Sings The Duke Ellington Songbook: Amazon.co.uk: Music

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Product details

Audio CD (25 May 1999)
Number of Discs: 3
Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
Label: Decca (UMO)
ASIN: B00000HYIC
Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 168,932 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Disc 1:

Samples

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Song Title Artist Time Price

1. Rockin' In Rhythm Ella Fitzgerald 5:19 �0.89 Buy MP3

2. Drop Me Off In Harlem Ella Fitzgerald 3:51 �0.89 Buy MP3

3. Day Dream Ella Fitzgerald 3:59 �0.89 Buy MP3

4. Caravan Ella Fitzgerald 3:54 �0.89 Buy MP3

5. Take The "A" Train Ella Fitzgerald 6:42 �0.89 Buy MP3

6. I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues Ella Fitzgerald 4:42 �0.89 Buy MP3

7. Clementine Ella Fitzgerald 2:39 �0.89 Buy MP3

8. I Didn't Know About You Ella Fitzgerald 4:13 �0.89 Buy MP3

9. I'm Beginning To See The Light Ella Fitzgerald 3:26 �0.89 Buy MP3

10. Lost In Meditation Ella Fitzgerald 3:27 �0.89 Buy MP3

11. Perdido Ella Fitzgerald 6:12 �0.89 Buy MP3

12. Cotton Tail Ella Fitzgerald 3:25 �0.89 Buy MP3

13. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me Ella Fitzgerald 7:41 Album Only

14. Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' Ella Fitzgerald 3:32 �0.89 Buy MP3

15. Solitude Ella Fitzgerald 2:07 �0.89 Buy MP3

16. Rocks In My Bed Ella Fitzgerald 3:57 �0.89 Buy MP3

17. Satin Doll (1956 Version) Ella Fitzgerald 3:28 �0.89 Buy MP3

18. Sophisticated Lady Ella Fitzgerald 5:21 �0.89 Buy MP3

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Disc 2:

Samples

Song Title Artist Time Price

1. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) Ella Fitzgerald 4:17 �0.89 Buy MP3

2. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) Ella Fitzgerald 4:15 �0.89 Buy MP3

3. Azure Ella Fitzgerald 2:22 �0.89 Buy MP3

4. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart Ella Fitzgerald 4:11 �0.89 Buy MP3

5. In A Sentimental Mood Ella Fitzgerald 2:47 �0.89 Buy MP3

6. Don't Get Around Much Anymore Ella Fitzgerald 5:02 �0.89 Buy MP3

7. Prelude To A Kiss Ella Fitzgerald 5:29 �0.89 Buy MP3

8. Mood Indigo Ella Fitzgerald 3:28 �0.89 Buy MP3

9. In A Mellow Tone Ella Fitzgerald 5:11 �0.89 Buy MP3

10. Love You Madly Ella Fitzgerald 4:42 �0.89 Buy MP3

11. Lush Life Ella Fitzgerald 3:40 �0.89 Buy MP3

12. Squatty Roo Ella Fitzgerald 3:42 �0.89 Buy MP3

13. I'm Just A Lucky So And So Ella Fitzgerald 4:15 �0.89 Buy MP3

14. All Too Soon Ella Fitzgerald 4:24 �0.89 Buy MP3

15. Everything But You Ella Fitzgerald 2:57 �0.89 Buy MP3

16. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) Ella Fitzgerald 6:15 �0.89 Buy MP3

17. Bli-Blip Ella Fitzgerald 3:03 �0.89 Buy MP3

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Disc 3:

Samples

Song Title Artist Time Price

1. Chelsea Bridge Ella Fitzgerald 3:25 �0.89 Buy MP3

2. Portrait Of Ella Fitzgerald (Album Version) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 16:18 Album Only

3. The E And D Blues (E For Ella And D For Duke) Ella Fitzgerald 5:04 �0.89 Buy MP3

4. Chelsea Bridge (Rehearsal) Ella Fitzgerald 4:36 �0.89 Buy MP3

5. Chelsea Bridge (Rehearsal) Ella Fitzgerald 4:08 �0.89 Buy MP3

6. Chelsea Bridge (Rehearsal) Ella Fitzgerald 4:16 �0.89 Buy MP3

7. Chelsea Bridge Ella Fitzgerald 3:27 �0.89 Buy MP3

8. Chelsea Bridge Ella Fitzgerald 2:16 �0.89 Buy MP3

9. Chelsea Bridge (Rehearsal) Ella Fitzgerald 1:31 �0.89 Buy MP3

10. Chelsea Bridge (Rehearsal) Ella Fitzgerald 6:45 �0.89 Buy MP3

11. Chelsea Bridge (Rehearsal) Ella Fitzgerald 5:50 �0.89 Buy MP3

12. All Heart (Rehearsal) The Duke Ellington Orchestra 4:02 �0.69 Buy MP3

13. All Heart (Alternate Take) The Duke Ellington Orchestra 3:42 �0.69 Buy MP3

14. All Heart (Alternate Take) The Duke Ellington Orchestra 3:30 �0.69 Buy MP3

15. All Heart (Alternate Take) The Duke Ellington Orchestra 3:43 �0.69 Buy MP3

16. Portrait Of Ella Fitzgerald The Duke Ellington Orchestra 4:59 �0.69 Buy MP3

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk

It's well known that Ella's songbook series, beginning in the mid-1950s, gave her career a boost and also focussed renewed attention on the qualities of the great writers such as Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and the Gershwins. Her attention to the output of Ellington was equally welcome because, although jazz snobs rate his instrumental works higher than his songs, the dividing-line is not entirely clear and even the pure songs have an individual language distinct from those on Ella's other albums. The other factor that makes this three-disc set different is that the composer's own band appears on over half of the material, as an instant collaborator in making the songs both compatible with Ella and different from previous Ellington versions. A revealing light is thrown on this process by the new inclusion of 27 minutes of studio rehearsals for a single tune, "Chelsea Bridge". The balance of the original album's tracks, begun before the big-band sessions, have small-group backing featuring variously Oscar Peterson, Barney Kessel, violinist Stuff Smith and ex-Ellingtonian Ben Webster, convincingly complementing the overall concept. --Brian Priestley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest recordings Ella made? 16 May 2007

By Victor HALL OF FAME TOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Over the years many superb jazz artists have devoted a whole album to the work of Duke Ellington - Louis Armstrong, Dr. John and Chris Barber spring most readily to mind. Those are all good efforts (especially Louis meets Duke, the Great Summit) but there is one that stands head and shoulders above them all, this supreme effort from the First Lady of Jazz herself, the wonderful Ella Fitzgerald.

This album stands out for several reasons. The breadth of styles embraced, from classinc up-tempo swing to slow melancholy blues, big band to small intimate quartet. Who else but Ella could do justice to all of these numbers? The sheer number of tracks included - most artists pick out 10 or 12 favourites, here we are presented with 40 tracks! And the quality never dips, there is no filler to be found here. The quality of the songs (for such a prolific composer Duke seemed to write very few duff numbers), and, above all, the aristry of the personel. Not just Ella, but the contributions of the Duke himself, his arranger and co-composer Billy Strayhorn and the rest of the Ellington band. Not only that but many of the recordings also feature fine performances from another major jazz figure, Oscar Peterson.

Ella was a fine singer, but always seemed to be pushed to new heights when working with someone of equal stature, listen to her collaborations with Louis Armstrong or Count Basie for example. Here though, she seems to have been pushed to new peaks, rising to the challenge of doing this excellent set of songs justice admirably. She takes each of these songs and makes them her own in a way that very few, if any, artists could ever hope to emulate. What must have Duke thought, sitting there in the studio hearing his creations turned into sublime art right in front him?... Read more ›

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ella sing the Duke Ellington Song Book 28 Jan 2011

By Foxy

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Many will find this classic set better than they imagined and few, if any, will be disappointed.

The enclosed booklet is a real bonus and well worth a good read, which is not always the case.

The music is just a delight with Ella's touch and voice control perfect. She becomes an extention of the brilliant Ellington orchestra.

Some of the songs are sung with a small Ellington based combo rather than the full orchestra and this adds to the overall enjoyment.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars two momumental artists together 11 April 2013

By Malcolm Le Bas

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have had the original vinyl LP since it came out but purchased the CD as the record was showing its age! The small group sides are the very best with stunning solos from Johnny Hodges and Ella at her best, The full Orchestra is excellent and Ella thrives in this context.

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4.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag for Ellington fans 13 Jun 2013

By Dean, London

Format:Audio CD

This album has long been regarded as a classic pairing of two great giants of 20th century jazz - the Duke Ellington orchestra, unquestionably the best large jazz ensemble of all time, and Ella Fitzgerald, one of the greatest singers jazz ever produced. For the most part, it works successfully enough, and some of the performances e.g. a superlative version of 'All Too Soon' are truly outstanding. However, it's worth entering a couple of significant caveats for the benefit of prospective purchasers. The songs that work best are the ones that combine sensitive ballad interpretation by Ella with great ensemble playing and instrumental solo work by the Ellington orchestra. 'Do nothing till you hear from me' is a good example. Far less successful are the songs where Ella's endless scat singing (technically outstanding judged on its own narrow terms) swamps all opportunity for the Ellington band to really stretch out and play. This is true of several of the tracks on CD1. For example, there are certainly much better versions of 'Rockin' In Rhythm' in the Ellington catalogue. In such exalted company, Ella should probably have exercised somewhat greater restraint (and I am trying to express this diplomatically). The point here is not to knock scat singing as such - obviously it was part of Ella's style. But the Ellington band built its reputation on tight ensemble playing and concise solo instrumentals with a strong melodic identity. Lengthy solo vocal improvisation does not sit well with this approach.

Prospective buyers should also be aware that CD2 doesn't really feature the Ellington orchestra at all. It is a set of small group recordings and features Ben Webster, whose solo work is magnificent - as usual.... Read more ›

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply wonderful! 29 April 2012

By Antonio Paliotti

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Simply wonderful! Great music with great players. Cosa desiderare di meglio dalla vita? La produzione Verve è ottima e anche la registrazione è qualitativamente soddisfacente. Un bel disco, proprio.

Sings The Duke Ellington Songbook [Box set, Original recording remastered]

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