Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook
Encyclopedia
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook is a 1963 (see 1963 in music
) studio album by the American jazz
singer Ella Fitzgerald
, with an Orchestra conducted and arranged by Nelson Riddle
, focusing on the songs of Jerome Kern
.
Ella had previously recorded with Riddle on her epic George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
(1959), and had recorded two albums of standards with him in 1962.
This was the seventh album in Ella's series of historic recordings of songs written by the great Broadway composers. The previous albums were dedicated to songs by;
The last songbook, dedicated to Johnny Mercer
(Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book) was to be released in 1964.
In contrast to the Johnny Mercer Songbook, (the only Songbook dedicated to a lyricist), this is the only Songbook where the composer does not contribute any of the lyrics. Awarded four and a half stars by Down Beat
Magazine in 1963, this album contains a fine selection of Jazz standards, with All the Things You Are, (named by Tony Bennett
as his favourite song), a wistful Oscar
winning The Way You Look Tonight, which contrasts beautifully with Sinatra's
more famous swinging version from his 1964 album Sinatra Sings...Academy Award Winners, and A Fine Romance from Astaire and Roger's Swing Time
.
Side One:
Side Two:
All music written by Jerome Kern
with lyricists as indicated.
:
Tracks 1,3,5,6 and 8
On Tracks 2,4, and 7:
Personnel Same as Tracks 1,3,5,6, and 8 except Felix Slatkin and Marshall Sosson Violin
replace Don Lube and Sidney Sharp; Edgar Lustgarten Cello
replaces Ray Kramer; and add Ann Stockton on Harp
.
1963 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles start a 5-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do".*January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on juke boxes....
) studio album by the American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, with an Orchestra conducted and arranged by Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
, focusing on the songs of Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
.
Ella had previously recorded with Riddle on her epic George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook is a 1959 five album set by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, focusing on the songs of George and Ira Gershwin. It was recorded with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, marking the first time that Ella and Riddle had worked together...
(1959), and had recorded two albums of standards with him in 1962.
This was the seventh album in Ella's series of historic recordings of songs written by the great Broadway composers. The previous albums were dedicated to songs by;
- Cole PorterCole PorterCole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
(Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook is a 1956 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Buddy Bregman, focusing on the songs of Cole Porter....
) (1956) - Rodgers and HartRodgers and HartRodgers and Hart were an American songwriting partnership of composer Richard Rodgers and the lyricist Lorenz Hart...
(Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook is a 1956 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Buddy Bregman, focusing on the songs written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.This album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in...
) (1956) - Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
(Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book) (1957) - Irving BerlinIrving BerlinIrving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
(Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook is a 1958 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, focusing on the songs of Irving Berlin.-Grammy Awards:...
) (1958) - George and Ira Gershwin (Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook is a 1959 five album set by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, focusing on the songs of George and Ira Gershwin. It was recorded with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, marking the first time that Ella and Riddle had worked together...
) (1959) - Harold ArlenHarold ArlenHarold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
(Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Songbook is a 1961 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Billy May...
) (1961)
The last songbook, dedicated to Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
(Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book) was to be released in 1964.
In contrast to the Johnny Mercer Songbook, (the only Songbook dedicated to a lyricist), this is the only Songbook where the composer does not contribute any of the lyrics. Awarded four and a half stars by Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
Magazine in 1963, this album contains a fine selection of Jazz standards, with All the Things You Are, (named by Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
as his favourite song), a wistful Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
winning The Way You Look Tonight, which contrasts beautifully with Sinatra's
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
more famous swinging version from his 1964 album Sinatra Sings...Academy Award Winners, and A Fine Romance from Astaire and Roger's Swing Time
Swing Time
Swing Time is a 1936 RKO musical comedy film set mainly in New York City and stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Helen Broderick, Victor Moore, Eric Blore and Georges Metaxa, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields...
.
Track listing
For the 1963 Verve LP release; Verve V6-4060; Re-issued in 2005 on CD, Verve B0003933-02Side One:
- "Let's BeginLet's Begin"Let's Begin" is a popular song composed in 1933 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Otto Harbach.It was written for the musical Roberta .-Notable recordings:*Tony Bennett - The Beat of My Heart...
" (Otto HarbachOtto HarbachOtto Abels Harbach, born Otto Abels Hauerbach was an American lyricist and librettist of about 50 musical comedies...
) – 2:56 - "A Fine RomanceA Fine Romance (song)"A Fine Romance" is a popular song composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, published in 1936.The song was written for the musical film, Swing Time, where it was co-introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers...
" (Dorothy FieldsDorothy FieldsDorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films...
) – 3:36 - "All the Things You AreAll the Things You Are"All the Things You Are" is a song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II.It was written for the musical Very Warm for May , where it was introduced by Hiram Sherman, Frances Mercer, Hollace Shaw, and Ralph Stuart...
" (Oscar Hammerstein IIOscar Hammerstein IIOscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
) – 3:15 - "I'll Be Hard to HandleI'll Be Hard to Handle"I'll Be Hard to Handle" is a 1932 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Bernard Dougall.It was written for the Broadway musical Roberta , where it was introduced by Lyda Roberti....
" (Bernard Dougall) – 3:47 - "You Couldn't Be CuterYou Couldn't Be Cuter"You Couldn't Be Cuter" is a 1938 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Dorothy Fields.It was written for the film Joy of Living where it was introduced by Irene Dunne...
" (Fields) – 3:13 - "She Didn't Say YesShe Didn't Say Yes"She Didn't Say Yes" is a 1931 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Otto Harbach..It was written for the show The Cat and the Fiddle .-Notable recordings:*Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook...
" (Harbach) – 3:20
Side Two:
- "I'm Old FashionedI'm Old Fashioned"I'm Old Fashioned" is a 1942 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Johnny Mercer.It was written for the film You Were Never Lovelier , where it was introduced by Nan Wynn who dubbed for Rita Hayworth as part of a song and dance routine with Fred Astaire.According to Mueller:...
" (Johnny MercerJohnny MercerJohn Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
) – 3:27 - "Remind MeRemind Me (Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern song)"Remind Me" is a 1940 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Dorothy Fields.It was written for the show One Night in the Tropics , where it was introduced by Peggy Moran.-Notable recordings:...
" (Fields) – 3:50 - "The Way You Look TonightThe Way You Look Tonight"The Way You Look Tonight" is a song featured in the film Swing Time, originally performed by Fred Astaire. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. The song was sung to Ginger Rogers as Penelope "Penny" Carroll by Astaire's character of John "Lucky" Garnett while Penny was busy...
" (Fields) – 4:28 - "Yesterdays" (Harbach) – 2:51
- "Can't Help Lovin' Dat ManCan't Help Lovin' Dat Man"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is one of the most famous songs from their classic 1927 musical play Show Boat, adapted from Edna Ferber's novel.-Context:...
" (Hammerstein) – 3:54 - "Why Was I Born?Why Was I Born?"Why Was I Born?" is a 1929 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II.It was written for the show Sweet Adeline .-Notable recordings:*Georgia Brown - Georgia Brown Sings Gershwin/Georgia Brown...
" (Hammerstein) – 3:44
All music written by Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
with lyricists as indicated.
Personnel
Recorded January 5,6,7 1963 at Radio Recorders Studio 10H, Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
:
Tracks 1,3,5,6 and 8
- Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
- Vocals - Don FagerquistDon FagerquistDonald Fagerquist was a small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player from the West Coast of the United States...
- TrumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air... - Caroll Lewis
- George Seaberg
- Shorty Sherock
- Dick Nash - TromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- Tommy Pederson
- Tommy Shepard
- George Roberts
- Plas JohnsonPlas JohnsonPlas John Johnson Jr. is an American soul-jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist, probably most familiar as the lead on Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther Theme"....
- Tenor SaxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - Harry Klee - Woodwind
- Joe Koch
- Wilbur SchwartzWilbur SchwartzWilbur Schwartz was a clarinetist and alto saxophonist best remembered today for his work with Glenn Miller....
- Champ Webb
- Victor Arno - ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Israel Baker
- Victor Bay
- Alex Beller
- Dan Lube
- Erno Neufeld
- Lou Raderman
- Nathan Ross
- Sidney Sharp
- Gerald Vinci
- Alex Neimann - ViolaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
- Paul Robyn
- Barbara Simons
- Armand Kaproff - CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
- Ray Kramer
- Eleanor Slatkin
- Paul Smith - PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Robert Bain - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Joe Comfort - Double BassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Frank Flynn - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Alvin StollerAlvin StollerAlvin Stoller was an American jazz drummer. Though he seems to have been largely forgotten, he was held in high regard in the 1940s and 1950s...
- Nelson RiddleNelson RiddleNelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
- Arranger, Conductor
On Tracks 2,4, and 7:
Personnel Same as Tracks 1,3,5,6, and 8 except Felix Slatkin and Marshall Sosson Violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
replace Don Lube and Sidney Sharp; Edgar Lustgarten Cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
replaces Ray Kramer; and add Ann Stockton on Harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
.