''Ella in Hollywood'' is a live 1961 (see

1961 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1961. Specific locations *1961 in British music * 1961 in Norwegian music Specific genres * 1961 in country music *1961 in jazz Events *January 15 – Motown Records signs ...

) album by

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 a jazz quartet led by Lou Levy, recorded in 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 ...

. This album features Ella at the height of her vocal powers, one month before the recording one of her more critically acclaimed studio albums, '' Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!''. ''Ella in Hollywood'' features several songs that serve as starting points for Ella's seemingly effortless scat solos, and a selection of beautiful ballads balance out the album. For many years, the album was only available on CD as a Japanese import, but in April 2009 Verve finally gave it a worldwide CD release.

Track listing

For the 1961 Verve LP release; Verve MG V-4052; Re-issued in 2009 on CD, Verve 06025 17967007 Side One: # "

This Could Be the Start of Something Big "This Could Be the Start of Something" (generally known as "This Could Be the Start of Something Big") is a popular song by Steve Allen, published in 1956. Background Originally, the song was written as part of the score for the 1954 television m ...

" (

Steve Allen Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-cre ...

) – 2:33 # "

I've Got the World on a String "I've Got The World on a String" is a 1932 popular jazz song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics written by Ted Koehler. It was written for the twenty-first edition of the Cotton Club series which opened on October 23, 1932, the first of th ...

" ( Harold Arlen,

Ted Koehler Ted L. Koehler (July 14, 1894 – January 17, 1973) was an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. Life and career Koehler was born in 1894 in Washington, D.C. He started out as a photo-engraver, but w ...

) – 3:44 # "

You're Driving Me Crazy "You’re Driving Me Crazy" is an American popular song composed (music and lyrics) by Walter Donaldson in 1930 and recorded the same year by Lee Morse, Rudy Vallée & His Connecticut Yankees and Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (with vocal ...

" (

Walter Donaldson Walter Donaldson (February 15, 1893 – July 15, 1947) was an American prolific popular songwriter and publishing company founder, composing many hit songs of the 1910s to 1940s, that have become standards and form part of the Great American Song ...

) – 3:23 # " Just in Time" (

Betty Comden Betty Comden (May 3, 1917 - November 23, 2006) was an American lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter who contributed to numerous Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows of the mid-20th century. Her writing partnership with Adolph Green spanned ...

Adolph Green Adolph Green (December 2, 1914 – October 23, 2002) was an American lyricist and playwright who, with long-time collaborator Betty Comden, penned the screenplays and songs for some of the most beloved film musicals, particularly as part of Ar ...

, Jule Styne) – 1:56 # "

It Might as Well Be Spring "It Might as Well Be Spring" is a song from the 1945 film ''State Fair''. which features the only original film score by the songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. "It Might as Well Be Spring" won the Academy Award for Best ...

" ( Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) – 3:07 # "

Take the "A" Train "Take the 'A' Train" is a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn that was the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra. History The use of the Strayhorn composition as the signature tune was made necessary by a ruling in 1940 by the Americ ...

" ( Billy Strayhorn) – 9:04 Side Two: # " Stairway to the Stars" (

Matty Malneck Matthew Michael "Matty" Malneck (December 9, 1903 – February 25, 1981) was an American jazz violinist, songwriter, and arranger. Career Born in 1903, Malneck's career as a violinist began when he was age 16. He was a member of the Paul White ...

Mitchell Parish Mitchell Parish (born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky; July 10, 1900 – March 31, 1993) was an American lyricist, notably as a writer of songs for stage and screen. Biography Parish was born to a Jewish family in Lithuania, Russian Empire in July 190 ...

Frank Signorelli Frank Signorelli (May 24, 1901 – December 9, 1975) was an American jazz pianist. Biography Signorelli was born to an Italian Sicilian family in New York City, New York. Signorelli was a founding member of the Original Memphis Five in 1917, ...

) – 3:56 # " (If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)" (

Sam Coslow Sam Coslow (December 27, 1902 – April 2, 1982) was an American songwriter, singer, film producer, publisher and market analyst. Coslow was born in New York City. He began writing songs as a teenager. He contributed songs to Broadway revues, ...

) – 4:05 # "

Satin Doll "Satin Doll" is a jazz standard written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Written in 1953, the song has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, 101 Strings, Terry Callier, and Nancy Wilson. Its chord progressio ...

" ( Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Strayhorn) – 2:53 # " Blue Moon" ( Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 3:17 # " Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?" (Charles Warfield, Clarence Williams) – 3:41 # " Air Mail Special" (

Charlie Christian Charles Henry Christian (July 29, 1916 – March 2, 1942) was an American swing and jazz guitarist. Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar and a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained nat ...

, Benny Goodman,

Jimmy Mundy James Mundy (June 28, 1907 – April 24, 1983) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, arranger, and composer, best known for his arrangements for Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Earl Hines. Mundy died of cancer in New York City at the age of 75 ...

) – 5:26

Personnel

Recorded live, May 11- May 21, 1961, Hollywood,

: *

- Vocals * Wilfred Middlebrooks - Bass * Lou Levy - Piano * Gus Johnson - Drums * Herb Ellis - Guitar Note: The vinyl LP issued on verve, V-4052 indicates, incorrectly that the guitarist was Jim Hall.Discography: Pg 303. in ''Ella Fitzgerald 1917-1996'': by

Stuart Nicholson Stuart Nicholson may refer to: * Stuart Nicholson (footballer) (born 1987), English footballer * Stuart Nicholson (jazz historian) (born 1948), British jazz historian, biographer, music journalist, music critic, and academic * Stuart Nicholson (org ...

. (UK)

References

{{Authority control Ella Fitzgerald live albums Albums produced by Norman Granz 1961 live albums Verve Records live albums