Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 02/28/2006
Ella Fitzgerald's most eclectic and stylish LP,
Things Ain't What They Used to Be is a delightful mosaic of
contemporary soul hits, perennial
standards, and
bossa nova numbers that capture the full breadth of the singer's genius. Produced by
Norman Granz and arranged by
Gerald Wilson, the album follows on the heels of the full-blown
pop session
Ella, adopting a similarly groove-oriented contextual approach but drawing on a more diverse pool of material -- evergreens like
"Black Coffee," "Tuxedo Junction," and the sublime
"Don't Dream of Anyone but Me" are made fresh and new, revitalized by
Wilson's deeply soulful arrangements and
Fitzgerald's breathtaking vocal acrobatics. Hits including
"Sunny" and
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" are no less rewarding --
Fitzgerald's command of the songs is absolute, adding wrinkles and nuances the hit versions never imagined.
~Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
;)
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