I miss this trend from the 50s and 60s where great singers like Ella (as well as folks like Oscar Peterson) did “song books” of great composers.

My copy of this one, with Ella doing the songs of Harold Arlen, is an 80s reissue of what originally came out in 1961, with 2 additional tracks that were not on the original. Many of the tracks were previously released on movie soundtracks or earlier releases.

So many great cuts here it is hard to pick one, but I love her “Come Rain or Come Shine” as well as “I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues.”

These 80s reissues of jazz from the 50s and 60s are a great way to pick up a quality pressing in good shape without going all the way back – at least for the most popular artists most likely to get reissued.

My copy via a record fair (Worcester Record Riot) in Worcester MA