Ira Gershwin subsequently said that "I never knew how good our songs were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them".[8] Gershwin helped Fitzgerald, Granz and Riddle with the selection of songs. The songs were written by Ira and his brother George between 1924 and 1937. Ira also revised some of his lyrics for the album.[9] Granz memorably suggested that Fitzgerald sing "
Oh, Lady Be Good!" as a slow ballad rather than the fast tempo version which had become renowned as a showcase for her
scat singing.[9]
The French painter
Bernard Buffet created five paintings that were used as artworks for the five individual LPs that made the original album release. The
liner notes were written by Laurence D. Stewart. The album was released in mono and stereo. The mono album was priced at $25 (equivalent to $261 in 2023) and the stereo at $30 (equivalent to $314 in 2023). A deluxe edition was also available priced at $100 (equivalent to $1,045 in 2023).[11] The deluxe set was packaged in a walnut box, with the five Buffet paintings issued as detachable
lithographs. Stewart's liner notes were included as a separate hardback book, The Gershwins: Words Upon Music.[12]
Track listing
For the 1998 4-CD set
Verve re-issue, Verve 314 539 759-2
^The booklet of the 1998 4-CD set is most probably misprinted. It gives "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George & Ira Gershwin Song Book Vol.1 Verve MGVS 6102", as the original issue for these tracks, but MGVS 6102 is the catalogue number for Get Happy, while MGV-4013 is the LP mentioned later in the same booklet as the original issue for the tracks.
Violin–
Israel Baker, Henry Hill, Harold Dicterow, Erno Neufield, Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Joseph Livoti, Jacques Gasselin, Walter Edelstein, James Getzoff, Eudice Shapiro, Ben Gill, Murrary Kellner, Nat Ross, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Misha Russell, Paul Shure, Dan Lube, Gerald Vinci
Viola – Alvin Dinken, Lou Kievman, David Sterkin, Stanley Harris, Paul Robyn, Barbara Simons
Cello – Elizabeth Greenschpoon, James Arkatov, Armand Kaproff, George Neikrug, Dave Filerman, Kurt Reher
Ira Gershwin subsequently said that "I never knew how good our songs were until I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing them".[8] Gershwin helped Fitzgerald, Granz and Riddle with the selection of songs. The songs were written by Ira and his brother George between 1924 and 1937. Ira also revised some of his lyrics for the album.[9] Granz memorably suggested that Fitzgerald sing "
Oh, Lady Be Good!" as a slow ballad rather than the fast tempo version which had become renowned as a showcase for her
scat singing.[9]
The French painter
Bernard Buffet created five paintings that were used as artworks for the five individual LPs that made the original album release. The
liner notes were written by Laurence D. Stewart. The album was released in mono and stereo. The mono album was priced at $25 (equivalent to $261 in 2023) and the stereo at $30 (equivalent to $314 in 2023). A deluxe edition was also available priced at $100 (equivalent to $1,045 in 2023).[11] The deluxe set was packaged in a walnut box, with the five Buffet paintings issued as detachable
lithographs. Stewart's liner notes were included as a separate hardback book, The Gershwins: Words Upon Music.[12]
Track listing
For the 1998 4-CD set
Verve re-issue, Verve 314 539 759-2
^The booklet of the 1998 4-CD set is most probably misprinted. It gives "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George & Ira Gershwin Song Book Vol.1 Verve MGVS 6102", as the original issue for these tracks, but MGVS 6102 is the catalogue number for Get Happy, while MGV-4013 is the LP mentioned later in the same booklet as the original issue for the tracks.
Violin–
Israel Baker, Henry Hill, Harold Dicterow, Erno Neufield, Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Joseph Livoti, Jacques Gasselin, Walter Edelstein, James Getzoff, Eudice Shapiro, Ben Gill, Murrary Kellner, Nat Ross, Felix Slatkin, Marshall Sosson, Misha Russell, Paul Shure, Dan Lube, Gerald Vinci
Viola – Alvin Dinken, Lou Kievman, David Sterkin, Stanley Harris, Paul Robyn, Barbara Simons
Cello – Elizabeth Greenschpoon, James Arkatov, Armand Kaproff, George Neikrug, Dave Filerman, Kurt Reher