About

Released in 1956 as the first album on the newly established Verve label—and now reissued on almost the exact same date 70 years after it was first issued—Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book inaugurated Fitzgerald’s Song Book series and marked the beginning of her extended focus on composers associated with the Great American Songbook. Produced by Norman Granz, the sessions paired Fitzgerald with arranger and conductor Buddy Bregman and a studio orchestra, establishing the large-ensemble format that characterized the early Song Book recordings. The two-LP set presents 32 songs drawn from Cole Porter’s catalog, from “All Through the Night’ to “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love” to “What Is This Thing Called Love?" Recorded across February and March of 1956, the album frames Ella’s immaculate phrasing and clarity with polished West Coast orchestration that blends swing, ballad writing, and classic Hollywood sheen, emphasizing the lyrical wit and melodic elegance of Porter’s writing. Celebrated upon release and formative in shaping both Verve’s identity and Ella’s artistic trajectory, it remains a cornerstone of her discography and a defining document of 20th century American popular interpretation. — (via Label)

—

Ella Fitzgerald had the ability to personalize some of the most recognizable material from the foremost songwriters in American popular music history. In this instance, the combination of Cole Porter's words and Fitzgerald's interpretation of them created one of the most sought after sessions in vocal history -- embraced by jazz and pop fans alike, transcending boundaries often associated with those genres. Originally released in 1956 on the Verve label, such standards as "Night and Day," "I Love Paris," "What Is This Thing Called Love," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "You're the Top," and "Love for Sale" secured one of Ella Fitzgerald's crowning moments.

The success of these early Porter (and previous Gershwin) sessions brought about numerous interpretations of other songbooks throughout the next several years including those of Rodgers and Hart, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, and Irving Berlin. — (via AllMusic)

—

— 2LP, Mono reissue
— Pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl
— Housed in Tip-On gatefold sleeves
— Mastered from the original analog tapes

↓
Label: Verve Records
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Mono, Gatefold, 180g
Reissued: 2026 / Originally Released: 1956
Genre: Jazz, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Musical, Swing, Big Band

File under: Jazz - Vocals (Audiophile)
⦿