The complete original LP 'Mack the Knife:Ella in Berlin'. It contains Ella Fitzgerald's celebrated performance at the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany, in its entirety. Backed by a quartet featuring Jim Hall and Paul Smith, this is one of Ella's most popular albums ever, it won two Grammy awards in 1960.
As a bonus, a complete rarely heard live performance taped in July 1959, plus two 1956 tracks recorded live at the Hollywood Bowl that were mistakenly included on some issues of Ella in Berlin as belonging to the 1960 concert.
Tracklisting:
01. That Old Black Magic 4:10
02. Our Love Is Here To Stay 3:11
03. Gone With The Wind 2:26
04. Misty 2:47
05. The Lady Is A Tramp 3:17
06. The Man I Love 3:38
07. Summertime 3:00
08. Too Darn Hot 3:30
09. Lorelei 3:27
10. Mack The Knife 5:01
11. How High The Moon? 8:10
12. Lover Come Back To Me 1:59*
13. Angel Eyes 3:17*
14. Im Beginning To See The Light 3:31*
15. My Heart Belongs To Daddy 2:37*
16. Just One Of Those Things 3:03*
17. I Cant Give You Anything But Love 3:17*
18. Sophisticated Lady 3:37*
19. Love For Sale 2:59*
20. Just One Of Those Things 3:54*
Total time: 70:57 min.
Tracks #1-11, from the original Verve 12" album
"Mack the Knife: Ella in Berlin" (MGV4041)
(*) Bonus tracks not on the original album
Ella Fitzgeral, sings in all tracks
Personnel in #1-11:
Paul Smith (p), Jim Hall (g), Wilfred Middlebrooks (b), Gus Johnson (d).
Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany, Feb. 13, 1960
Personnel on #12-18:
Lou Levy (p), Max Bennett (b), Gus Johnson (d).
Cannes Jazz Festival, France, July 1, 1959
Personnel on #19-20:
Paul Smith (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (d).
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, August 15, 1956
Original sessions produced by Norman Granz
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Review:
"Ella Fitzgerald was at the peak of her form during her 1960 tour of Europe. Her Berlin concert is most remembered for her hilariously inventive version of "Mack the Knife," during which she forgot the words and substituted ones of her own that somehow fit, amazing herself in the process. With fine support from her quartet -- pianist Paul Smith, guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Wilfred Middlebrooks, drummer Gus Johnson -- Fitzgerald is brilliant throughout the well-rounded set, with highlights including "Misty" (a version very different from Sarah Vaughan's), "The Lady Is a Tramp," "Too Darn Hot," and a scat-filled "How High the Moon." This is essential music.
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
