The Gershwin Songbook

This is some kind of protest vote, and for a few reasons. 1) By all means, slap a 5/5 on your review, but know this: I see you. I know it sounds high-brow and classical and you feel helpless in its presence. "Aw gee, I mean... shit... it's so prestigious." I get it. But I also see you. Grow a spine. 2) Where are the other compilations in this book? Why have I got to listen to Little Richard and James Brown and Buddy Holly studio albums, and pretend they're representative of the best those acts could produce, when I could be listening to far superior comps? I don't accept this as the exception. 3) It's over three hours. That's only allowable for 'Star Time'.

0:00:30 (01) Wow this is Tom and Jerry-ish 0:01:30 (01) This is surprisingly listenable for me. Not a fan of jazz but I have a big hope that I'll enjoy this one. 0:07:23 (02) That was pretty good. Only 72 songs left... 0:10:40 (02) *yawns* 0:12:20 (02) Since the 4th disc is just a bunch of alternate takes, I will skip that. Only 57 tracks then, let's hope that we will reach track 57. 0:14:20 (03) Wow vocals! Love that voice, that type of singing always take me to the '50s despite the fact that I wasn't even born during those times. 0:22:53 (05) I wonder why this literal compilation album is chosen for the list. Not that it's bad, it's just H U G E. It has an expected fair share of "eh" tracks, like this one. 0:26:32 (06) Lmao the '50s have at least a couple of weird pop songs too. 0:30:51 (07) That voice does better in the ballads. The pop-ish songs are not my jam. 0:33:18 (08) Just kidding. This one is ballad is it's boring. 0:36:05 (09) I'm considering giving up rn. But let's hold on for a bit. 0:37:35 (09) My favorite Beatles album, "Revolver" is considered one of the best and most influential albums of all time. And it's only 35 minutes long. I mean, I'm just thinking that if this is a rock album, then today's listen is finished now. 0:41:45 (10) I mean hiphop albums are usually 70-ish minutes. And that's why they're usually challenging as a listen for me. Oh wait, I'm still listening to an album right now? Lmao I almost forgot. 0:44:21 (11) It's incredible to think that I'm barely 25% into the album as of now. 0:45:11 (11) Love this track and its instrumental break though. 0:52:15 (13) Wonderful track indeed. Woke me up at the moment. 0:57:47 (14) *yaaaaaawwwnnn* "The Wall" is another album that I love. It's 81 plus minutes long. At this time, Pink is probably going Nazi already. 1:00:00 (15) Achievement unlocked: BOOMER MUSIC OVERDOSE (Listen to non-stop '50s pop-jazz music for an hour) 1:04:06 (16) Should I take a break after disc 1 or is it cheating? 1:09:22 (18) Wow, ragtime aint it? Pretty neat way to end a disc. 1:13:36 (19) Yes, "who cares" indeed. Who cares if this is their "very best" or "most influential". Who cares if I didn't finish this album and rated it anyway? 1:26:28 (23) I figuuuuuured ouuuuuutt thaat lissteniiiing to someoneeeee singiiiiiiiing liiiike thiiiiiisssss maakess me sleeeeepppyy.... 1:37:14 (26) This one's pretty good. 1:42:25 (28) Is this really an album one should listen to before they die? I mean three hours of old music is a unique experience. But is it worth it? Does it provide a whole new way to experience music? Is it a good experience? 1:44:20 (29) The 21st Century Fox theme plays and I thought, maybe Is should put an end on this self imposed torture. So now I will raise the white flag and end this madness... 1:46:22 (29) [Game over]; Mission: Listen to it from cover to cover [Failed]; Mission: At least listen to the first three discs [Failed]; Mission: Appreciate the music despite the ridiculous length of this album [Failed]; Mission: At least appreciate Ella Fitzgerald's beautiful voice [Accomplished].

With all due respect to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald, I don’t have the time or patience to listen to a three and a half hour box set of Gershwin songs. I’m not gonna sit here and say, “oh my god, this is so amazing. What a landmark record”, just because Ella Fitzgerald is a legend. I hated this record. This type of music bores the ever-loving shit out of me. The truth is, I’ve got about 40 minutes of tolerance for most music that was recorded before 1965. I know, I’m a horrible close minded human being; the poster boy for everything that’s wrong with modern society. I see the value in it, I can appreciate Fitzgerald’s talent…she has an absolutely beautiful voice and the arrangements are wonderful. In short bursts, it’s kind of enjoyable to me. After about 10 songs, though, it becomes torturous. Is it a bad record because of that? No, certainly not. I’m not anywhere near that narcissistic. This just isn’t for me. I wish I could like music like this, I wish I could see what other people see in it. I wish I could put this on, have a cup of coffee and do the Sunday NYT crossword puzzle without my skeleton attempting to separate from my flesh. I did learn one thing listening to this record, though. The “po-tay-to / po-tah-to” song was written by Gershwin…Saving that in the old memory bank for trivia night. Because I made no attempt to finish this collection, I’m defaulting to site consensus on this. The site ranks it a 3.62, so I’ll give it a 3.

It's nice. I mean, it's great. It's Ella Fitzgerald. It's lovely. It's proficient, adept, and sets the mood. It's fantastic background music. Maybe that's the point, you take your mistress to a lounge, eat some steak, and grab her thigh while the music tries to be as unobtrusive as possible. Not sure what to rate it.

Get's a bit fuckin tiresome this pretty quickly doesn't it?

There's just something transcendental about Ella Fitzgerald and her voice. It's music that captures a place, a feeling, an entirely different time period. So beautiful.

I was unsure about how good three hours of music by one composer and for one voice could be. Add to that my appreciation for this era of music but general distrust of magical language about artistic periods. Well, I was utterly wrong. There's something special here, some kind of everyday magic. And now I have a standard for comparing vocals to bells.

Man, how do you begin to appraise this. It's 3 hours long, for starters. It also represents multiple huge bodies of work (i.e. Ella Fitzgerald's, but the Gershwin bros' too). I've got the 1990 Verve edition, which crams it onto 3 CDs... but even then, this is not a regular triple-album. It's a monolith. Maybe I'm an idiot, because I always vaguely thought this was an anthology collecting some previous Gershwin records by Fitzgerald. But in this case, the collection is the original. It was a 5 LP boxset release. The deluxe version originally cost $100, which is something like $900 in today's money. I'm now even more impressed, at the ambition of the project, and the fact that there was no compromise on quality at this scale. When you consider that Fitzgerald had multiple other albums released in 1959 and 1960, the whole thing is fucking insane. Unlike some of those other albums, I don't think the idea here was "here is Ella's rendition of some famous songs", but rather "here are the definitive versions of a modern canon". And it achieves that aim completely. Anyhow, the songs are gorgeous, and they suit Fitzgerald's voice amazingly. This is Ella at her best, showcasing the Gershwins in their best light. To me, the quality of the music is beyond reproach. On the other hand, there's no getting away from the fact that it's not an album in the contemporary sense, and it makes for a weird listening experience. It would be more enjoyable to just listen to the 15 best tracks, but that's not really the point, since this is deliberately a monolithic document. Do you listen to individual tracks, or sit through 3 hours straight? Or do you recreate the original 5 LPs, and do one at a time? It doesn't ultimately matter, because it's perfection however you play it. So, not really an album... but rated as an album? 5/5. And as a seminal document of American music, and an essential touchstone of twentieth-century culture? 5/5. It's kinda stupid to say a celebrated recording is underrated - but this is underrated... in that it's one of the most important set of recordings ever made, and the discussion it receives in most quarters isn't equal to its sheer skill, beauty, scale, ambition, and contribution to culture.

Ella’s voice is timeless, and this was just a warmly voiced album to have on during winter.

This was a lovely album to listen to on a Monday morning... But then I ran out of morning.

Ella Fitzgerald is simply the best. I didn't listen to the full 3-hour version, but the Best Of album gave me the highlights. I'm going to imagine myself in a classic film with this playing in the background now.

NOTE: You can listen to the Very Best of the Gershwin Songbook which is only 45 minutes! I do wish there were more 'very best of' albums on here, but I see why that's difficult for some artists v others. With that said, Ella is really a timeless voice, with such a sense of melody, rhythm, and jazz (her scat singing is really something else). Not much else to say asides from this being well deserving of a spot on this list.

Ella's voice is enchanting, and the songs compliment her voice beautifully. This album felt like a comfy dream that I didn't want to wake up from. Will definitely be listening to this album again.

One of the greatest voices of the 20th century singing songs by one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. There's really nothing to dislike here. Not a damn thing.

Billie Holiday is a little too glissando for me, generally, but Ella… Ella… Ms. Fitzgerald always gets it right for me. Stunning. 5 stars every single day and twice on Sundays. Thank you ma’am. Soulful and warm, or playful and coquettish, Ella nails it. Not to mention a natural gift for rhythm and scat-singing (she basically invented it. That’s reductive perhaps, but it may as well be true)

Led by Ella's beautiful voice, exquisite musicianship and enduring lyrics partner to create a captivating one-of-a-kind experience!

Coming straight after a 2 hour album that I could not finish (that country one) comes this 3 hour long gem. Sadly I could not find the time to listen to it in one sit so I had to do it across three days but damn this is listenable, how great and full of amazing moments this is. At many points I found myself thinking "damn I need this on vinyl". It's all about the production, it’s all about the treatment and respect for the performer, Ella is outstanding and the producers let her flourish. Remember that Tina Turner record that with the hideous production? Well, they could have use listening to this to learn how to extol the performer. No need to say I really loved this one.

Ella is great, and I love the big band and crooner oldies, but this Gershwin covers album didn't do much for me. Tried 3x. Pretty boring record.

Absolutely beautiful in every way. Immediately blended into the background. Floated around the room and harmonized with the hum of a small in-wall heater, struggling against the cold morning air. C

One of the greatest 20th century vocalists, performing the best songs by one of the greatest songwriting teams of the 20th century arranged by one of the greatest bandleaders of the 20th century. Too long? I wish it was four hours long. Hell, bring on the whole Great American Songbook collection.

Ella’s voice is absolutely dessert for the ears, the arrangements are top notch, and you can’t hate on classics from the American Songbook. I had an internal struggle with my desire to rate this a 5. Usually I like albums that are one complete experience; something meant as a one-sitting treat. But this is like a full gallon of premium ice cream. Should I fault it for being larger than it’s pint-sized cousins simply because it won’t fit into one bowl? For this album, I don’t think so. “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” is still a trash song though and I stand by that lol.

Benjamin

Well I’m a huge fan of Ella now. Solid album from top to bottom.

Exactly the kind of album I would not have listened to for much of my life and is the benefit of this exercise. Big band / jazz singing was something I really didn't appreciate (like) growing up so this is a relatively new genre for me... ...but who hasn't heard of Ella Fitzgerald? I think the thing I appreciate most right way is how good this sounds - 1959?? Getting a full orchestra sounding this good and clear while blending with Ella's perfect voice had to be a crazy challenge. I'm usually more turned off than on by singing but her voice is truly perfect - there's a clarity and casual vibe to the way she sang that could probably never be taught - how do you learn to lay back on the beat like this and yet nail it so perfectly? It would be an insult to call her singing effortless but therein lies the genius talent I suppose, that she sounds like she could have been told "Ella! quick, sing this song" and she would have cut it on a first take then been on her way. And perhaps that casual-yet-perfect delivery is the reason that millions of people thought/think they could sing like her. (where's my mother-in-law...? ha) Now... the entire album is 3 hours long. Hello. Wayy too much. Then again, where am I gonna go - I'm listening on work time and this is actually perfect working music. I'm not focused on lyrics so it's more the entire sound that washes over me in a much more enjoyable way than I'd have thought... as a negative, on the rare occasion that I do end up hearing the lyrics they're a bit...goofy? I don't like it much at all - but it's the era, I get that, so I'll not knock Gershwin - just grading on Ella and the band here. Not really a genre I love but this is one of the most famous and celebrated singers in American history; for those like me it's a necessary education/addition to the list and has been an excellent listen. I feel like I'm giving this a bit of a legacy rating - even though I'm unlikely to listen to the album again, I enjoyed it more than I expected (again not grading the lyrics so much which for me are best-ignored) and to get by the mammoth running time of this I could see making a (much) shorter "best of" this best of for a personal compilation. 7/10 4 stars

Another example of something I acknowledge is great and performed well, but is simply not my style. I can appreciate the talent here, though. Her voice is wonderful and the songs are pleasant.

There's technically nothing wrong with this album, but it didn't interest me at all. It's good background noise for movies and bars/restaurants, or even for classy house parties, but not enough to desire a listen by itself. I will give it props for making smooth music and Fitzgerald's vocals was pleasant.

Als je 3,5 uur naar een album kan luisteren zonder er zat van te zijn moet je het wel 5 geven.

In for a penny, in for a pound. Spending 3 hours with Ella is no hardship. Listening to this reminds me of being with my Grandma. Luckily I got this album on a Saturday and I'm able to relax with coffee. This is an outstanding collection of tunes. The Gershwin brothers knew how to write a tune.

Three hours of great songs by a great singer.

One of if not the greatest voices of the 20th Century singing songs by one of if not the greatest song writers of the 20th Century. This is the sound of pure genius. Yes, it is over 3 hours long but there is a 45 minute best of version. And despite this, even if you only listen to 45 minutes, you are still listening to 45 minutes worth of genius! Sometimes it is impossible to quantify genius. But I will give it a go. If you give this anything less than 5 stars then you need to give your head a wobble boomer!

Oh man. I love Ella. I'm old enough that I got to see her in concert when I was young. She melts and revives my craggy dead heart. I've had the big red-box "Songbooks" cd box set, with the LP-replica sleeves, for many years. I hope folks who haven't heard this, or Ella, come to appreciate her. What a treat. Of course, this PARTICULAR set is daunting, a 3-record 59-song set is a lot to take in. It starts with an obscurity and then gets right to an all-time classic Fitzgerald take on an all-time classic Gershwin tune, "But Not For Me." My god. The way she treats the melodies with reverence, yet by the last verse is giving them her own "sounds like it was always that way" interpretations, and makes it sound so effortless, I just can't stand it. If you're not into "the standards", you'd probably be better off with a cross-section of maybe 8 tracks from this collection. "S Wonderful", "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "But Not For Me", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Lady Be Good" and so many others are the tunes that Sinatra and every other jazz singer has sung... but hard to match Ella's take on these. One reviewer I saw gave this 1 stars, claiming it is a "compilation". I can see that. Verve released Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4 of these recordings ALL in 1959, and the cd box set compiled all of those, and that's what we get here. It's not a cross-section or retrospective of her career, like the reviewer was complaining he didn't get from a different artist. Regardless, I could randomly take any 10 songs from this group and it would get at least 4 stars, the quality is so consistently good, of Ella's voice, interpretation, the Riddle arrangements, and of course the songs themselves. Someone else described it as "three hours of old music". Others say "proficient", "background music" (and "background noise"), "Disney music", "unobtrusive", "boring", "tiresome". Look, it's idiotic to force-feed yourself 3+ hours of music in one sitting, and even more idiotic to tell the world how you didn't like it. But I guess that's the brainpower that about 25% of the people taking this journey have. The makers of this site and book are not going to boot you off the list if you take 3 days to listen to a record. It's "one album a day", this is 3+ albums. So, chill out a little bit, folks. Music is fun, not an endurance test. Regardless, I would have preferred the makers of this list choose a different record. I prefer the Rogers & Hart song book, but even that is a double album. For brevity there's "Ella & Louis" with Louis Armstrong... or "Ella Swings Lightly"... or a live record like "At the Opera House" or "in Berlin". "Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie" is pretty fantastic too. And more. Any of these would have at least winnowed out the "it's toooo loooong" complainers. I've not deducted any stars because something is too long so far and I'm not going to start now. In the vocal jazz genre, this is a classic. Just take it one record at a time. :)

A top-five vocalist of the twentieth century: stably inventive, focused and uncrowded, tho perfectly full, somehow dry w/o drying out, emotive w/o being lachrymose, and a technical mastery that's formidably faultless. She is, simply put, one of only so many crucial artists of her time, and any time.

I could listen to her any time anyplace and all day.

an absolutely breathtaking album that is perfect for the workday. Just so beautiful and fun

I mean, how much do I need to write? It’s Ella. It’s the Gershwin songbook. What more could you ask for out of a vocal jazz album? This was wonderful. And especially refreshing after listening to John Zorn yesterday. She truly is one of the greats. It’s so easy to just feel immersed in her work. The emotion conveyed through her voice, the control she has over it. It’s wonderful and impressive. Just a lovely time. Really cannot recommend it enough. Five stars. Standout tracks: I Got Rhythm, The Man I Love, Love is Here to Stay, A Foggy Day, Someone to Watch Over Me, Fascinating Rhythm, They Can’t Take That Away From Me Side note: in reading other reviews before posting mine, I see that there’s a version of this that is 3+ hours. Yeah, will not be seeking that out, thanks. The link led me to “The Very Best of,” that’s the album cover on the website, so that’s what I listened to.

I’m biased, I love playing Gershwin on piano and having Ella Fitzgerald sing to all of these songs I already knew makes the music even better

As an album, this is far too long. As an artifact, an archival source, it may be essential. Only a few of the songs captured me in what was inevitably a distracted playthrough, but Fitzgerald’s delivery is consistently divine and the psychological insight of the material is revealing and comforting: the underlying social and existential anxiety, the sense of a disquieted era, calls to our own. It’s an uncanny artifact, as the songs were old, popular nostalgia when recorded, already out of time, sold as such.

I'm of the firm belief that Ella Fitzgerald has one of the most perfect voices in the history of popular music. It's round, luscious, vibrant, and above all else, warm and welcoming. Her melodic patterns are instantly recognizable and easy to fall into and trace along with. The moments on this album where the backing Big Band breaks through these mixes to lightly contrast Fitzgerald's vocals (like on the song 'I Can't Be Bothered Now') are undeniably visceral. There's subtle variety in the instrumentation here; primarily in the many ways they're used to complement the lead vocals. The Gershwin brothers are notably talented songwriters, with a majority of these songs being charmingly witty and quaint takes on the ideas of hopeless, driven, or contemplative love. There are some truly great moments on this album, like the rhumba and flute-driven musical interlude in the aptly named 'Just Another Rhumba' that eventually transforms into this wall of horns. Or the serene strings driving the slower 'Embraceable You' and a lot of the other slower songs here. I also love the scat singing (something I admittedly wish Ella did more of on this album) on 'I Got Rhythm' which is maybe my favorite song here. The final classical-influenced instrumental disc here elegantly closes this odyssean album. When I listen to these super old albums, they either sound irritatingly antiquated or they successfully take me back to their time. This album undeniably facilitates the latter effect; one that is only amplified by the clean mix that gives each element of this album adequate space to flourish. Considering its length, it's a feat that this much good music exists here (not even considering Fitzgerald covers the entire American Songbook throughout the rest of this saga). It just seem like there's an endless stream of ideas and talent on display on this consistent monster of a vocal jazz record. It's hard to tackle specific songs here but within this giant tracklist, my favorites are 'Let's Call The Whole Thing Off', ‘By Strauss, ‘The Real American Folk Song’, 'Boy Wanted', ‘Of Thee I Sing’, 'Slap That Bass', 'Embraceable You', 'Oh So Nice', and 'I Got Rhythm'.

Butter.

No words to describe this voice

The songs on this album are great for lounge/ background music. It transports one to a place of stillness and calm. Its like a warm blanket on a cold day

This music makes me feel like im about to tell the woman I love to get on a plane to help fight the nazis. The version in the book though is a 3 hour long boxset As much as I enjoyed this, 3 hours is way too much, so my rating is for whats linked to spotify rather than whats in the book

5* for the voice; 3* for the songs; 2* for the length. I kept hoping for ones I knew, then realized the ones I expected were all written by Cole Porter or Irving Berlin instead. Maybe Gershwin peaked with "Rhapsody In Blue"? Regardless, it was a slog but infinitely more enjoyable than The Magnetic Fields monstrosity. Can't wait for the inevitable AI-generated Ariana Grande sings the complete work of the Sleaford Mods

You give me two 17 minute albums in a row and when I complain about it you give me a 3 hour 15 minute monstrosity, I see you 1001albumsgenerator. Very very good voice but it’s not really doing anything for me

Oh, so The Beatles in Mono box set is also an album? Whatever, Bob.

Ok. So yes, Ella Fitzgerald was amazing. This album has an amazing cover. 3+ hours of anyone singing Gershwin songs is decidedly less amazing. And also - it's cheating to have this album on the list anyway. Might as well include any number of 'best ofs' if we allow this one. And is this the longest album on the list? I decided when I started this project that I would listen to all the albums all the way through and at least give every song a chance before skipping them as a last resort. I never thought that the album that would try my patience the most (so far...) would be Ella Fitzgerald. It's not that I don't like it, it's just too long. And this kind of vocal jazz is just not that interesting to me. I think that unless Ella Fitzgerald is like your top favorite of all time, most people will probably be bored of this after the first 10 songs max. So I don't really know how to rate this one and am going to just give up and call it 2.5/5.

Made it! Yay for Ella. Nay for 3 hour albums.

I enjoyed the more upbeat ones of this album, found some of the slow ones a little dull but perhaps you have to be in the mood for this. I listened to this first thing on my birthday having just had my train cancelled and having to get a bus instead. I appreciated what this is though and enjoyed the strings

Disney music. Very good and very well done but my brain can really only hear it as disney music

Buenísimo. Parece que el link con YouTube music envía a un álbum extendido, tenía 59 canciones...demasiado.

Very pleasant, swingin' old timey dinner party music. Reminds me of my grandma, in a nice way. I like and know several of these songs from my own choir days. But this doesn't need to be 3 hours long, pretty repetitive after a while. I probably only made it about halfway through. Ella is a wonderful singer and I'd be happy to listen to her music, but since I'm rating the album, unfortunately I'm knocking this down to a 2.4/5

Would have been 3-4 if it would have ended after about an 1/3 of the time...

Nr. 121/1001 I Got Rhythmus 4/5 Oh Lady Be Good 3/5 Nice Work If You Can Get It 4/5 The Man I Love 3/5 Love Is Here To Stay 3/5 But Not For Me 3/5 A Foggy Day 4/5 Someone To Watch Over Me 2/5 Fascinating Rhythm 3/5 Embraceable You 3/5 They Can't Take That Away From Me 3/5 'S Wonderful 3/5 Average: 2,17 I accidently listened to the "Very Best" Album by accident, which is only 30 minutes long. Only afterwards did I discover that the actual album is over 3 hours long. Since I already felt some diversity lacking, I'm going to deduct a point since I didn't listen to the whole album.

Music can be enjoyed socially or alone. Although music not in season will struggle greatly to be enjoyed socially. I could see this going hard at a ball but in this day and age it’s just unlikely. Certainly won’t be enjoyed alone either until it’s in a post nuclear wasteland wether virtually or in reality. Also song names aren’t very creative.

I only listened to the "Very Best Of The Gershwin Songbook", because that's where this site links and because I'd rather eat a full family-sized bag of unseasoned dicks than listen to jazz for 3 hours. (Note: If you want the full version, search for "Ella Fitgerald Sings The George and Ira Gershwin Song Book" on Spotify) Alright, first of all, why is a box set on this list? This is essentially just a compilation and those are supposed to be excluded, right? I'm very glad I decided to listen to the abridged version, because even the "best hits" started getting old 5 songs in. Listening to 59(!!!) variations of "woman crooning about how she's sad while Tom & Jerry background music is playing" would have been my Tantalus punishment.

The Greschwin's music is incredibly iconic to a whole generation of people but unfortunately 1920's and 30's music like this hasn't aged particularly well. Everything from the sentiment to the references to the music itself just screams old fashioned and outdated. Which is a shame because there is obviously a lot of skill that went into writing these songs and Ella Fitzgerald does a find job performing these. But I just cant get into them. I'm chalking this one down as a "not for me".

The first song was pretty good, but it got worse. It is definitely not bad, in fact the singing is very beautiful, but it's just not my cup of tea. Truthfully, it feels outdated.

Absolut nicht mein Genre. Als Nächstes kommen dann Bach, Beethoven und Tschaikowski. Oder Hörbücher?

I made it to track four, "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off", and I happily obliged. 👎👎

Im not sure if you have to be a fan of Ella Fitzgerald or George Gershwin, I’m guessing it’s the latter. I now know that I am not.

I mean, that voice.

Ella is amazing what can I say. This is one of the songbook she did for several songwriters. Picking up all 3 versions of this record releases. I want to see if the quality stays the same, worse or better. If you love Ella you will this.

I listened to all 3 hours of this, it was very nice

Luckily, i realized i could listen to Ella Fitzgerald sing the phooey book for three + hours

6 DISCS???? THE FUCK?!?!? Also I mean, its Ella Fitzgerald. She's fucking amazing. There is really nothing much to say that hasn't been said before. She's one of the queens of jazz, her voice is beyond iconic and as a jazz fan, I just adore her. FR tho, I kind of hate the album art. It's so fucking ugly

Отличный альбом, Элла в любой момент создаст атмосферу своим голосом и музыкой.

Perfect renditions of classic songs. A record for your entire life

I wasn’t excited to get a 3+ hour album, especially since I’ve been behind on my albums. The day I went to start this was the day after my cat died. The apathy allowed me to think I could do three hours, what does it matter? And I am SO glad I did. This is a beautiful album, and Ella’s voice was like a warm hug while I was struggling through the worst of my grief. I am grateful I heard this when I did. Another gift given by the generator. I was irritated at the top review calling people who enjoy this album “spineless”, but I see they’re a Bob Dylan fan and I’ll agree it takes more bravery to listen to that man sing.

just the most classic beautiful shit in the world. one of the most amazing voices to ever walk the earth, putting her indelible mark on some of the most timeless songs ever composed. perfect work.

This was pretty long! High quality musicianship and top level songwriting.

This is a beautiful record, and even though it's not the sort of thing I'd listen to with any frequency, I can totally appreciate the quality and elegance.

Gee I've been in the yard listening to Ella for a long time today. Is it repeating? No? Oh I'm only on disc 4 of 6!? Might as well hear the whole thing, we've come this far. .

A perfect Sunday afternoon listen

As many of you have noted, this is a difficult assignment not least because of its length, spread out across the equivalent of four discs worth of music. It's also a weird fit stylistically with the typical fare of this project. Nearly 3/4 of the way through it, I can confidently say that this is no better or worse than any of Ella Fitzgerald's recordings tackling the Great American Songbook composers. I own copies of Ella singing the Cole Porter songbook and the Rodgers and Hart LP, and honestly, pick any of 'em, they're all great (and yet, this is the only album cover of the three that eschews an image of the singer for one of a white woman's face, WTF). Ella Fitzgerald has a voice like a bell on a clear, cold winter night. What a treasure.

Awesome sound quality and clarity. Surprised to hear this quality from a record from 1959. Her voice is perfect, it blends with the orchestra in a natural way, her timing is tranquil and gets perfectly with the instrumentation. The tone is soft and pleasant. She sounds like the ideal of what a singer should be. The songs flow with so much cool rhythm. 5 stars.

The girders of the 20th century.

Fascinating Rhythm is a great song I'd never heard before. But a lot of these are wonderful. They have that hypnotic quality of voice. Great album, if long, but you feel like you emerged from a flashback trance from decades ago.

Tres horas y media de éxtasis musical. Si tener a Fitzgerald, a Ira y a George Gershwin juntos no le mejora la vida a quien sea que lo escuche, no se para qué estamos en este mundo.

You definitely shouldn't try and listen to this all in one go, but if you were to pick out 10 or 20 songs at a time you would be in for a real treat. Ella's voice is spectacular, and the arrangements are glorious. Happy to give this a 5, despite the length. It should really be considered a compilation over a an album though.

Not to say I love this act, but I cannot imagine it being better in any way. A bit (very) long, but great delivery.

Ella Fitzgerald's *The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook* is a monumental work in the history of jazz and popular music. Released in 1959 and spanning over three hours, this album features 59 tracks that showcase Fitzgerald's unmatched vocal ability, Nelson Riddle's lush orchestral arrangements, and the timeless compositions of George and Ira Gershwin. Below is an in-depth review focusing on the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics The lyrics, penned by Ira Gershwin, are a masterclass in wit, sophistication, and emotional depth. Tracks like *'S Wonderful* highlight Ira's playful wordplay, with clipped syllables and clever rhymes that perfectly capture the euphoria of love[1]. On the other hand, ballads such as *The Man I Love* delve into themes of longing and vulnerability. Ira's lyrics often balance humor with poignancy, offering a nuanced exploration of human emotions. Ella Fitzgerald's delivery elevates these lyrics to new heights. Her crystal-clear diction ensures that every word is heard and felt. For instance, her rendition of *Someone to Watch Over Me* captures the yearning embedded in Ira's words with a tenderness that feels deeply personal[1][3]. --- ## Music George Gershwin's compositions are the backbone of this album. His melodies blend classical influences with jazz and Broadway sensibilities, creating a rich musical tapestry. Songs like *I Got Rhythm* are rhythmically dynamic and brimming with energy, while others like *But Not for Me* feature lush harmonies that evoke melancholy[3][4]. Nelson Riddle's arrangements are equally noteworthy. His orchestral textures provide a grand yet intimate backdrop for Ella's vocals. The big band swing arrangements on tracks like *Slap That Bass* are lively and infectious, while his more subdued orchestrations on ballads like *He Loves and She Loves* allow Ella's voice to take center stage[1][6]. The instrumental preludes, such as the "Ambulatory Suite," showcase Riddle's ability to interpret Gershwin's compositions with both reverence and creativity[4]. --- ## Production The album was produced by Norman Granz under Verve Records, a label he founded specifically to showcase Ella Fitzgerald's talent. The recording quality is exceptional for its time, with a balanced soundstage that highlights both Ella's voice and the orchestra. However, some critics have noted occasional "darker" tonal qualities in Ella's voice on certain tracks[2]. Additionally, while most songs are impeccably recorded, a few exhibit minor background noise—a limitation of the analogue recording process of the era[2]. The accompanying booklet is another highlight. It provides detailed information about the Gershwin brothers' lives and their compositions, enriching the listener's experience. However, some have criticized it for not offering a more traditional narrative about Gershwin's career[2]. --- ## Themes The album explores a wide range of themes central to the human experience: - **Love and Romance**: Tracks like *'S Wonderful* and *The Man I Love* celebrate love in all its forms—joyful, hopeful, and unrequited. - **Optimism vs. Cynicism**: Songs such as *They All Laughed* juxtapose lighthearted humor with deeper reflections on societal norms. - **Dreams and Aspirations**: Tracks like *Who Cares?* embody the resilience required to pursue one's dreams despite life's challenges. Ella Fitzgerald brings these themes to life through her emotive interpretations. Her ability to shift seamlessly between playful exuberance and heartfelt melancholy adds depth to each track[1][3]. --- ## Influence This album is often considered one of the definitive collections of the Great American Songbook. It solidified Ella Fitzgerald's reputation as one of the greatest interpreters of popular song in history. The project also elevated George and Ira Gershwin’s work to iconic status within American music. Ella’s renditions became benchmarks for future artists tackling these songs. For example, her version of *But Not for Me* won a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance (Female) in 1960[3]. Moreover, Nelson Riddle’s arrangements influenced subsequent orchestral jazz recordings. The album’s influence extends beyond music; it serves as a cultural artifact that captures mid-20th-century American artistry at its peak. --- ## Pros 1. **Ella Fitzgerald’s Vocal Performance**: Her voice is versatile, expressive, and technically flawless throughout all 59 tracks. 2. **Timeless Compositions**: The Gershwins’ songs remain some of the most beloved in American music. 3. **Nelson Riddle’s Arrangements**: His orchestrations are lush yet never overpower Ella’s vocals. 4. **Cohesive Production**: Norman Granz’s vision results in an album that feels both ambitious and cohesive. 5. **Cultural Significance**: The album serves as an enduring testament to the brilliance of both Ella Fitzgerald and the Gershwins. --- ## Cons 1. **Length**: At over three hours long, the album can feel overwhelming for casual listeners[4][5]. 2. **Occasional Overproduction**: Some critics have argued that Riddle’s arrangements occasionally compete with Ella’s vocals rather than complementing them[5]. 3. **Uneven Recording Quality**: While generally excellent, a few tracks suffer from minor background noise or tonal inconsistencies[2]. 4. **Accessibility**: The sheer volume of material might deter listeners unfamiliar with jazz or the Great American Songbook. --- ## Conclusion Ella Fitzgerald’s *The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook* is an unparalleled achievement in vocal jazz and popular music. It showcases Ella at her artistic peak while celebrating the genius of George and Ira Gershwin through Nelson Riddle’s masterful arrangements. While its length may be daunting for some listeners, those who invest their time will be rewarded with a treasure trove of musical brilliance. This album is not just a collection of songs—it is a cultural milestone that continues to inspire musicians and listeners alike decades after its release. For anyone interested in jazz or American popular music history, this album is essential listening—truly 'S Wonderful!

Pre-listening thoughts: now why did yall give me the 3 hr album as soon as I'm done being sick and have to go back to work 🤨??? Post/during listening thoughts: I originally wrote a complaint about how long this was. When I started it, I wanted to hate how long it was. I was so prepared to be sick of it by the end. But my god. Ella Fitzgerald you are a virtuoso. There is magic in her voice. I could listen to this woman sing for 8 hours. This gets a 5 star rating not because I would turn this on all the time and listen to all 3 hours every time, but because i could hit shuffle on this and be just pleasantly satisfied listening to any array of these tracks for as long or short as I want. And you can listen to the Best Of version but you are missing out on some gems!!! Brb gonna go listen to the Rodgers and Hart songbook cause this was a 9.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: yes. Fav tracks: let’s call the whole thing off, oh lady be good, by Strauss, they all laughed, my cousin in Milwaukee, stiff upper lip, strike up the band, I’ve got a crush on you, Bidin my time, treat me rough Least fav tracks: did not dislike any of this. Too many mentions of Christopher Columbus tho. And take or leave the instrumentals.

Love this - so easy to listen to and Ella's amazing voice just brightens up everything

"When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. Being and non-being create each other. Difficult and easy support each other. Long and short define each other. High and low depend on each other. Before and after follow each other." Her voice sets a high bar. She created some bad singers when she set that bar. This is the audio equivalent of a curated art exhibition. The production is outstanding.

Приятное

Incredible survey of the genre

Sheer class. Opted for the best of version but would definitely dip into the full version at leisure. Amazing how many songs you just know.

I only listened to the highlights

Lovely music

The best.

The Greatest Singer singing the Greatest Songbook.

Wow a three hour album. Before starting that felt intimidating but I found this album was a great escape for me during a rough day. I can't say I'd ever go out of my way to listen to this in its entirety again but I will still give it 5 stars.

A few things for this album: 1. Its an outstanding album. Vocals are pristine, composition is flawless. 2. It goes on for DAYS. 3. Does it deserve to be on this list? Well, it definitely deserves it more than a bunch of the other brit-pop bullshit that I've had to wade through to make it to here. 5/5

Fantastic

Great voice for this songwriter

lovely voice, paired with Gershwin is a treat

A whole lotta Ella. The music was great, but for me to properly appreciate 62 cuts in two days was a bit much. Fantastic musicianship all around though.

I balked a bit when I saw it was a 6 CD box set, but the time flew by. This was great

Three hours of music is a lot for one day, but I do love Ella. I can say I listened through the entirety of this songbook - how active I was listening is another story. It was a great collection to be on in the background while I worked.

A classic.