Fitzgerald, Ella & Louis Armstrong: Ella And Louis Again (Acoustic Sounds Series) LP

Following the success of Ella And Louis, Norman Granz and Verve Records decided to repeat the winning formula of having Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald in the studio to record some more classics from The Great American Songbook – the result was Ella And Louis Again. They were once again joined by the Oscar Peterson Trio – Oscar on piano, with Herb Ellis (guitar) and Ray Brown (bass), but this time Louis Bellson replaced Buddy Rich on drums. The initial session took place on July 23, 1957 and was followed by three more sessions on July 31, and August 1st and 13th. Such was the productivity of these sessions that Verve had enough material for a double-album. Of the 19 tracks, seven feature either Ella or Louis solo, but it's when they are together that some of the real magic happens. Besides the vocals, Louis Armstrong contributes some beautiful trumpet playing on six of the songs. Among the standout tracks are "Autumn In New York," "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off," "Love Is Here To Stay" and "A Fine Romance," all of which are duets. A wonderful freewheeling rehearsal take of ‘Stompin' At The Savoy' was so good that Norman Granz kept it on the final album. This all-analog 180g vinyl LP reissue was mastered from the original analog tapes by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, pressed at QRP, and comes housed in a Stoughton tip-on gatefold jacket.