Ella Sings Broadway
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''Ella Sings Broadway'' is a 1963 (see
1963 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1963. Specific locations * 1963 in British music * 1963 in Norwegian music Specific genres * 1963 in country music * 1963 in jazz Events * January 3 – The Beatles begi ...
) studio album (recorded during three sessions in Los Angeles, October 3, 4 & 9, 1962) by the American
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
singer
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...
, with an orchestra arranged and conducted by
Frank DeVol Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Cu ...
. Shortly before the sessions for '' Ella Sings Broadway, '' Ella had recorded two singles with
Marty Paich Martin Louis Paich (January 23, 1925 – August 12, 1995) was an American pianist, composer, arranger, record producer, music director, and conductor. As a musician and arranger he worked with jazz musicians Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Kento ...
, the
Antonio Carlos Jobim Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular ma ...
song '
Desafinado "Desafinado" (a Portuguese word, usually rendered into English as "Out of Tune", or as "Off Key") is a 1959 bossa nova song and jazz standard composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim with lyrics (in Portuguese) by Newton Mendonça. Background "Desafin ...
' and a Bossa Nova version of the jazz standard ' Stardust' (Los Angeles, October 1, 1962). This prompted many Ella Fitzgerald fans and scholars to conclude that these sessions were also led by Paich (the Verve-issued album does not credit an arranger). However, the original scores and parts exist in Ella Fitzgerald's library and it was determined that all the music was arranged by Frank DeVol. In fact, DeVol had previously worked with Ella Fitzgerald having written arrangements for Hello Love (1957), Get Happy (1957), Live Someone in Love (1957), Ella Sings Sweet Songs For Swingers (1958), and Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas (1960). This album is a musical departure for Ella in many senses. As the author David Hajdu comments in his liner notes for the 2001 reissue of '' Ella Sings Broadway '', virtually every important singer of standards had recorded an album of musical-theatre songs,
Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and ...
with '' My Kind of Broadway'' and '' The Concert Sinatra'' (an album often mistaken for a live recording), Sarah Vaughan with '' Great Songs From Hit Shows '' and Doris Day with '' Show Time ''.Sleeve notes; CD re-issue 2001 ''Ella Sings Broadway'' issued on Verve 549 373-2. (Notes by David Hajdu) These singers, especially Sinatra and Fitzgerald, had acquired a reputation of being consummate performers of the
Great American Songbook The Great American Songbook is the loosely defined canon of significant early-20th-century American jazz standards, popular songs, and show tunes. Definition According to the Great American Songbook Foundation: The "Great American Songbook" i ...
, a songbook which by and large had been written before the outbreak of the
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, and which had been aped in its popularity with youth by
Rock and Roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm a ...
by the time of the
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. With many
George George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presid ...
and Ira Gershwin,
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and
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standards having been written in the 1920s and 1930s, whilst Sinatra and Fitzgerald were growing up. On '' Ella Sings Broadway '', Ella connects with the
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
songs of the previous decade and a half, vastly different in musical terms to the
Great American Songbook The Great American Songbook is the loosely defined canon of significant early-20th-century American jazz standards, popular songs, and show tunes. Definition According to the Great American Songbook Foundation: The "Great American Songbook" i ...
standards from 40 years previously. The twelve songs are from eight musicals, being; * "Warm All Over" and " Somebody Somewhere" from
Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser (; June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals ''Guys and Dolls'' and ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'', among others. He won a Tony ...
's ''
The Most Happy Fella ''The Most Happy Fella'' is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the 1924 play '' They Knew What They Wanted'' by Sidney Howard. The show i ...
'' (1956) * "
If I Were a Bell "If I Were a Bell" is a song composed by Frank Loesser for his 1950 musical ''Guys and Dolls''. Guys and Dolls In the show ''Guys and Dolls'', it is sung by the character Sister Sarah, originally performed by Isabel Bigley on Broadway, and memor ...
" and "Guys and Dolls" from Frank Loesser's ''
Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also bo ...
'' (1950) * " Almost Like Being in Love" from Lerner and Loewe's ''
Brigadoon ''Brigadoon'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. The song " Almost Like Being in Love", from the musical, has become a standard. It features two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, ...
'' (1947) * "
I Could Have Danced All Night "I Could Have Danced All Night" is a song from the musical ''My Fair Lady'', with music written by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner,My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play '' Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons ...
'' (1956) * " No Other Love" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's ''
Me and Juliet ''Me and Juliet'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, and lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The sixth stage collaboration by Rodgers & Hammerstein, it tells a story of romance backstage at a long-running musical: assistant stage ...
'' (1953) * "Dites-Moi" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's '' South Pacific'' (1949) * "Hernando's Hideaway" and "Steam Heat" from Adler and Ross's ''
Pajama Game ''The Pajama Game'' is a musical based on the 1953 novel '' 7½ Cents'' by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. and dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his c ...
'' (1954) * "Whatever Lola Wants" from Adler and Ross's ''
Damn Yankees ''Damn Yankees'' is a 1955 musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., dur ...
'' (1955) Awarded 4 stars by
Down Beat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...
jazz magazine in 1963, the review commented that it was "A perfect complement to Fitzgerald's classic series of 'Song Book' albums".


Track listing

For the 1963 Verve LP release; Verve V6-4059; Re-issued in 2001 on CD, Verve 549 373-2 Side One: #"
Hernando's Hideaway "Hernando's Hideaway" is a tango show tune, largely in long metre, from the musical ''The Pajama Game'', written by Jerry Ross and Richard Adler and published in 1954. It was sung in the stage and film versions of the musical by Carol Haney. The s ...
" (
Richard Adler Richard Adler (August 3, 1921 – June 21, 2012) was an American lyricist, writer, composer and producer of several Broadway shows. Life and career Adler was born in New York City, the son of Elsa Adrienne (née Richard) and Clarence Adler. His ...
, Jerry Ross) – 3:17 #"
If I Were a Bell "If I Were a Bell" is a song composed by Frank Loesser for his 1950 musical ''Guys and Dolls''. Guys and Dolls In the show ''Guys and Dolls'', it is sung by the character Sister Sarah, originally performed by Isabel Bigley on Broadway, and memor ...
" (
Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser (; June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals ''Guys and Dolls'' and ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'', among others. He won a Tony ...
) – 2:22 #"Warm All Over" (Loesser) – 2:46 #" Almost Like Being in Love" ( Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 3:02 #"Dites-Moi" ( Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) – 2:30 #"
I Could Have Danced All Night "I Could Have Danced All Night" is a song from the musical ''My Fair Lady'', with music written by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner,No Other Love" (Rodgers, Hammerstein) – 2:20 #"
Steam Heat "Steam Heat" is a show tune from the 1954 Broadway musical ''The Pajama Game'', written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. "Steam Heat" was one of four songs which Adler and Ross wrote ("within two days, I think" - Adler) and submitted to George A ...
" (Adler, Ross) – 3:27 #"
Whatever Lola Wants "Whatever Lola Wants" is a popular song, sometimes rendered as "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets". The music and words were written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for the 1955 musical play ''Damn Yankees''. The song is sung to Joe Hardy by Lola, ...
" (Adler, Ross) – 3:13 #"
Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also bo ...
" (Loesser) – 2:21 #" Somebody Somewhere" (Loesser) – 3:12


Personnel

Recorded October 3, 4 & 9, 1962 at Capitol Studios, Hollywood,
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
: * Val Valentin - Engineer Tracks 1-12 *
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...
- vocals *
Frank DeVol Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Cu ...
- arranger, conductor Others Unknown.


References

{{Authority control 1963 albums Ella Fitzgerald albums Verve Records albums Albums produced by Norman Granz Albums arranged by Marty Paich Albums conducted by Marty Paich Albums recorded at Capitol Studios