case. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews:

Good entry point........2007-01-27

Loved her voice but didn't know too much background. This CD is a nice survey collection to get you started.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: Best of Dinah Washington.......2006-12-17

They always forget the great ladies of song. This is by far one of the best cd's I have purchased in a long time.

Perfect..........2006-05-16

There are a few recordings that I like to refer to as my "cigar" music, this is indeed one of them, perfect for late night sitting on my balcony with a good cigar. Tune after tune, a homerun!! I like to load them in the player and program them in a random order.

Her beautiful, mellow, smokey voice takes you back to a simpler time.......2006-03-03

I absolutly love it!

The First Lady of R&B.......2004-01-19

Missing a lot of songs, but still important to buy. Some of these songs made me cry. The emotions in her voice were so unreal. People compare her to Billie and Bessie a lot, but Dinah had her own style. It's too bad that she is not remembered as much as the other ladies. One day, she will get her due respect (maybe a movie will help). Anyway, if these songs don't make you a fan then you don't know good music.

Average customer rating: Ella burns up the track as she and these songs become one There is no one like Ella great songs and great singing, but not jazz exactly Ella Wonderful!

The Best of the Song Books Ella Fitzgerald Manufacturer: Verve ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Best of the Song Books: The Ballads Pure Ella: The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald Best of the Verve Song Books: Love Songs Best Of Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Oh, Lady, Be Good! Best of the Gershwin Songbook ASIN: B0000046R2 Release Date: 1993-09-21

Tracks:

1. Something's Gotta Give
2. Love Is Here To Stay
3. Bewitched, Bothered, & Bewildered
4. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
5. The Lady Is A Tramp
6. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
7. Miss Otis Regrets
8. 'S Wonderful
9. Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea
10. Love For Sale
11. They Can't Take That Away From Me
12. Midnight Sun
13. Hooray For Love
14. Why Was I Born?
15. Cotton Tail
16. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

Amazon.com

Trying to cull a single-CD "Best of" from the 16-CD set of The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books may seem like a daunting task, but it's also foolproof. The complete set is a monument to the century's greatest songs and, arguably, its greatest singer, and this selection is a series of gems programmed to simulate a Fitzgerald performance, carefully sequencing joyous uptempo swingers and moving ballads. Recorded between 1956 and 1964, Fitzgerald's finest years, the CD includes arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and Buddy Bregman, as well as a superb rendering of "I've Got It Bad" with the Ellington orchestra and Johnny Hodges. Balancing the orchestral settings are some intimate small-group performances, including a witty rendition of Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets" and Rodgers and Hart's "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered." This is an ideal introduction to the "Song Books," a selection so good it will appeal to owners of the box sets. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Ella burns up the track as she and these songs become one.......2007-07-04

Ella Fitzgerald turned out numerous song books at a time when her voice was quite possibly at its peak. This CD attempts to cover the very best of the numbers from all her song books. Although no single CD can truly do that; this CD comes pretty close and every number is a huge hit.

The CD track set starts with "Something's Gotta Give;" and Ella sings this with all her might as she swings brightly. The musical arrangement bolsters Ella's vocals wonderfully for this relentlessly upbeat number. "Something's Gotta Give" provides a strong start for this album. "Our Love Is Here To Stay" features Ella massaging this immortal Gershwin tune. Ella swings gently for this romantic tune and the musicians accompany Ella to perfection. The horns really shine in this Nelson Riddle arrangement, too.

"Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered" features Ella singing rarely heard additional verses; her voice is rich, warm and vibrant. The slow tempo and piano work well as Ella swings very gently to make "Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered" a rare gem shining brightly! "The Lady Is A Tramp" gives us a change of pace; Ella sings a beautiful opening verse slow and sweet before this number takes off and Ella takes flight! The vivacious arrangement by Buddy Bregman reflects great judgment that enhances "The Lady Is A Tramp."

"Miss Otis Regrets" showcases Cole Porter's talent; and when Ella sings "Miss Otis Regrets" she infuses it with such understanding that Ella's rendition is THE ultimate interpretation of this melancholy ballad. The piano playing by Paul Smith never misses a note, either. I believe you will appreciate "Miss Otis Regrets." "S'Wonderful" changes the pace once again as Ella sings a relentlessly upbeat song. "S'Wonderful" glows when Ella interprets it with her unique sense of style; and Ella swings very well for this number. In addition, "Love For Sale" has Ella singing extra verses yet again--what a treat that is! "Love For Sale" sports a grand arrangement by Buddy Bregman as Ella sings of a young woman who wants her men to pay her for romantic time alone with her. "Love For Sale" has melancholy lyrics but the beautiful arrangement and interpretation makes this a very special number. The arrangement gradually gets louder for a crescendo effect--love it!

"They Can't Take That Away From Me" receives careful treatment from Ella as she sings this with panache and excellent diction. Nelson Riddle's arrangement does quite the trick, too. "Midnight Sun" uses the percussion well; and Ella massages the lyrics as only she could to sing this romantic ballad so very well. "Cotton Tail" has Ella scatting and jamming her heart out; she puts all her might into this jazzy, breakneck Duke Ellington number. Stuff Smith really does it well on that violin, too!

The CD ends with "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" by Cole Porter. Buddy Bregman delivers a heavenly arrangement as Ella sings with great sensitivity, grace and confidence. "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" is some strong ending for this album!

The liner notes include a commentary style essay by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman and you get all the song credits with their recording dates as well.

Ella Fitzgerald turned out so many superlative song books that it's not truly possible to create a single CD "best of the song books" album. Too much is omitted; I would have preferred a two CD set for this effort. However, I will give this CD five stars anyway because the high level of quality control impresses me to no end. The quality of the sound is excellent; Phil Schaap did a great job of remastering these songs.

I highly recommend this CD for Ella Fitzgerald fans and for people who want a quick overview of the song book albums Ella recorded in the 1950s and 1960s. People who enjoy classic pop vocals with an occasional jazzy twist would do well to get this album, too.

Thank you forever, Ella Fitzgerald!!!

There is no one like Ella.......2007-01-30

This collection shows, once more, why Ella reigns supreme. As usual, Ella delievrs each song in such an heartfelt, intense, personal way. The accompnaiments on this album are superb as well.

great songs and great singing, but not jazz exactly.......2006-10-11

These Tin Pan Alley songs are the primary source of the jazz standards played by bop instrumentalists; I decided to listen to them in their original settings since I've heard so many improvisations over the chord changes to them. My impression is that the original songs aren't jazz exactly. These cuts do swing at times, but mostly they come off pretty straight, square, and old-fashioned; they belong to that bygone era of American popular culture before rock and roll, to the style of Crosby and Sinatra.

I don't mean to say that these aren't good renditions, only that they aren't what I was expecting. (Connoisseurs of this genre won't find me very helpful, then.) If you like old-time songs from the big band era you will love this album. Fitzgerald was a consummate master of this kind of music, and I really admire her singing here. But if, like me, you hear this disc with hard bop renditions of these tunes in your ears, if you know them because you've heard Clifford Brown and Sonny Rollins playing them, you almost won't even recognize them as presented here. The jazz instrumentalists who improvised over these tunes made them into something very different.

Ella.......2006-03-15

Ella. In this world of 36 Mafia do I have to say more.

Wonderful!.......2005-12-07

Since I discovered Ella & Louis my "musical life" has never been the same. This is the kind of music that makes me wonder how I could have lived so long without. Ella's voice is magic. All of the Best of Verve Songbooks CDs are pure magic. If you like old-fashioned jazz, and you like great voices, you should buy at least 4 or 5 of Ella and/or Louis Armstrong's CDs. Just listen to the audio samples on Amazon.com, and you will find out why, in case you don't know how great they were. These guys were fantastic artists. They should have had 500 more years to live on this planet, and make it a better place with their voices.

Average customer rating: Oh, Lady, Be Good! Best of the Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald no one like Ella... Oh Lady Be Good is BETTER Than Good! MUST HAVE!!!! The Best of the Best....

Oh, Lady, Be Good! Best of the Gershwin Songbook Ella Fitzgerald Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Songbook The Best of the Song Books The Best of the Song Books: The Ballads Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook ASIN: B000004711 Release Date: 1996-01-30

Tracks:

1. Fascinating Rhythm
2. 'S Wonderful
3. Someone to Watch over Me
4. He Loves and She Loves
5. Oh, Lady, Be Good!
6. A Foggy Day
7. How Long Has This Been Going On?
8. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
9. But for Me
10. My One & Only
11. I've Got a Crush on You
12. Nice Work if You Can Get It
13. The Man I Love
14. Funny Face
15. Embraceable You
16. They Can't Take That Away From Me
17. I Got Rhythm

Amazon.com essential recording

Ella recorded five LPs' worth of Gershwin tunes for her songbook series, which was frankly a little much, so this single disc skims the cream. These songs are the ur-texts of American pre-war pop, straightforward love songs made to flow off a singer's tongue, and here they're in the hands of a master. Nelson Riddle's arrangements tend toward the soupy side--the bombastic string sections are distinctly nonjazz--but Ella, as always, sings with absolute taste and authority. She doesn't seem to be living inside the lyrics the way she does with, say, the Cole Porter songbook, but the simplicity of the Gershwins' melodies and sentiments let her get across some gently nuanced, technically exquisite singing. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Oh, Lady, Be Good! Best of the Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald.......2007-01-09

I love Ella and I love Gershwin. They're both great! The musical arrangements by Nelson Riddle are another story. They take away from Ella's beautiful voice and misinterpret Gershwin beautiful music. You get over it after a few listenings however and the music is still enjoyable. I guess it's a product of the era it was made in.

no one like Ella..........2004-08-18

frankly, there's no one out there i'd rather hear sing gershwin than ella fitzgerald, and this is an excellent compilation of ella singing some gershwin classics.

however, i was initially disappointed by this cd b/c i'd been searching for an album the showcased ella as opposed to the songs themselves. the highlights of this album are gershwin's songs (and ella does them sweet justice), but if you want a simple collection of ella at her best, in my opinion this isn't it.

Oh Lady Be Good is BETTER Than Good!.......2003-07-11

For those who want to hear Ella weave her magic in crisp, sparkling STEREO this is one of the VERY best of her many CDs. On this one she performs a unique, slow-tempo "Oh Lady Be Good" (that's right, SLOW and MELLOW as you've never heard it before and as only she could do it - and this alone is worth the price of admission). All the other top Gershwin goodies ("A Foggy Day", "But not For Me", "The Man I Love", etc.) are enhanced by Nelson Riddle's incomparable arrangements recorded in magnificent wrap-around sound that puts you right in front row center. So buckle up. This is a thrill-ride you'll want to experience again and again and again!

MUST HAVE!!!!.......2002-10-13

Anyone who enjoys Ella Fitzgerald has to have this album in their collection. Every since I bought it, it's played on a continual basis on my stereo system.You'll appreciate this album as one her her greatest.

The Best of the Best...........2002-09-22

Ella's voice is part of my childhood. She and George Gershwin played my lullabies. Not a bad introduction to music. Even now when I can't sleep I bring her back and let her sing in my head. Was there ever anything as lovely as Ella's voice? Everything falls away except the for the pure magic of her voice, the orchestra soaring...
This CD comes as close to the old "Ella Sings Gershwin" LP my parents had that I have found. Only "Clap a'Yo Hands" is missing. These are songs you love to listen to and love to sing. All my life I'll be grateful that Ella taught me how to sing! How can you not sing when you hear "Someone to Watch Over Me"? "The Man I Love"? How sweet is "I've Got a Crush on You"? I feel like I've just found buried treasure! I've got more Ella recordings that anything else in my collection, but like the CD itself says, "The Best of the Best of the Best of the Best." It's fabulous to have the all these amazing songs on one CD.
I just got myself a great present. You should get one too!

Average customer rating: All That Jazz! When a woman loves a man...

The Very Best of the Song Books Ella Fitzgerald Manufacturer: Verve ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Verve | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Around Midnight To Go: Stick It in Your Ear Easy To Love Dear Mr. Sinatra Pure Ella: The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald ASIN: B000JCET9W Release Date: 2006-12-05

Tracks:

1. Night And Day
2. I Get A Kick Out Of You
3. Begin The Beguine
4. Love For Sale
5. My Funny Valentine
6. The Lady Is A Tramp
7. Where Or When
8. Take The 'A' Train
9. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
10. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
11. Cheek To Cheek

Tracks:

1. Blue Skies
2. 'S Wonderful
3. Embraceable You
4. I Got Rhythm
5. The Man I Love
6. Blues In The Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me)
7. Over The Rainbow
8. That Old Black Magic
9. All The Things You Are
10. Skylark
11. Too Marvelous For Words

Customer Reviews:

All That Jazz!.......2007-03-26

This collection is awesome, is has the largest collection of Ella's songs I could find (after looking at Border's, Best Buy, f.y.e., etc.). Only leaving a couple of her big hits out; i.e. "Dream a Little Dream Of Me," which I found on iTunes! None the less, definetly a great gift for her fans or even those only just discovering jazz.

When a woman loves a man..........2007-01-07

The only thing better than singing is more singing. ~ Ella Fizgerald

Dreamy hardly describes this collection and romantic perfection barely unveils the heart beauty. Ella Fizgerald's music soothes the soul and presents a hope of happiness in many of her exquisite music moods.

Her creamy smooth vocals infuse this album with a decadent purity. Sweet, silky and soothing. That is what this album promises and "My Funny Valentine" is a little overwhelming with its message of unconditional love.

Ella's voice can draw out every romantic emotion you have ever felt and spins them into one sweet longing. She invites you into a beautiful world no one else will ever create. Her music feels like you have just received a warm hug and you are happy for the rest of the day.

"You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are."
~All the Things You Are

~The Rebecca Review

Average customer rating: Simplicity Like A Blow The Definitive Billie Holiday Collection!!!! A relaxing Holiday Skimpy, but well produced good Introduction to the New Billie Holiday Fan

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Manufacturer: Hip-O Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: 20th Century Masters: The Best Of Etta James (Millennium Collection) The Best of Ella Fitzgerald - 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection Pure Ella: The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday Lady in Satin ASIN: B00006AWJC Release Date: 2002-07-30

Tracks:

1. Strange Fruit
2. Fine And Mellow
3. Lover Man
4. Don't Explain
5. Good Morning Heartache
6. T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do
7. My Man
8. I Loves You Porgy
9. Lady Sings The Blues
10. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
11. I Cover The Waterfront
12. God Bless The Child

Customer Reviews:

Simplicity Like A Blow.......2007-04-23

This is the very first jazz record I have ever bought or listened to, and I decided to write my review with the first listen still fresh in my mind. It's not that I was avoiding jazz; I was simply never exposed to it. What can I say, I stand before you unmasked as the Philistine that I am! Certainly then it must seem a bit presumptuous of me, a jazz illiterate if ever there was one, to offer any criticism good or bad. But on the other hand, who can give you the more honest reaction: the man who has studied, weighed and evaluated jazz for four decades, or the man whose ignorance precludes the possibility of bias?

The word 'Diva' gets tossed around a lot these days. It is frequently misapplied to singers like Whitney Houston or Celine Dion, two performers who are unquestionably talented, but not as much as their hype would lead us to believe. Chockingly, it is also used to describe Cher, a woman who this reviewer feels is unfit to Chine Billie's Choes.

Because Billie...ah, Billie, SHE'S a Diva! This woman's voice is hypnotic, a Lucky Strike soaked in honey and absinthe. The songs are unaffected and powerful in a way only authenticity makes possible; Billie makes you FEEL her songs without resorting to histrionics. I am thoroughly convinced the Lady lived the blues long before she got around to singing 'em. The somewhat sparse musical arrangments are an absolute joy to listen to, and lend themselves incredibly well to Billie's voice. The horns almost seem to lead the listener simply by Suggestion, allowing Billie's voice to take center stage while the instruments mould themselves around her smokey lyrics like cognac poured across the rocks. I am completely smitten by this wonderful singer! Unwind in style with the music of a vanished era!

The Definitive Billie Holiday Collection!!!! .......2006-03-20

When I saw this while browsing at my local record store, I had to buy it. It had all the classics in 1 small package. It was an excellent value at only $8.99! Wow!

This CD (along with many other CDs in the Millennium Collection series) is an excellent value for the new or casual fan of Billie Holiday. It's remastered too so the sound quality is excellent. I loved the CD, especially Don't Explain (my all-time favorite Billie song) and Good Morning Heartache. The CD is WAY better than Ken Burns JAZZ Collection! *Highly recommended!*

If you liked this one, check out these titles from Billie Holiday:

This Is Jazz Volume 32: Billie Holiday Sings Standards
16 Most Requested Songs
Swing Brother Swing!
I'll Get By

I borrowed all of these other CDs from my local library (a great way to expand your digital library of classic jazz for no charge). They were pretty good. But none of these can match 20th Century Masters-Billie Holiday. This is the one Billie Holiday CD I wanted to keep for my own collection. Her voice, her style, her songs are so powerful and beautiful - all of these attributes are wonderfully displayed on this collection. Enjoy!

12 Tracks 41:05 total time~Hip-O/Verve 24.bit remastering.

A relaxing Holiday.......2005-09-29

One of the best. A great collection of her hits. While dining or just chilling, its a must have.

Skimpy, but well produced.......2002-08-06

Although not generously packed with tons of material, this is a thoughtfully-programmed selection of Holiday's later, non-Columbia material. Ten tracks, drawn from various sessions at Decca, Commodore, Clef and Verve, starting with "Strange Fruit" and ending with a 1956 live version of "God Bless The Child." This set is nice in that it avoids the usual emphasis on her difficult-sounding later performances, avoiding the tragedy-laced version of her career in favor of a more positive, musically triumphant telling of the tale. For a budget-line release, it's pretty darn nice.

good Introduction to the New Billie Holiday Fan.......2002-07-31

Billie Holiday is one of the Most Important Artists Ever to Rock a Mic&She is Displayed here with many of Her Classic Songs that Showcased Her Essence as a Artist."Strange Fruit","Good Morning Heartache","God Bless the Child" among others featured here.there are so many Collections to get on Her but this is a Cool Introduction for the New Billie Holiday Fan.

Jazz Music:

1. Big Band Instrumentals: 16 Most Requested Songs
2. Bird Lives!
3. Blues for a Rainy Day
4. Blues-O-Matic
5. Body and Soul
6. Boss of the Soul: Stream Trombone
7. Carryin' On
8. Cheek to Cheek [Import]
9. Cookin' at Michael's Pub
10. Dame Dreaming

Jazz Music

jazz music