Ella Fitzgerald "Early Years" ...

[neveronfriday]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some recommendations.

a) I want to stock up on my Ella Fitzgerald stuff and want to start with her early years with Chick Webb and later her Savoy Eight. Am I right in assuming that the two Verve double CDs are the way to go? Or are there other and or/ better-sounding editions?

b) Next to the Verve Songbooks, are there one or two other recordings you can recommend (f. ex. with Flanagan, or whomever)?

Thanks for your help.

Cheers!

[ghost of miles]

Deus, I vote for the double Deccas--managed to land the 4-CD box through BMG for a song (so to speak) a couple of years ago. I have the Hep Webb CD STRICTLY JIVE, but Ella's on only a few cuts; I got it partly to pick up some of the non-Ella instrumental material (such a great band that sometimes gets lost, IMO, in the shadow of Ella's vocals). I think the Decca EARLY YEARS box sounds just a tad better than the Ella sides on the Hep.

One of my favorite non-SONGBOOK Ellas is the duets album with Ellis Larkin, though I'm not sure if it's been re-issued outside of the other Decca Ella box (the big gold one). I also recently got a copy of ELLA AT JUAN-LES-PINS and have been enjoying that a great deal. (She's backed by Flanagan and Roy Eldridge there.) There's also MACK THE KNIFE/ELLA IN BERLIN.

Edited February 19, 2005 by ghost of miles

[neveronfriday]

Deus, I vote for the double Deccas--managed to land the 4-CD box through BMG for a song (so to speak) a couple of years ago. I have the Hep Webb CD STRICTLY JIVE, but Ella's on only a few cuts; I got it partly to pick up some of the non-Ella instrumental material (such a great band that sometimes gets lost, IMO, in the shadow of Ella's vocals). I think the Decca EARLY YEARS box sounds just a tad better than the Ella sides on the Hep.

One of my favorite non-SONGBOOK Ellas is the duets album with Ellis Larkin, though I'm not sure if it's been re-issued outside of the other Decca Ella box (the big gold one). I also recently got a copy of ELLA AT JUAN-LES-PINS and have been enjoying that a great deal. (She's backed by Flanagan and Roy Eldridge there.) There's also MACK THE KNIFE/ELLA IN BERLIN.

I've been on the lookout for that gold one. I know it's available from amazon.com, but German customs have really taken the fun out of ordering which I used to do for many years - now I've virtually stopped.

I'll keep looking, though.

ELLA AT JUAN-LES-PINS I have.

Cheers, and thanks!

[brownie]

One of my favorite non-SONGBOOK Ellas is the duets album with Ellis Larkin, though I'm not sure if it's been re-issued outside of the other Decca Ella box (the big gold one).

I have this on a US MCA/GRP disc 'Pure Ella'. This has the full 'Ella Sings Gershwin' album plus 12 more standards with Ella backed by Ellis Larkins.

I am no big fan of Ella but I love that CD!

Edited February 19, 2005 by brownie

[jazzbo]

Juke Box Ella two cd set is a great one to have, as well as her collaborations with Ellington: the Songbook albums, the Ella at Duke's Place, and all the Juan-les-Pins stuff . . . !

I also really like the two cd set on GRP/Decca "The War Years."

[neveronfriday]

Thanks for the recommendations.

Time to go shopping.

[EKE BBB]

I have this on a US MCA/GRP disc 'Pure Ella'. This has the full 'Ella Sings Gershwin' album plus 12 more standards with Ella backed by Ellis Larkins.

I am no big fan of Ella but I love that CD!

Hey, I AM a big fan of Ella, and I also love that CD!

[king ubu]

not exactly early Ella, but I *love* this one!

"Whisper Not" is... oh, just wait for my BFT...

ubu