Release date: 02-11-2008 (originally released in 1960)

2008 German Speakers Corner limited edition 26-track 2-LP pressed on 180gram VINYL, originally released in 1960. featuring Ella expertly handling the songs of one of America's greatest composers for musical theatre, including Stormy Weather, That Old Black Magic and Over The Rainbow, Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe and the classic Over The Rainbow. sealed and stickered picture sleeve.

Tracks:
01. Blues In The Night 
02. Let's Fall In Love 
03. Stormy Weather 
04. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 
05. My Shining Hour 
06. Hooray For Love 
07. Sing My Heart  (mono)
08. This Time The Dream's On Me 
09. That Old Black Magic 
10. I've Got The World On A String 
11. Let's Take A Walk Around The Block 
12. Ill Wind (You're Blowin' Me No Good) 
13. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive 
14. When The Sun Comes Out 
15. Come Rain Or Come Shine 
16. As Long As I Live 
17. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe 
18. It's Only A Paper Moon 
19. The Man That Got Away 
20. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) 
21. It Was Written In The Stars 
22. Get Happy 
23. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 
24. Out Of This World 
25. Over The Rainbow 
26. Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead  (mono)

Verve’s legendary songbook editions are among Ella Fitzgerald’s very best repertoire. The singer, who was stylistically at home in every genre – from jazz, to the evergreens of the Great American Songbooks, to pop songs –, is to this day one of the most versatile interpreters of the American vocal scene.
Her recording of the "Harold Arlen Songbook", made in 1960 and ’61, is, along with similar projects with songs by Rodgers & Hart (Verve MGVS-6009/10), Cole Porter (Verve MGV-4001-2), George Gershwin (Verve MGVS 6082) and Duke Ellington (Verve MGV 4010-4), the very best of its kind. Harold Arlen discovered his propensity for jazz as a pianist, orchestrator and musical producer of the Cotton Club shows over many years. So it is not surprising that much of what flowed from his pen had a distinct jazz leaning. »Ella is the only vocalist who manages to sing even the most complicated phrases of my songs with poise and lightness«, he stated upon completion of the production. The musical quality of the 26 refurbished audiophile tracks, including two bonus tracks, make this re-release a timeless work of reference of American easy listening. The superb big band, along with the brilliant arrangements and conducting of Billy May, provides a perfect backing.

Ella Fitzgerald (voc); Billy May (arr) & his orchestra incl. strings

Recording: August 1960 and January 1961 in Los Angeles, CA.
Production: Norman Granz

Verve’s legendary songbook editions are among Ella Fitzgerald’s very best repertoire. The singer, who was stylistically at home in every genre – from jazz, to the evergreens of the Great American Songbooks, to pop songs –, is to this day one of the most versatile interpreters of the American vocal scene.
Her recording of the "Harold Arlen Songbook", made in 1960 and ’61, is, along with similar projects with songs by Rodgers & Hart (Verve MGVS-6009/10), Cole Porter (Verve MGV-4001-2), George Gershwin (Verve MGVS 6082) and Duke Ellington (Verve MGV 4010-4), the very best of its kind. Harold Arlen discovered his propensity for jazz as a pianist, orchestrator and musical producer of the Cotton Club shows over many years. So it is not surprising that much of what flowed from his pen had a distinct jazz leaning. »Ella is the only vocalist who manages to sing even the most complicated phrases of my songs with poise and lightness«, he stated upon completion of the production. The musical quality of the 26 refurbished audiophile tracks, including two bonus tracks, make this re-release a timeless work of reference of American easy listening. The superb big band, along with the brilliant arrangements and conducting of Billy May, provides a perfect backing.