Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Song Book
Recorded June 15–October 27, 1957, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
Released 1957
CD Released: 25 May 1999
Label: Verve
Format:[email protected]

Part of Fitzgerald\'s series of \'Songbooks\', it is the only one where the composer is also featured as a performer. This was the first time that Fitzgerald had recorded with Ellington. It is also the entry in the Songbook series that gives her by far most often the opportunity to exhibit her famous scat singing.
Fitzgerald\'s performance on this album won her the 1959 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance, Individual.
This album marked the start of a fruitful artistic relationship for Ella and the \'Duke\', the 1960s would see them perform on the Côte d\'Azur for the 1966 album Ella and Duke at the Cote D\'Azur, and in Sweden for The Stockholm Concert, 1966. Their only other studio album, 1965\'s Ella at Duke\'s Place, was also extremely well received.

Disc 1 is with Ellington\'s orchestra, Disc 2 is with smaller groups including Ben Webster, Stuff Smith, and Oscar Peterson. The greater part of disc three is devoted to two original compositions by Ellington, inspired by Fitzgerald\'s life, character and artistry.

Disc 1:

1. Rockin\' in Rhythm (5:21)
2. Drop Me Off in Harlem (3:51)
3. Day Dream (4:01)
4. Caravan (3:55)
5. Take the \'A\' Train (6:42)
6. I Ain\'t Got Nothing But The Blues (4:44)
7. Clementine (2:41)
8. I Didn\'t Know About You (4:13)
9. I\'m Beginning To See The Light (3:28 )
10. Lost in meditation (3:28 )
11. Perdido (6:14)
12. Cottontail (3:27)
13. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me (7:40)

Disc 2:

1. Just A-Sittin\' and A-Rockin\' (3:35)
2. Solitude (2:09)
3. Rocks in My Bed (3:59)
4. Satin Doll (3:29)
5. Sophisticated Lady (5:22)
6. Just Squeeze Me (4:17)
7. It Don\'t Mean a Thing (If It Ain\'t Got That Swing) (4:15)
8. Azure (2:23)
9. I Let a Song Go out of My Heart (4:12)
10. In a Sentimental Mood (2:48 )
11. Don\'t Get Around Much Anymore (5:02)
12. Prelude to a Kiss (5:30)
13. Mood Indigo (3:28 )
14. In a Mellow Tone (5:12)
15. Love You Madly (4:42)
16  Lush Life (3:41)
17. Squatty Roo (3:39)

Disc 3:

1. I\'m Just a Lucky So and So (4:15)
2. All Too Soon (4:24)
3. Everything But You (2:58 )
4. I Got It Bad (and That Ain\'t Good) (6:15)
5. Bli-Blip (3:05)
6. Chelsea Bridge (3:26)
7. Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald (16:19)
8. The E and D Blues (E for Ella, D for Duke) (4:55)
9. Rehearsal (10:10)
10. Chelsea Bridge (alternate take) (3:38 )

Personel Includes:
Ella Fitzgerald - vocals, William \"Cat\" Anderson - trumpet
Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet,Clark Terry - trumpet, Willie Cook - trumpet
Frank Foster - tenor , Paul Gonsalves - saxophone
Ben Webster – tenor, Johnny Hodges - alto
Russell Procope - clarinet, alto, Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet, tenor
Harry Carney - clarinet, bass clarinet, John Sanders - trombone
Britt Woodman – trombone, Quentin Jackson - trombone
Ray Nance - trumpet, violin, Stuff Smith - violin
Oscar Peterson - piano. Paul Smith - piano
Ray Brown- double bass, Joe Mondragon – bass, Jimmy Woode - bass
Herb Ellis - guitar, Barney Kessel – guitar, Sam Woodyard - drums
Alvin Stoller – drums, Billy Strayhorn - piano, narrator
Duke Ellington - piano, narrator, arranger, conductor.