FTR: First Listen #6.
Crate #: 2 (jazz & folk records)
Record #: 42 (of 60): Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Gershwin Song Book, Vol. 1 (1959)
1. But Not For Me
2. Fascinatin’ Rhythm
3. They All Laughed
4. The Man I Love
5. Nice Work If You Can Get It
6. Clap Yo’ Hands
7. Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off
8. Love Is Here To Stay
9. I Was Doing All Right
10. He Loves And She Loves
11. Lorelei
12. (I’ve Got) Beginner’s Luck
I am no fan of the Gershwins. While I have heard so much acclaim heaped upon them by musicians and music writers, I have no place in my pantheon for these penners of pop tunes. They are the forerunners of so many subsequent authors of kitschy and shallow show tunes, and productions like their much-acclaimed Porgy and Bess are cringeworthy examples of modern-day minstrelsy. Thus, I can be swayed by no one to somehow allow these giants of musical theater to permeate any of my personal playlists.
However, I am, and have always been, a sucker for Ella Fitzgerald. I have no doubt in my mind, that had I been born in 1920, I would have been in the front row of every Chittlin Circuit and Cotton Club performance, letting her sweetly melodic breaths flutter by my half-opened eyes, dreamily staring at her over my half-empty drink like a straight up simp. Basically, she would be what Erykah Badu has been for me since 10th grade. Yeah, it’s like that.
So I figured I’d give this record a fair spin, as I have the rest…
• Ella’s voice is straight up butter. Always and forever. As the record’s liner notes say: “Ella Fitzgerald could sing the Van Nuys telephone directory with a broken jaw and make it sound good.” I couldn’t agree more. Even over very saccharine, pop-oriented jazz arrangements, her voice stands out as the sole focal point.
• The voice-and-electric-guitar intros to many of these songs make me wish that she was singing with a smaller ensemble. In fact, if anyone is aware of any records with Ella singing with just one other instrument, hip me to them!
Track #: 9 - “I Was Doing All Right”
-BrotherSpanky
