Ella Fitzgerald Albums (76)
What The Critics Say
Ella Fitzgerald's first flirtation with the acid rock era was a 1968 live date with Tommy Flanagan, titled Sunshine of Your Love, but it featured only a pair of songs from rock composers, Cream's title song and the Beatles' "Hey Jude." (Granted, they were the first two songs on the LP.) One year later, Verve booked studio time at Olympic Studios in London for her to work with producer Richard Perry, a former associate of the Leiber & Stoller crew at the Red Bird label and fresh off a remake of Fats Domino's image (for Fats Is Back). The results here are roughly similar to what he did with Fats; Perry chose songs that were most easily rendered by his artist and most capable of crossing over. Ella submerges herself nearly entirely in the work of rock or R&B stalwarts -- Smokey Robinson, the Beatles, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson -- and Perry obliges with arrangements anchored by horns, acoustic or electric pianos, and only occasionally, strings. Despite the comfortable backings, it's never able to escape the feel of a crossover; on her version of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "Ooo Baby Baby," Ella makes some wonderful decisions during the verses (it's easy to see traditional pop's influence on Smokey himself), but, on the choruses, she's chained to her backing chorus with poor results. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'Live in Stockholm 1957'
Release Date 1/1/2006
Tracks 18
Label Lone Hill Jazz
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'Rock It for Me'
Release Date 10/28/1997
Tracks 10
Label Eclipse Music Group
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'Sunshine of Your Love'
Release Date 11/5/1996
Tracks 12
Label Polygram
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What The Critics Say
During her long career, every once in awhile Ella Fitzgerald would attempt to "get with it" and record contemporary pop tunes. In 1968 for a live concert with a big band and the Tommy Flanagan Trio, the First Lady of the American Song did what she could with such unsuitable material as "Hey Jude," "Sunshine of Your Love," "Watch What Happens" and "A House Is Not a Home." The results (despite her sincerity) sometime borders on the embarassing; there is no way anyone can swing "Hey Jude." A few of the other numbers (particularly "Give Me the Simple Life," "Old Devil Moon" and "Love You Madly") are of a higher quality but when Ella tries to turn "Alright, Okay, You Win" into funk, it is time to switch records. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'Ella Fitzgerald with the Tommy Flanagan Trio'
Release Date 9/17/1996
Tracks 14
Label Delta
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'Christmas with Ella Fitzgerald'
Release Date 11/1/1995
Tracks 10
Label Cema Special Markets
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What The Critics Say
While this budget-line release isn't the best way to collect Ella Fitzgerald's seasonal recordings -- an original LP like 1960's Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas is much more effective -- there's no questioning the magnificence of her renditions of holiday classics like "O Holy Night," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "The First Noel," all essential regardless of format. ~ Marvin Jolly, All Music Guide
'Live from the Roseland Ballroom New York 1940'
Release Date 10/17/1995
Tracks 13
Label Musidisc
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'Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall'
Release Date 7/18/1995
Tracks 33
Label Sony
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What The Critics Say
This two-CD set (a reissue of an earlier two-Lp set plus six previously unreleased numbers) brings back a memorable Carnegie Hall concert that both features and pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. The great singer is joined on a few numbers by a Chick Webb reunion band that has a few of the original members (plus an uncredited Panama Francis on drums). Although the musicians do not get much solo space (why wasn't trumpeter Taft Jordan featured?), the music is pleasing. Ella performs three exquisite duets with pianist Ellis Larkins and then sits out while the Jazz At The Philharmonic All-Stars romp on a few jams and a ballad medley. Trumpeter Roy Eldridge's emotional flights take honors although tenorman Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and trombonist Al Grey are also in good form. Ella comes out for the second half of the show and sings 14 numbers with guitarist Joe Pass (including a pair of tender duets) and the Tommy Flanagan trio. Although her renditions of "I've Gotta Be Me" and "What's Going On" are unnecessary, Ella sounds beautiful on "Good Morning Heartache," "Don't Worry About Me" and "These Foolish Things" and swings hard on the scat-filled "Lemon Drop." An excellent retrospective of Ella Fitzgerald's first 40 years in jazz. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
This CD places Ella Fitzgerald (then 60) in an unusual setting. Joined only by organist Jackie Davis and drummer Louie Bellson, she tackles a wide variety of material that ranges from "I'm Walkin'" and "I Cried for You" to "Mack the Knife" (which did not need to be remade) and "And the Angels Sing." Not one of her more essential releases, Lady Time does show that even at this fairly late stage in her career, Ella Fitzgerald could outswing just about anyone. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
