Ella Fitzgerald LPs with Maynard Ferguson

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE COLE PORTER SONG BOOK -- Verve MGV-4001-2

Back on 2/7, 2/8, 2/9, and 3/27/56, Maynard entered the studio with Buddy Bregman's orchestra to back Ella Fitzgerald on about half of the tracks from this now-classic Cole Porter Song Book LP. If you haven't heard this LP, then you've missed out on one of the best jazz albums of all time. To my thinking, it's one of the finest LPs ever issued. Ella was in her absolute prime, and the Bregman arrangements and orchestra both are superlative! And then there's Cole Porter! Need I say more? This is the full session, on a double gatefold LP, and it's the original release from 1956. (The record labels say "Verve, Inc." at the bottom.) This original double LP lists for $75.00 in NMINT condition!!!
COPY #1. The cover on this copy is in great shape, with the only problem being a little loose clear laminate in a couple of places, a couple of minor bumps on the spine, and the original owner's name written inside the gatefold. It's EX. The vinyl is noticeably scuffed and scratched in places, which caused no skips or loud pops when I played it, but did create some surface noise. It's VG+. Overall, this copy is EX-. Just $7.00.

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS COLE PORTER -- Verve V-4049

This is a single LP, released in 1961, and containing half of the tracks from the 1956 Cole Porter sessions. (The other half of the tracks were released on Verve V-4050, Ella Fitzgerald Sings More Cole Porter.) The sleeve graphics are totally different from the 1956 version, as well. There are two types. With "Verve, Inc." on the label, it lists for $50.00 in NMINT condition. With "MGM" on the label, it lists for $25.00.
COPY #1. This is the "MGM" label version. The cover on this copy has a very faint crease in the front cover, and there's some water staining visible on the back at the bottom. It's a really clean and nice looking cover, but with these problems, it just rates an EX-. The vinyl has some super-fine surface scratches on one side, probably from being scooted across the sleeve. I couldn't hear them when I played the LP. Otherwise, it's great. I'd rate the vinyl as EX++ to NMINT-. Overall, this copy is EX+. $7.00.
COPY #2. This is the "MGM" label version. The cover has a little bit of surface wear, and someone wrote what looks like "1.09" in very small script on the back, bottom right. It's an EX cover. The vinyl shows one scuff and a few very light surface scratches in one spot. It's at least EX+. Overall, this copy is EX to EX+. $8.00.

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS MORE COLE PORTER -- Verve V-4050

This is a single LP, released in 1961, and containing half of the tracks from the 1956 Cole Porter sessions. (The other half of the tracks were released on Verve V-4049, Ella Fitzgerald Sings Cole Porter.) The sleeve graphics are totally different from the 1956 version, as well. There are two types. With "Verve, Inc." on the label, it lists for $50.00 in NMINT condition. With "MGM" on the label, it lists for $25.00.
COPY #1. This is the "MGM" label version. The cover on this copy would be nearly flawless, but there's some water staining visible on the back at the bottom. It's otherwise a really clean and nice looking cover, but with this problem, it's just EX. The vinyl has some very light surface scratches and one bad scuff. It should play fine, but with some surface noise. It's just EX-. Overall, this copy if EX- to EX. Just $6.00.
COPY #2. This is the "MGM" label version. The cover on this one is super crisp and clean. It's nearly perfect -- NMINT to NMINT+. The vinyl has some surface scuffing and very light scratches. It's EX-. Overall, this copy is EX++. Just $8.00.
COPY #3. This is the "MGM" label version. The cover on this one shows just the slighest surface wear, and a small name written on the back. It's EX+. The vinyl has some surface scuffing and very light scratches. It's EX-. Overall, this copy is EX. Just $7.00.

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE COLE PORTER SONG BOOK, VOLUME 2 (UK RELEASE) -- His Master's Voice CLP 1084

This is a single BRITISH-ISSUED LP, containing half of the tracks from the 1956 Cole Porter sessions. (The other half of the tracks were released on CLP 1083, Volume 1.) It's a very hard-to-find LP here in the U.S.
COPY #1. The cover on this copy has just a couple of really minor flaws -- it's NMINT-. The vinyl is in the EX- to EX range. It's probably EX+ overall, and is priced at $9.00.

ELLA FITZGERALD, THE COLE PORTER SONG BOOK -- Verve VE-2-2511

Back on 2/7, 2/8, 2/9, and 3/27/56, Maynard entered the studio with Buddy Bregman's orchestra to back Ella Fitzgerald on about half of the tracks from this now-classic Cole Porter Song Book LP. If you haven't heard this LP, then you've missed out on one of the best jazz albums of all time. To my thinking, it's one of the finest LPs ever issued. Ella was in her absolute prime, and the Bregman arrangements and orchestra both are superlative! And then there's Cole Porter! Need I say more? This is a double, gatefold LP, which was re-issued by Verve in 1976, with all new cover graphics.
COPY #1. The cover on this copy shows just the very beginnings of some record ring wear on the predominantly black cover, but it's still NMINT. The vinyl is super nice. It's NMINT. Overall, this is a beautiful copy, in NMINT condition. $12.00.
COPY #2. The cover on this one has a bit of surface and record ring wear on the cover, front and back. There's also a bit of discoloration on the front at upper right where it appears a price sticker was removed and the cover recolored a bit. But the seams and spin are intact and overall it looks fairly nice. I'd grade this cover as EX-. Disc 1 looks to be MINT, never played. Disc 2, has a few light surface scuffs and scratches that don't affect play. One label on each disc has a little "puffy" spot where perhaps a sticker once resided and loosened the label paper a little bit. I'm going to call the vinyl EX, although Disc 1 looks never-played. Overall, this one is in the EX- to EX range. Due to the many small issues, this one is just $5.00.

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE RODGERS AND HART SONG BOOK -- Verve MGV-4002-2

Back on 8/21 and 8/28 - 8/31/56, about six months after the Cole Porter sessions, Maynard again entered the studio with Buddy Bregman's orchestra to back Ella Fitzgerald on about half of the tracks from this now-classic Rodgers and Hart Song Book LP. Again, it was a smash hit! Ella's selection of Rodgers and Hart tunes was superlative. This is the original double gatefold LP, issued in 1956. It has "Verve, Inc." on the record labels, and lists for $75.00 in NMINT condition.
COPY #1. The cover on this one looks great. On closer inspection there's a 1" scrape on the front near bottom left, and there's a little toning on the back near the opening slit. But inside the gatefold it's very clean and nice, and the seams and spine are intact and solid. I'm going to rate this cover at EX+. Both discs have some surface scratches and scuffing. I played some tracks to get an idea of how it sounds. The fidelity is good, but there's some definite background noise, indicating a disc that has been played quite a few times. I'm going to rate the vinyl as VG (average). Overall, this one is in the EX- range. A very nice looking LP with some issues. It's just $10.00.

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE RODGERS AND HART SONG BOOK (UK RELEASE) -- Verve 2683 053

Here's the 1980s re-issue of this great LP, pressed in London, England. It's a double gatefold LP, and has all the tracks of the original. Quite hard to find here in the U.S.
COPY #1. The gatefold cover on this one is almost like new -- NMNT+. The vinyl is super clean and nice, and is easily NMINT. Overall, this copy is NMINT to NMINT+. It's $15.00.

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE RODGERS AND HART SONG BOOK, VOLUME 1 -- Verve MGV-4022

Back on 8/21 and 8/28 - 8/31/56, about six months after the Cole Porter sessions, Maynard again entered the studio with Buddy Bregman's orchestra to back Ella Fitzgerald on about half of the tracks from this now-classic Rodgers and Hart Song Book LP. Again, it was a smash hit! Ella's selection of Rodgers and Hart tunes was superlative. This is the original single, Volume 1 LP, which contained half of the tracks from the session. (The other tracks are on Volume 2, MVG-4023.) It comes in two flavors. The 1959 version has "Verve, Inc." on the record labels, and lists for $50.00 in NMINT condition. The 1961 version has "MGM" on the record labels, and lists for $25.00 in NMINT condition!!!
COPY #1. This is the 1959 "Verve, Inc." version. The cover is near perfect, except for a 1" rubbed place on the bottom seam near the right edge. Still, it's NMINT-. The vinyl is pretty decent, but there is some definite surface noise and a few clicks, especially on the outer grooves and in some of the quieter passages. It's EX- to EX. Overall, this copy is EX+. $12.00.
COPY #2. This is the 1959 "Verve, Inc." version. The cover on this one is interesting. Instead of having a royal blue background like most copies I've seen, it's got more of a violet background. It doesn't appear to have faded. It looks like it was printed that way. Interesting! It's in great condition -- NMINT! The vinyl has some definite surface scratches and a couple of minor scuffs. It's EX-. Overall, this copy is EX+. $12.00.

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE RODGERS AND HART SONG BOOK, VOLUME 1 (U.K. RELEASE) -- His Master's Voice CLP 1116

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE RODGERS AND HART SONG BOOK, VOLUME 2 -- Verve MGV-4023

ELLA FITZGERALD, ELLA FITZGERALD SINGS THE RODGERS AND HART SONG BOOK, VOLUME 2 (U.K. RELEASE) -- His Master's Voice CLP 1117

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