Fitzgerald, Ella - Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Song Book (Acoustic Sounds Series)

Released in 1956 as the first album on the newly established Verve label, Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Song Book inaugurated Fitzgerald’s Song Book series and marked the beginning of her extended focus on composers associated with the Great American Songbook.

Produced by Norman Granz, the sessions paired Fitzgerald with arranger and conductor Buddy Bregman and a studio orchestra, establishing the large-ensemble format that characterized the early Song Book recordings.

The set presents 32 songs drawn from Cole Porter’s catalog, from “All Through the Night” to “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love” to “What Is This Thing Called Love?”. Recorded across February and March of 1956, the album frames Ella’s immaculate phrasing and clarity with polished West Coast orchestration that blends swing, ballad writing, and classic Hollywood sheen, emphasizing the lyrical wit and melodic elegance of Porter’s writing.