Surprisingly enough this 1963 LP was the first time (other than a couple songs) that Ella Fitzgeraldand Count Ba-sie recorded together. (The match-up was so logical that it would be repeated many times over the next 20 years.) Fitzgerald sounds fine and, even if Quincy Jones' arrangements did not give the Basie musicians as much space for solos - although two songs do feature a bit of trumpeterJoe Newman, trombonist Urbie Green and Frank Foster on tenor - this is an enjoyable effort. High points include "Honeysuckle Rose," "Them There Eyes" and "Shiny Stockings."
Track listing For the 1963 Verve LP album, Verve V6-4061 Side One: 1."Honeysuckle Rose" – 2:42 2."'Deed I Do" – 2:40 3."Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" – 3:20 4."Them There Eyes" – 5:04 5."Dream a Little Dream of Me" – 4:04 6."Tea for Two" – 3:10 Side Two: 7."Satin Doll" – 3:13 8."I'm Beginning to See the Light" – 3:57 9."Shiny Stockings" – 3:30 10."This Is My Last Affair" – 3:11 11."Ain't Misbehavin'" – 3:06 12."On the Sunny Side of the Street" – 3:00
Bonus Tracks; Issued on the 1997 Verve CD Reissue, Verve 539 059-2 13."My Last Affair" (Alternative take) – 3:26 14."My Last Affair" (Alternative take) – 3:39 15."Robbins Nest" (Breakdown) – 1:22 16."Robbins Nest" (Previously unreleased) – 3:40 17."Robbins Nest" (Alternative take) – 3:09 18."Robbins Nest" (Alternative take) – 2:55
Personnel Ella Fitzgerald - vocals The Count Basie Orchestra Count Basie - piano Sonny Cohn - trumpet Joe Newman Eric Dixon - flute, tenor saxophone Frank Foster - flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone Frank Wess Charlie Fowlkes - baritone saxophone Freddie Green - guitar Benny Powell - trombone Urbie Green Henry Coker Grover Mitchell Flip Ricard - trombone, trumpet Marshall Royal - clarinet, alto saxophone Buddy Catlett - double bass Sonny Payne - drums Quincy Jones - arranger
Recorded from July 16 to July 17, 1963, at A & R Studios, NYC