 Ella Fitzgerald A purely beautiful, thoroughly classy album that is sophisticated and romantic, yet also heartfelt and engaging, Ella's Rodgers and Hart Song Book is a classic of many things: classic Ella, classic standards album, classic orchestral pop vocal album, classic Verve album, and I'd even add classic CD reissue. Verve put this out in '97 as a Verve Master Edition reissue, in a gorgeous cardboard package with a fantastic booklet, really doing justice to one of the finest recordings in their catalog. All of Ella's songbook releases are extremely worthwhile, but of all of them, this is right up there with the Ellington set for top honors. Ella's sweet, pure voice is a perfect match to Rodgers and Hart's timeless songs. Melodies that inspire and amaze; lyrics that are clever without seeming quaint; and the voice that carries you along through some very wonderful places. Backed by an orchestra, Ella sings these songs very straight (no scatting to be found), sticking 100% to her angelic pop side rather than the swinging improviser side that may have been her true genius. For a demonstration of how much glory one voice can attain, just sit down with this album for half an hour. The songs she doesn't do definitively are still a cut above the hundreds of other performers who have tackled these chestnuts over the years. The songs she does do definitively ("Isn't it Romantic?," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "It Never Entered My Mind," "My Romance," many more) are really breathtaking to behold. Many of these songs have been done better, or more quirkily "owned" by other performers. It's hard not to cast your vote for Blossom Dearie's less faithful but hipper "Manhattan" and "Everything I've Got," or Nina Simone's gut-wrenching "Little Girl Blue," or Fred Astaire's less schooled but more charming "Mountain Greenery," or Chet Baker's signature "My Funny Valentine," or Dawn Upshaw's "I Could Write a Book," or perhaps Elvis's very atypical "Blue Moon." But the scope of achievement spread over this 2-disc set is just amazing – really not a clunker in the bunch, except maybe "Give It Back to the Indians," which is just a stupid song. That's by far the exception to the rule here, though. Most of the tracks are soft and sweet, midtempo and riding on a bed of strings that, fortunately, don't get sappy in the least. This is the sort of album Sinatra is adored for, but to me, Ella is a hundred times the performer and musician that Sinatra is. The style is classic for a reason, and while it may reach a point where artists like Ella and Sinatra are simply thought of as good background music for dinner parties or weddings, at least it seems impossible that the quality of these performances will always be recognized. It may well be irrelevant music, who knows. It's more likely that all music is irrelevant. But it's hard to think of sitting the proverbial being from outer space down with this album and not having them put away the alien death ray and instead extend a brxytror of peace. Okay, since I've now resorted to using made-up words, I'll wrap it up. Classic material and essential performances, and more meaningfully, an album that is a real pleasure to listen to, as satisfying and rare as fine chocolate or professional fisting. The lesser-known songs, like "The Blue Room" and "Wait Till You See Her," are just as great as the recognizable ones. This CD is like watching the best sunset ever from the most comfortable place you've ever been. A must for fans of Ella, and an almost guaranteed way to convert someone into a fan who's only heard of her. If this music goes the way of the mummy and becomes just a museum piece, then make me a charter member, I'll visit that museum all the frickin time.
Review by Kitten Cassidy |