Mrs Big Al wants an Ella Fitzgerald record for Christmas

[Big Al]

What would be a good comp to get? Unlike me, my wife is more of a "greatest hits" listener and content with one album/collection. I'm asking you guys because I overthink everything.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Milestones]

Not sure what's out there with Ella.  I'm sure she recorded plenty of Christmas albums/songs.  I have heard Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas--upbeat and more pop-oriented (even has Frosty" and Rudolph)."  But there is also Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas, which has the traditional carols and features Ella's softer and more spiritual side.  I prefer the latter record.  

Edited November 24, 2023 by Milestones

[rostasi]

I think Mrs. Big Al is looking for an Ella collection in general - not an Xmas collection.

[JSngry]

The Ella/Louis collabs are exquisite and are also packaged in multiple manners.

[Milestones]

Ah, that's a lot of stuff to consider.

I guess Christmas is on my brain, with Thanksgiving (these days) being just a prelude to Christmas.

But let's think about this.  How often did Ella produce anything second-rate?

 

[rostasi]

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books

(I mention this, so that you can get an overall view of the individual albums.
Next step: Are there songs that she might, on occasion, whistle or sing
around the house that may be some classic ones that Ella sings?)

Edited November 24, 2023 by rostasi

[Milestones]

The "Song Book" records would be a good choice, especially Porter and Gershwin....thinking the same!  😀

Edited November 24, 2023 by Milestones

[Dan Gould]

15 minutes ago, JSngry said:

The Ella/Louis collabs are exquisite and are also packaged in multiple manners.

This is the pinnacle for me with Ella.

[jazzcorner]

Real swinging you into X-mas

[jlhoots]

Off topic - BUT the new Samara Joy Christmas album is pretty good.

[mikeweil]

Ella's Christmas album is really good, but my favourite is this, and not included in most compilations:

[felser]

Count me in as another supporter of the Song Books idea.  Can't go wrong with any configuration of any of that material.

[Stompin at the Savoy]

 

[Big Beat Steve]

Not sure if this hits the spot for Mrs Big Al, but the below one seems to be an all-time favorite out there:

https://www.discogs.com/master/123332-Ella-Fitzgerald-Mack-The-Knife-Ella-In-Berlin

 

Edited November 26, 2023 by Big Beat Steve

[Kevin Bresnahan]

If CD is OK, I've heard that the 3 "The Best Of The Songbooks" are good compilations. They are available individually or in a box.

 

BTW - that Amazon link shows several used copies of this 3 CD set for under $10 if Mrs. Big Al is OK with getting used CDs.

Edited November 26, 2023 by bresna

[Brad]

The new one from the Verve Acoustic Sounds series is supposed to be very good.