As this is Ella's most famous live recording, it may seem odd that I am just now bought it (from BMG music. :-)). The reason, however, is simple:
I had already heard "Mack the Knife", and "How High the Moon" countless times, so I was wary to go out and buy this disc. I'm glad I finally did, as there is a lot more than those two songs to it!
Overall it is, IMHO, a pretty good disc. I had a couple of quibbles: for one thing a lot of the songs were only aroun 2-3 minutes, and on some of them I would have liked to see Ella stretch out and play around with a little.
Otherwise, it is a fine album: "That Old Black Magic" was a great opening number, swinging like heck. "Our Love is here to Stay" was very nice, IMO more tender than the Gershwin Songbook version. "Misty" was very nice... I'm not sure if I like this version or the one from "Intimate Ella" better. "The Lady is a Tramp" is great fun... I think maybe Ella related to that song as she did not fit the image of a super-glamorous performer. "Love for Sale" is again very good... I have a hard time deciding between it and the Songbooks version. "Just One of Those Things" is interesting because Ella sings a good part of it in her low register, which is different. Her low register was kind of husky whereas her middle and high registers were light and girlish. "Summertime" is wonderful; I know for certain I like it better than the version from "Porgy and Bess"... the ending note is beautiful. "Too Darn Hot" is just too darn good... ;-).
We all know about "Mack the Knife," I am sure. The closing "How High the Moon" is nothing short of amazing! You almost want to stand up with the Berlin crowd and scream wild applause with them when it is over. ;-)
Altogether, I liked this CD a lot.
Ella Fitzgerald - The Complete Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife
Linear Mode
