Released in 1956 as the first album on the newly established Verve label, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book inaugurated her Song Book series and marked the beginning of her extended focus on composers associated with the Great American Songbook. Produced by Norman Granz, the sessions paired Ella with arranger/conductor Buddy Bregman and a studio orchestra, establishing the large-ensemble format that characterized the early Song Book recordings. The 2-LP set presents 32 songs drawn from Cole Porter's catalog and frames Ella's immaculate phrasing with West Coast orchestration that blends swing, ballad writing, and classic Hollywood sheen, emphasizing the lyrical wit and melodic elegance of Porter's writing. Formative in shaping both Verve's identity and Ella's artistic trajectory, it remains a cornerstone of her discography. Verve's Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes remastered on 180g vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
