Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Russell Garcia, Nelson Riddle (conductor); Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone); Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Flip Phillips, Lester Young, Illinois Jacquet (tenor saxophone); Roy Eldridge (trumpet); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Oscar Peterson (piano); Herb Ellis (guitar); Ray Brown (bass); Louie Bellson, Jo Jones, Buddy Rich (drums); The Russell Garcia Orchestra; The Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California on August 16, 1956, between August 18 and October 14, 1957 and between January 5 and July 17, 1959; Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California on July 23, 1957; The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California on October 7, 1957. Includes liner notes by Jim Macnie.

Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Herb Ellis (guitar); Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone); Coleman Hawkins, Flip Phillips, Illinois Jacquet, Lester Young, Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Roy Eldridge (trumpet); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Oscar Peterson (piano); Jo Jones , Louie Bellson, Alvin Stoller, Buddy Rich (drums).

Liner Note Author: Jim Macnie.

Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA (08/18/1957-07/17/1959); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (08/18/1957-07/17/1959); Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA (08/18/1957-07/17/1959).

Illustrator: Esther Bell Watson.

Arrangers: Nelson Riddle; Russell Garcia.

Even if you could find someone who wanted to, even if you could find some cynical, embittered individual who hated all things sentimental and old-fashioned, there would be nothing they could do--it is virtually impossible to diminish the popularity of George and Ira Gershwin's songs in the cultural consciousness. The tunes, no matter how overplayed, are just too good-- lyrics clever and memorizable, melodies infectious and immanently hummable. This Verve compilation of Gershwin hits as treated by the irascible Louis Armstrong and the rich stylings of Ella Fitzgerald includes all the favorites.

There are selections from Ella's famous performances with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, including "Things Are Looking Up," "'S Wonderful" and also the duo's interpretation of PORGY AND BESS with the spirited "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin," and, of course, "Summertime." The disc's finest numbers though, are the recordings with the Oscar Peterson trio. These versions of "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "How Long Has This Been Going On" forego the swelling arrangements of the larger orchestra for the more intimate feel of the combo. Throughout, Armstrong's inimitable conversational rasp contrasts and complements Fitzgerald's studied, exacting intonation to create a wonderful dynamic that adds even greater life and longevity to these well-known tunes.