Considered by many to be the 20th century's greatest female singer of jazz and American popular song, Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) is one of the few singers whose work transcends generations and musical genres. Fortunately, over the course of a career that spanned six decades, "The First Lady of Song" amassed a nearly unrivaled discography. It is a testament to Fitzgerald's art and her place in popular culture that the vast majority of her recorded output is readily available on compact disc.
Fitzgerald's career can be divided into five periods. During her Big Band Years (1935-1941) , she sang with the Chick Webb Orchestra (renamed after Webb's death in 1939 as Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra). By the age of 20, Fitzgerald was the most popular female singer in America, and, in 1938, she wrote and sang one of the biggest hits of the entire decade, "A Tisket, A Tasket." Her Decca Records Solo Years (1941-1955) were a mix of groundbreaking scat recordings, classy pop records, and trite novelty songs. By the early 1950s it became clear that Decca didn't know how best to utilize Fitzgerald's talents. Norman Granz, founder of Jazz at the Philharmonic and Ella's manager, formed Verve Records in no small part as a vehicle for Fitzgerald.
Her Verve Years (1956-1966) marked Fitzgerald's transition from singing star to cultural icon. Working at the absolute peak of her powers, Fitzgerald recorded a stunning collection of live and studio albums including her legendary Song Book series. By the mid-1960s, Fitzgerald found herself unsure of how to cope with the folk/rock revolution. During these Transitional Years (1967-1973) , she drifted between record labels and made some questionable efforts at a more contemporary sound. Finally, in the early 1970s, Norman Granz formed Pablo Records. During her Pablo Years (1973-1989) , Ella returned to recording classic standards in the company of great jazz musicians. During the last fifteen years of her career, age and declining health slowly eroded Fitzgerald's remarkable vocal abilities.
With the endless compilations and bootleg albums floating around, navigating Fitzgerald's discography can be difficult. So consider this a road map to the very best work of the very best singer that jazz has ever produced.
