Ella Fitzgerald Sings Bacharach and David

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/5/14 at 12:32am

Her metier was mostly jazz and the great American mid-century songwriters. Occasionally she would venture into rhythm-and-blues and rock-'n'-roll, just because she was a game gal, but often with results that were less than,m shall we say "rockin'." (Her cover of the Doors' "Light My Fire," is a case in point.)

But her relatively few covers of Bacharach and David material strike just the right tone.

This one, "This Girl's In Love With You," has a drive and dynamics that are up there with her great interpretations on her songbooks. Starting at the 2:45 mark, Ella uses extraordinary breath control to build the song, bringing the excitement level to a happy exuberance, culminating on the note she holds at 3:40 for 12 second before soaring on to the rest of the evening.

http://youtu.be/h9W19jR5-uM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/5/14 at 12:43am

From the same year but a different concert, Ella does Bacharach and David's "A House In Not a Home.

http://youtu.be/K0fSMnGsBww

If this doesn't break your heart...

Updated On: 5/6/14 at 12:43 AM

[louisamayfoster]

Posted: 5/5/14 at 12:46am

Thank you for sharing. So beautiful!

[Melissa25]

Posted: 5/6/14 at 7:07am

My all-time favorite singer singing one of my favorite composers! Thanks PJ!
I also loved the black and white close-ups.