5 Things to Know About Ella Fitzgerald’s Gershwin Songbook Box Set

It was released in December 1959 on Verve Records. This five-LP box set was part of Fitzgerald’s Complete American Songbook series.

The set covers George and Ira Gershwin’s songbook. It includes many of their most famous standards from the 1920s and 1930s.

It was one of the first comprehensive songbook box sets. Verve packaged it as a deluxe collection, setting a precedent for future releases.

The recordings feature Nelson Riddle’s arrangements. Riddle’s orchestral backing complements Fitzgerald’s precise, swinging vocals.

It remains a definitive interpretation of Gershwin’s work. Critics and fans consider it an essential jazz vocal album for its artistry and completeness.