Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. A-Tisket A-Tasket
2. Undecided
3. Stairway to the Stars
4. Five O'Clock Whistle
5. Cow Cow Boogie
6. Flying Home
7. Stone Cold Dead in the Market
8. You Won't Be Satisfied Until You Break My Heart
9. I'm Just a Lucky So and So
10. I Didn't Mean a Word I Said
11. Oh, Lady Be Good
12. How High the Moon
13. My Happiness
14. In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down
15. Smooth Sailing
16. Airmail Special
17. You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini) Parts 1 & 2
18. Blue Lou
19. Lullaby of Birdland
20. Hard Hearted Hannah

Disc 2:

1. The Frim Fram Sauce
2. Dream a Little Dream of Me
3. Can Anyone Explain?
4. Would You Like to Take a Walk?
5. Who Walks In When I Walk Out?
6. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
7. I'm Making Believe
8. I'm Beginning to See the Light
9. I Still Feel the Same About You
10. Petootie Pie
11. Baby, It's Cold Outside
12. Don't Cry, Cry Baby
13. Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own
14. I'll Never Be Free
15. It's Only a Paper Moon
16. (Gonna) Cry You Out of My Heart
17. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
18. It's a Pity to Say Goodnight
19. Fairy Tales
20. I Gotta Have My Baby Back

Disc 3:

1. Someone to Watch Over Me
2. My One and Only
3. But Not for Me
4. Looking for a Boy
5. I've Got a Crush on You
6. How Long Has This Been Going On?
7. Maybe
8. Soon
9. I'm Glad There Is You
10. What Is There to Say?
11. People Will Say We're in Love
12. Please Be Kind
13. Until the Real Thing Comes Along
14. Makin' Whoopee
15. Imagination
16. Stardust
17. My Heart Belongs to Daddy
18. You Leave Me Breathless
19. Baby, What Else Can I Do?
20. Nice Work If You Can Get It

Disc 4:

1. Basin Street Blues
2. I've Got the World on a String
3. Goody Goody
4. Angel Eyes
5. Happy Talk
6. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair
7. Black Coffee
8. I Wished on the Moon
9. A Sunday Kind of Love
10. That's My Desire
11. Thanks for the Memory
12. It Might As Well Be Spring
13. You'll Never Know
14. I Can't Get Started
15. That Old Black Magic
16. Old Devil Moon
17. Lover, Come Back to Me
18. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
19. (Love Is) The Tender Trap
20. My One and Only Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #250601 in Music
• Released on: 1995-08-29
• Number of discs: 4
• Format: Box set

Customer Reviews

Luscious, fantastic Ella!
Whether one is a fan of Ella before listening to these songs, or not, you will DEFINITELY be one after listening. Her diction, smooth, luscious singing of all of these songs is unique, only a tiny part of the reason that Ella is the Queen of Jazz singing. If you are new to listening to Ella, this compilation of songs is THE way to be introduced to this wonderful songstress. Her sweetness and sincerity glows out of each word and phrase. She truly belongs to the Ages, and as long as ANYone is listening to Jazz singing, there will never be anyone to outshine her! BUY THIS COMPILATION while you can!

Great box set, great music
The 4 disc set "The Legendary Decca Recordings" is a fantastic collection of 80 songs that Ella Fitzgerald recorded while at Decca records. The earliest material dates from 1938 and goes up to 1955. Let me first state that there is not a bad song in this collection. Some of what you'll hear are standards, some will be lesser known or maybe totally unknown songs, but everything is thoroughly enjoyable. The sound quality is incredible; this material is 45-60 years old, but it might as well have been recorded yesterday. I'm not kidding, it's that good.

Disc one is entitled "The Very Best Of Ella" and contains songs picked as favorites by Milt Gabler, Ella's Decca producer. This disc contains a really wild song called "Stone Cold Dead in the Market" a Calypso-flavored number about a woman who kills her abusive husband. Great song, and chances are you've never heard it before. Disc two is entitled "Ella & Friends," and featured duets with Louis Armstrong, the Ink Spots, Louis Jordan, the Delta Rhythm Boys, and the Mills Brothers. This disc has a good deal of excellent standards. Disc three is entitled "Ella Sings Gershwin & Others" and features works by Gershwin, Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, etc. Disc four is entitled "Ella & The Arrangers," and features works arranged by Gordon Jenkins and Andre Previn, among others and also features many standards.

All these discs come, fittingly, in a large and sturdy glossy cardboard case, not the usual plastic double-cd holders. You also get a full-sized paperback book with info on the songs and Ella's tenure at Decca. The whole package is artfully done, and was obviously put together with a good deal of work and care. If you love Ella Fitzgerald, jazz, or listening to classic American songs sung by one of the greats, get this set; you'll enjoy every minute of it.