Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from "Let No Man Write My Epitaph"


Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" is a 1960 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by the pianist Paul Smith. Let No Man Write My Epitaph was a 1960 Hollywood movie featuring Fitzgerald.
Until 2014 this album was only available on CD as The Intimate Ella, and is considered one of Ella's greatest recordings. Ella's 1950 Decca album Ella Sings Gershwin, is in a similar vein, with Ella accompanied by the pianist Ellis Larkins.
The album hints at a depth of emotional understanding that critics often complained was missing in Ella's reading of jazz lyrics, and once again establishes her as one of the supreme interpreters of the Great American Songbook. Scott Yanow's review of the album declared, "Listeners who Ella Fitzgerald... had trouble giving the proper emotional intensity to lyrics will be surprised by this sensitive and often haunting set".
In 2020, the album was rereleased as part of the Verve compilation The Complete Piano Duets.

Track listing

For the 1960 Verve LP release; Verve MG V-4043; Re-issued as The Intimate Ella in 1989 on CD, Verve-PolyGram 839 838-2; Re-issued under its original title and release number in 2014 on CD/SACD
Side One:
  1. "Black Coffee" – 3:27
  2. "Angel Eyes" – 3:27
  3. "I Cried for You" – 3:26
  4. "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby" – 3:28
  5. "Then You've Never Been Blue" – 3:10
  6. "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" – 2:49
  7. "My Melancholy Baby" – 2:57
Side Two:
  1. "Misty" – 2:51
  2. "September Song" – 3:40
  3. "One for My Baby " – 4:17
  4. "Who's Sorry Now?" – 3:26
  5. "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" – 2:36
  6. "Reach for Tomorrow" – 2:24

    Personnel

Recorded April 14–19, 1960 at United Western Recorders, Hollywood, Los Angeles: