With a career spanning seven decades, Ella Fitzgerald’s songbook is as vast as it is brilliant. While fans cherish hits like 'Summertime' and 'Cheek to Cheek', countless treasures hide in plain sight, waiting to be discovered by a new generation.
1. '(If You Can't Sing It) You'll have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)'
Long
before she was the undisputed Queen of Jazz, a young Ella Fitzgerald was making a name for herself with the Chick Webb Orchestra. She first recorded this dazzlingly complex tune in 1936, and it quickly became a showcase for her revolutionary talent. The song is a playful challenge to a classical master, demanding he abandon formality and just 'swing it'. While it became a fixture in her live shows for decades, the early recordings capture a raw, bubbling energy that is pure joy. It’s the ultimate showcase for her scat singing, a vocal improvisation style she didn't just master, but defined. Listening to 'Mr. Paganini' is like hearing the blueprint for her entire career: technically flawless, creatively boundless, and utterly thrilling.
2. 'Black Coffee'
When you think of Ella, you often think of sunshine and swing. But on this 1960 recording, she dives headfirst into the shadows. 'Black Coffee' is a brooding, late-night torch song about loneliness and heartache, originally penned in 1948. While other legends like Sarah Vaughan and Peggy Lee delivered iconic versions, Ella’s interpretation is a masterclass in quiet devastation. Her voice, usually so buoyant, carries the weight of every sleepless night and empty room described in the lyrics. Recorded for the film 'Let No Man Write My Epitaph', the track reveals a different side of her artistry: the masterful storyteller who could convey profound sadness with as much skill as she brought to unbridled joy. It’s a haunting performance that proves her emotional range was as vast as her vocal one.
3. 'Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most'
Often described as a 'buried treasure', this track from the 1961 album 'Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!' is the definition of a hidden gem. The song is a sophisticated, bluesy lament about the melancholy that can accompany the season of rebirth. Its title was cleverly adapted by lyricist Fran Landesman from the T.S. Eliot line, 'April is the cruellest month'. The song requires a vocalist who can navigate its poetic, introspective mood, and Ella does so flawlessly. She paints a picture of staring at the ceiling, feeling like 'a horse that never left the post', a feeling of stagnation amidst bloom. It’s a far cry from the easy swing of her more famous works, showcasing her ability to handle complex emotional themes with subtlety and grace. For fans who only know her upbeat hits, this song is a revelation.
4. 'Georgia on My Mind'
Yes, it’s one of the most famous songs in the American canon, but Ella’s version from her 1962 album 'Ella Swings Gently With Nelson' is a unique masterpiece that many fans have missed. The magic here is the collaboration with the legendary arranger Nelson Riddle, who also shaped many of Frank Sinatra's iconic recordings. Riddle’s arrangement is a force of nature, a slow, powerful swing that builds with incredible force. While one critic noted the big band could have been recorded better, Ella’s voice cuts through with absolute authority and warmth. She doesn't rephrase the melody drastically; instead, she proves that her peerless tone and perfect pitch are more than enough to make the song entirely her own. It’s a powerful reminder of her synergy with the great arrangers and her ability to find new depth in the most familiar of tunes.
