Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book

Only Frank Sinatra has put his indelible stamp on as many pages of the American Popular Songbook as Ella Fitzgerald. But while Sinatra specialized in mood-themed albums (his composer-based collections were compiled from material already released), Fitzgerald's ambitious songbooks devoted themselves to one great songwriter after another: Cole Porter, the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, and so on. Her two-volume Rodgers and Hart project ranks with the best, and if Buddy Bergman's arrangements are a bit sweeter than his Cole Porter settings, or Nelson Riddle's Gershwin treatments, they suit the material just fine. And what a wide range of material it is (with original verses intact!), intermingling novelty show tunes ("Give It Back to the Indians," "Johnny One Note"), sophisticated standards ("Manhattan," "Blue Moon," "The Lady Is a Tramp"), and lush ballads ("Isn't It Romantic," "It Never Entered My Mind"). But the most exquisite thing Fitzgerald ever recorded is her seven-minute "Bewitched" (a.k.a. "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered") on volume 2, casting a spell of hushed reverie that makes time stand still. --Jim Emerson Amazon.com

10 cents a dance

Is it possible that no one has mentioned MY favorite song? How entrancing is that charming waltz rhythm in TEN CENTS A DANCE? The pace is never hurried and you can almost feel the stumbling partner's feet on your toes. More importantly, this song is perhaps the most melancholy tune since the days of Robert Schumann's lieder in the 19th century. When Miss Fitzgerald finally descends into the depths of her range to grab the last note, you may also feel some of the loneliness that was a recuring motif in her career. June 14, 2007

A Best Seller in Heaven

The only thing better than a collection of Rodgers and Harts songs to delight the soul and lift the Spirit, is to have the songs performed by the Ella Diva! Sheer perfection!

Vaishali, Naples, FL January 5, 2007

"I Could Write A Preface On How We Met . . . So The World Will Never Forget"

"If they asked me
I could write a book
About the way you walk
And whisper and look
I could write a preface on how we met
So the world will never forget
And the simple secret of the plot
Is just to tell them that I love you a lot." ~ I Could Write A Book ~ Rodgers & Hart

A music critic, William Simon, described the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald, as a musician with ear, instinct and training who never actually has been instructed in vocal technique and yet she can command such breath control, can shape a tone with such color sense, and with such flawless intonation.

She was once called "A Melody's Best Friend" for her special ability to turn an ordinary song into extraordinary with her outstanding vocal artistry and her creativity in scat singing. Ms. Fitzgerald's elegant interpretations and Buddy Bregman's striking arrangements of these appealing melodies from Richard Rodgers and the meaningful lyrics from Lorenz Hart truly made this album worthy to any listener who appreciates great music.

On Liner Notes' Foreword, Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the following about music.

"Music is a difficult subject - anybody's music. Words are easier to analyze. Everyone speaks and writes words. Few can write music. Its creation is a mystery. There are mathematical principles to guide its construction, but no mere knowledge of these can produce the emotional eloquence some music attains. We are made sad or happy, romantic, thoughtful, disturbed or peaceful by someone else's singing heart. To me this is a most exciting and inexplicable phenomenon. Certain experiences have an effect on us quite beyond the capacity of any symbols that can be written on paper, and what music can sometimes do to us is quite beyond the ken and lingo of academicians."

It's absolutely true. It's so amazing how music can deeply affect us in terms of our experiences in life. Music is the soundtrack of our lives. And in this age and time, nobody creates great music as brilliantly as Rodgers & Hart and their colleagues. Their music has captured the ears of millions of listeners who truly admire their talents in creating the most appreciated melodies and lyrics of all-time.

This two-CD-set is a confirmation on how Ella Fitzgerald became one of the greatest singers of all-time. It contains the best-loved Rodgers & Hart songs taken from different shows from 1925 thru 1942. "Blue Moon" is the only song that is not published as a part of a show or a movie score. Some of my highlights are: "I Could Write A Book" and "Bewitched" (1940 Pal Joey), "Isn't It Romantic" (1932 Love Me Tonight), "Manhattan" (1925 The Garrick Gaieties), "My Romance" (1935 Jumbo), "This Can't Be Love" (1938 The Boys from Syracuse), "My Funny Valentine" and "Where or When" (1937 Babes In Arms), "Spring Is Here" and "With A Song In My Heart" (1938 I Married An Angel).

Nostalgically recommended for your listening pleasure.
December 9, 2006

Going By The Book

On a summers day in August of 1956. One of the greatest vocalist of her time went into a Los Angeles recording studio and took on "The Rodgers and Hart Songbook".The name of the great vocalist was Ms Ella Fitzgerald also known as "The First Lady Of Song".It was back in 1918 when composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart would form a collaboration that would change american music forever.During their lengthy careers they would come to write hundreds of songs.And some of those songs would become what we call "American Standards".Songs that would one day be perform by entertainers like Judy Garland,Frank Sinatra,Johnny Mathis and so many others the list is endless.After the death of Lorenz Hart.Richard Rodgers would team up with Oscar Hammerstein and continue his career.But that"s another story.This story is about Ella Fitzgerald who takes these Rodgers and Hart songs.And turns them into her own songs.These greatly entertaining songs are sung by Ella with perfect interruption,humor and style.Backed up the Buddy Bregman orchestra Ella sings songs that were written by Rodgers and Hart between 1925 and 1943.A naturally gifted singer who could sing anything Ella is at her best on this album.On the song "Where Or When" Ella uses her sweet voice to give us a sweet look at deja vu. On "Manhattan" she brings back the charm of the old city around the year 1925.On songs like "Isn"t It Romantic and I Could Write A Book" Ella sings these songs in such a way. It makes you want to fall in love.On "Give It Back To The Indians" Ella ready brings out the humor in this song.And Ella"s masterpiece on this album is "Bewitched" all the talent that made her such a unique vocalist are demonstrated on this song.This album is filled with classic Rodgers and Hart songs.Sung by one of my favorite vocalist Ms Ella Fitzgerald.Lyrics just roll off her lips like sweet melted butter.This is one of her best songbooks.And I just love listening to it. April 28, 2006

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! June 5, 2004

More reviews at Amazon.com ...