Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. They Can't Take That Away from Me - Billie Holiday
2. Summertime - Helen Merrill
3. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off - Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald
4. Embraceable You - Sarah Vaughan
5. But Not for Me - Dinah Washington
6. They All Laughed - Bing Crosby
7. Man I Love - Betty Carter
8. Oh, Lady Be Good - Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon
9. There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York - Louis Armstrong
10. How Long Has This Been Going On? - Ella Fitzgerald
11. 'S Wonderful - Joe Williams
12. I Loves You, Porgy - Nina Simone
13. I've Got a Crush on You - Bill Henderson
14. Fascinating Rhythm - Fred Astaire
15. Someone to Watch over Me - Blossom Dearie
16. Love Is Here to Stay - Shirley Horn

Disc 2:

1. I Got Rhythm - Ernestine Anderson
2. Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday
3. Embraceable You - Joe Williams
4. Who Cares? - Anita O'Day
5. Woman Is a Sometime Thing - Louis Armstrong
6. Love Walked In - Sarah Vaughan
7. Love Is Here to Stay - Blossom Dearie
8. Oh, Lady Be Good - Fred Astaire
9. Of Thee I Sing (Baby) - Ella Fitzgerald
10. For You, for Me, for Evermore - Morgana King
11. Foggy Day - Dinah Washington
12. Someone to Watch over Me - Arthur Prysock
13. Isn't It a Pity? - Shirley Horn
14. They Can't Take That Away from Me - Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald
15. 'S Wonderful - Sarah Vaughan
16. Fascinating Rhythm - Antonio Carlos Jobim

Disc 3:

1. Fascinating Rhythm - Louie Bellson
2. My Man's Gone Now - Bill Evans, Jim Hall
3. Mine - Buddy DeFranco
4. How Long Has This Been Going On? - Coleman Hawkins
5. Somebody Loves Me - Oscar Peterson
6. Prelude II - Kenny Burrell
7. They All Laughed - George Shearing
8. Nice Work If You Can Get It - Bob Brookmeyer, Stan Getz
9. I Loves You, Porgy - Bill Evans
10. Love Is Here to Stay - Jimmy Cleveland
11. Man I Love - Toshiko Akiyoshi
12. Foggy Day - Tal Farlow
13. Strike up the Band - Oscar Peterson
14. Embraceable You - Clifford Brown, Clifford Brown
15. 'S Wonderful - Don Elliott
16. Someone to Watch Over Me - Art Tatum, Art Tatum

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20609 in Music
• Released on: 1995-11-13
• Number of discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .71 pounds

Customer Reviews

Excellent
This collection exemplifies what made Gershwin so great. A prolific songwriter, Gershwin attracted many wonderful vocalists eager to express their rendition of his works. This collection showcases the talents of some of the greats: Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Holiday, Louis Armstrong and the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald to name a few. A terrific addition to your collection.

essential for the Gershwin-minded jazz listener
While each of the three discs can be purchased separately, their individual strengths make "The Complete Gershwin Songbooks" very worthwhile. Since the music of George and Ira Gershwin has been recycled so many times, what makes this collection so valuable? This question can be answered with two words: quality control. The vintage musical choices are stellar. Many of the versions are sublime. The performers are first rate featuring Bing Crosby, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald, Clifford Brown, Art Tatum and so the list of luminaries goes on. In terms of genres, the music could be described as straight jazz, not excluding a jigger of croonerism and big band. This compilation will resonate with jazz purists who find the original stage versions a tad corny. "'S Marvelous" and "'S Wonderful" feature vocal interpretations. There are several candidates for definitive versions. Armstrong & Fitzgerald's 'Let's Call The Whole Thing Off,' Holiday's 'Nice Work If You Can Get It' and Armstrong's 'There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon' may be the ultimate versions of these standards. Those who believe that Sinatra performed the conclusive version of 'A Foggy Day' should listen to Dinah Washington's rendition. "'S Paradise" features instrumental music. Bill Evans and Jim Hall shine on the elegantly somber 'My Man's Gone Now.' Expectedly, Oscar Peterson dazzles on 'Strike Up The Band.' Featuring each track's personnel and any significant background information, the liner notes are detailed. The box is attractive and features Art Deco flappers painting the town red. The three discs can be individually acquired for a fraction of the box set's price through Amazon's marketplace sellers. "The Complete Gershwin Songbooks" is essential for any listener who appreciates both jazz and the music of Gershwin.

Great selection from verve's great years
This is a great selection on the Verve label of many of their best artists performing George Gershwin's songbook, recorded certainly mostly during the 50's. From Billie Holiday to Louis, Ella, Blossom and Fred. these are classic versions of classic songs, the recording quality is excellent, the programming is spot on and of course the songs are of the best.
3 Cd's and over three hours so good value, enjoy!