Titled Rhythm & Romance for a good reason, this decade (minus the 1942 recording ban) of mono sides for Ella Fitzgerald is an interesting cross-section of her work fronting and accompanying different bands and leaders. You hear her do serious ballads and blues, standards, Ellingtonia, many very well-known hits, a torch song or three, and some silly tunes. There's no single aspect of these pivotal years emphasized, it's buffet-style servings of Fitzgerald metered in small, compact portions. Three with the Chick Webb Orchestra (including the evergreen "A Tisket-A-Tasket"), three with the Mills Brothers ("Cow Cow Boogie" is a highlight), three more with the Delta Rhythm Boys, two apiece with Louis Jordan (can't go wrong with "Stone Cold Dead in the Market" and "Petootie Pie") or Louis Armstrong, and a smattering of other singles make for quite a collection of 25 total tracks. The ASP/Charly compilations are reliable in terms of sound reproduction values married with content for the dollar-per-square note, and this one comes heartily recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos
compilation sums up the first decade of her career, 1935-46, inc. "A-tisket A-tasket", "Dedicated To You", feat. The Mills Bros., "Cow Cow Boogie", feat. the Ink Spots & "Frim Fram Sauce" feat. Louis Armstrong
Recorded between 1935 & 1946.
Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Charlie Fuqua, The Delta Rhythm Boys, Deek Watson, Bill Kenny (vocals); John Trueheart (guitar, banjo); Danny Perri, Ulysses Livingston, Hy White, Carl Hogan , Bernie Mackay, Jimmy Shirley, Allan Reuss (guitar); Wayman Carver (flute, tenor saxophone); Eddie Barefield, Pete Clark, Chauncey Houghton, Bill Stegmeyer, George Dorsey (clarinet, alto saxophone); Garvin Bushell (clarinet, tenor saxophone); George Koenig, Eddie Caine, Edgar Sampson, Hilton Jefferson, William DePew, Bernard Kaufman, Louis Jordan, Sid Cooper, Hymie Schertzer (alto saxophone); Elmer Williams (tenor saxophone, trumpet); Arthur Rollini, John Lesko, Art Drelinger, Lonnie Simmons , Jack Greenberg, Stuart Anderson , Sydney Robin, Teddy McRae, Vido Musso, Josh Jackson (tenor saxophone); Eddie Shomer, Milton Schatz (baritone saxophone); Chris Griffin , John McGhee , Irving "Mouse" Randolph, Aaron Izenhall, Mario Bauzá, Randy Brooks , Taft Jordan, Ziggy Elman, Billy Butterfield, Zeke Zarchy, Dick Vance, Bobby Stark (trumpet); Nat Story, William Pritchard, John Haughton, Harry Brooks, Earl Hardy, Murray McEachern, Sandy Williams , George Matthews , Claude Jones, Red Ballard (trombone); Tommy Fulford, Bill Furness, Don Kirkpatrick, Moe Wechsler, Rene Deknight, Jess Stacy, Joe Bushkin, Roger "Ram" Ramirez, Shorty Allen, Billy Kyle , Bill Davis , Bill Doggett (piano); Chick Webb, George Wetting, Eddie Bourne, Sonny Mann, Gene Krupa, Eddie Byrd, Irv Kluger, Jesse Price, Sonny Payne, Benny Goodman, Bill Beason (drums); Harry Dial, Vic Lourie (percussion).
Liner Note Author: Vic Bellerby.
Recording information: Chicago, IL (10/12/1935-08/29/1946); Hollywood, CA (10/12/1935-08/29/1946); New York, NY (10/12/1935-08/29/1946).
Photographer: Colin Williams.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Four Keys; Johnny Long; The Ink Spots; The Song Spinners.
Personnel includes: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); The Mills Brothers; The Ink Spots; Louis Jordan & His Tympani Five; Chick Webb & His Orchestra; The Delta Rhythm Boys.
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