In this 1982 collaboration with arranger Nelson Riddle and a remarkable assemblage of musicians, Ella Fitzgerald staked further claim to her title, The First Lady of Song. In her youth and middle years, Ella moved us with high spirits, a voice of angelic purity, and a mastery of time that rivaled the swing of any instrumentalist. In her maturity, the hallmark of Ella's artistry became interpretation. She expressed her understanding of lyrics in a way that deepened the meaning of songs she once would have used as vehicles for virtuosity. This carefully chosen collection includes "Don't Be That Way," a swinging echo from her past. It still swings, but now it is also an expression of bruised love. Among the other superior songs chosen by Ella are "Any Old Time," "Good-bye," "God Bless the Child," and "Autumn in New York," all sung with her customary musicianship and an enhanced sense of the poetry they contain.

with Al Aarons, Bob Cooper, Bill Green, Art Hillery, Jim Hughart, Ronald Langiner, Hubert Laws, Shelly Manne, Joe Pass, Jimmy Rowles, Marshall Royal, Wilbur Schwartz, Tommy Tedesco, Bill Watrous, and others