Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
Studio album by Ella Fitzgerald
Released	1957
Recorded	June 25 - October 17, 1957
Genre	Jazz
Length	166:32
Label	Verve
Producer	Norman Granz
Ella Fitzgerald chronology
Ella and Louis Again (1957) Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (1957) Like Someone in Love (1957)
Duke Ellington chronology
Such Sweet Thunder (1957) Ella Fitzgerald sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (1957) Ellington Indigos (1957)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[2]

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book is a 1957 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by the Duke Ellington orchestra, focusing on Ellington's songs.

Part of Fitzgerald's series of 'Songbooks', it is the only one where the composer is also featured as a performer. This was the first time that Fitzgerald had recorded with Ellington. It is also the entry in the Songbook series that gives her by far most often the opportunity to exhibit her skill at scat singing.

The greater part of disc three is devoted to two original compositions by Strayhorn, inspired by Fitzgerald's life, character and artistry. Fitzgerald's performance on this album won her the 1959 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance, Individual.

This album marked the start of a fruitful artistic relationship for Fitzgerald and Ellington. The 1960s would see them perform on the Côte d'Azur for the album Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur (1966), and in Sweden for The Stockholm Concert, 1966. Their only other studio album is Ella at Duke's Place (1965).

Track listing

For the 1957 Verve 4-LP set: Verve MGV 4010-4

Disc one

1. "Rockin' in Rhythm" (Harry Carney, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) – 5:17
2. "Drop Me Off in Harlem" (Nick Kenny) – 3:48
3. "Day Dream" (John La Touche, Billy Strayhorn) – 3:56
4. "Caravan" (Ellington, Mills, Juan Tizol) – 3:51
5. "Take the "A" Train" (Strayhorn) – 6:37
6. "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" (Ellington, Don George) – 4:39
7. "Clementine" (Strayhorn) – 2:37
8. "I Didn't Know About You" (Bob Russell) – 4:10
9. "I'm Beginning to See the Light" (Ellington, George, Johnny Hodges, Harry James) – 3:24
10. "Lost in Meditation" (Mills, Lou Singer, Tizol) – 3:24
11. "Perdido" (Ervin Drake, H.J Lengsfelder, Tizol) – 6:10
12. "Cotton Tail" (Duke Ellington) – 3:23
13. "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" (Russell) – 7:38
14. "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" (Lee Gaines, Strayhorn) – 3:30
15. "(In My) Solitude" (Eddie DeLange, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) – 2:04
16. "Rocks in My Bed" – 3:56
17. "Satin Doll" (Johnny Mercer, Strayhorn) – 3:26
18. "Sophisticated Lady" (Mitchell Parish) – 5:18

Disc two

1. "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)" (Gaines) – 4:13
2. "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (Ellington, Mills) – 4:12
3. "Azure" (Mills) – 2:18
4. "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" (Mills, Henry Nemo, John Redmond) – 4:08
5. "In a Sentimental Mood" (Manny Kurtz, Mills) – 2:44
6. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (Russell) – 4:59
7. "Prelude to a Kiss" (Irving Gordon, Mills) – 5:26
8. "Mood Indigo" (Barney Bigard, Mills) – 3:24
9. "In a Mellow Tone" (Milt Gabler) – 5:07
10. "Love You Madly" – 4:37
11. "Lush Life" (Strayhorn) – 3:37
12. "Squatty Roo" (Hodges) – 3:38
13. "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So" (Mack David) – 4:12
14. "All Too Soon" (Carl Sigman) – 4:22
15. "Everything But You" (George, James) – 2:53
16. "I Got it Bad (And That Ain't Good)" (Paul Francis Webster) – 6:11
17. "Bli-Blip" (Sid Kuller) – 3:01

Disc three

1. "Chelsea Bridge" (Strayhorn) – 3:20
2. "Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald" (Strayhorn) – 16:10:
   • First Movement: "Royal Ancestry"
   • Second Movement: "All Heart"
   • Third Movement: "Beyond Category"
   • Fourth Movement: "Total Jazz"
3. "The E and D Blues" (E for Ella, D for Duke) (Strayhorn) – 4:48

Bonus Tracks; Issued on the Verve 1999 3CD re-issue, Verve 314 559 248-2

4. to 11. "Chelsea Bridge" (Rehearsal tracks)

12. "All Heart" (Rehearsal) - 3:54

13. "All Heart" (Alternative take I) - 3:33

14. "All Heart" (Alternative take II) - 3:22

15. "All Heart" (Alternative take III) - 3:25

Recorded June 15–October 27, 1957, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Personnel

• Ella Fitzgerald — vocals
• William "Cat" Anderson — trumpet
• Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet
• Clark Terry - trumpet
• Willie Cook - trumpet
• Frank Foster — tenor saxophone
• Paul Gonsalves - saxophone
• Ben Webster - saxophone
• Johnny Hodges — alto saxophone
• Russell Procope — clarinet, alto saxophone
• Jimmy Hamilton — clarinet, tenor saxophone
• Harry Carney — clarinet, bass clarinet
• John Sanders — trombone
• Britt Woodman - trombone
• Quentin Jackson - trombone
• Ray Nance — trumpet, violin
• Stuff Smith — violin
• Oscar Peterson — piano
• Paul Smith - piano
• Ray Brown — double bass
• Joe Mondragon - bass
• Jimmy Woode - bass
• Herb Ellis — guitar
• Barney Kessel - guitar
• Sam Woodyard — drums
• Alvin Stoller - drums
• Billy Strayhorn — piano, narrator
• Duke Ellington — piano, narrator, arranger, conductor.

References

1. "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song book> Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
2. Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 69. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.