ELLA FITZGERALD - Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (1957-1993) 3CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Ella Fitzgerald's outstanding songbook series has become an institution unto itself. This 1957 effort is distinguished from Fitzgerald's other songbooks in that it is the only album in which the composer whose work she is singing actively participates. In fact, these recordings are packed with some of the key figures in 20th century jazz. As if Ella and Duke weren't enough, Ellington's arranger/composer Billy Strayhorn, guest musicians Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson, and brilliant record producer Norman Granz all have a hand in the proceedings. And what better backing band could one want than Duke's orchestra? The usual suspects -- Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, and Sam Woodyard, among others -- contribute fine performances throughout. Duke's spectacular catalog dazzles, and his sprightly, lush textures are transfigured under Fitzgerald's warm-timbred voice and elegant, precise delivery. Included here are classics like "Rockin' in Rhythm," "Caravan," "Satin Doll," "Sophisticated Lady," "Prelude to a Kiss," and "It Don't Mean a Thing...," each tune as familiar as it is delightful to hear in this new context. by AllMusic  
Tracklist
Disc One
1-1 Rockin' In Rhythm 5:18
1-2 Drop Me Off In Harlem 3:49
1-3 Day Dream 3:58
1-4 Caravan 3:53
1-5 Take The "A" Train 6:40
1-6 I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues 4:41
1-7 Clementine 2:39
1-8 I Didn't Know About You 4:12
1-9 I'm Beginning To See The Light 3:25
1-10 Lost In Meditation 3:25
1-11 Perdido 6:12
1-12 Cotton Tail 3:24
1-13 Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me 7:40
1-14 Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' 3:32
1-15 Solitude 2:06
1-16 Rocks In My Bed 3:56
1-17 Satin Doll 3:28
1-18 Sophisticated Lady 5:19
Disc Two
2-1 Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) 4:15
2-2 It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 4:13
2-3 Azure 2:20
2-4 I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 4:09
2-5 In A Sentimental Mood 2:45
2-6 Don't Get Around Much Anymore 5:00
2-7 Prelude To A Kiss 5:27
2-8 Mood Indigo 3:26
2-9 In A Mellow Tone 5:09
2-10 Love You Madly 4:39
2-11 Lush Life 3:37
2-12 Squatty Roo 3:39
2-13 I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So 4:13
2-14 All Too Soon 4:22
2-15 Everything But You 2:55
2-16 I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 6:12
2-17 Bli-Blip 3:02
Disc Three
3-1 Chelsea Bridge 3:23
3-2 Portrait Of Ella Fitzgerald 16:16
3-3 The E And D Blues (E For Ella, D For Duke) 4:50
3-4 Chelsea Bridge - Rehearsal 4:03
3-5 Chelsea Bridge - Rehearsal 3:37
3-6 Chelsea Bridge - Rehearsal 3:59
3-7 Chelsea Bridge - Rehearsal 3:20
3-8 Chelsea Bridge - Rehearsal 1:38
3-9 Chelsea Bridge - Rehearsal 1:20
3-10 Chelsea Bridge - Rehearsal 5:35
3-11 Chelsea Bridge - Rehearsal 3:39
3-12 All Heart (Alternative Takes) 3:54
3-13 All Heart (Alternative Takes) 3:33
3-14 All Heart (Alternative Takes) 3:22
3-15 All Heart (Alternative Takes) 3:25
Credits
Leader – Duke Ellington
Orchestra – Duke Ellington And His Orchestra
Producer [Original Recording] – Norman Granz
Vocals – Ella Fitzgerald
Notes
Tracks were recorded from September 1956 to October 1957.
Tracks 1-1 to 2-3 were originally released in 1957 as "Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Song Book Vol. One"(MGV 4008-2).
Tracks 2-4 to 3-3 were originally released as "Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Song Book, Vol. Two" (MGV 4009-2).
Tracks 3-4 and 3-11 were first released in 1994 on "The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books".
Tracks 3-5 to 3-10 and 3-12 to 3-15 were priviously unissued.