GEORGE GERSHWIN : The Complete Gershwin Songbooks (1995) 3xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks), lossless

The Complete Gershwin Songbooks collects three discs also released separately: 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, and 'S Paradise. The first two discs include the greatest vocalists Verve had to offer, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Anita O'Day, Shirley Horn, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Bing Crosby, Joe Williams, Fred Astaire, and even Antonio Carlos Jobim. Obviously, the songs are all classics and the versions presented are quite legendary themselves. The third disc in the set includes instrumental versions of Gershwin standards (by Bill Evans, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Clifford Brown, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson) that focus on the composer's stunning gift of melody and harmonic interplay -- just as the vocalists' versions highlight his lyrical prowess. Not all the versions are definitive, but The Complete Gershwin Songbooks includes many treats for fans of classic traditional pop. John Bush
Track Listing - Disc 1  'S Wonderful
1    Billie Holiday–    They Can't Take That Away From Me    4:10
2    Helen Merrill–    Summertime    3:24
3    Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong–    Let's Call The Whole Thing Off    4:12
4    Sarah Vaughan–    Embraceable You     4:47
5    Dinah Washington–    But Not For Me    2:24
6    Bing Crosby–    They All Laughed    2:40
7    Betty Carter–    The Man I Love    7:39
8    The Gordons (2), Dizzy Gillespie, Stuff Smith–    Oh, Lady Be Good     4:11
9    Louis Armstrong–    There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York    4:51
10    Ella Fitzgerald–    How Long Has This Been Going On?    5:50
11    Joe Williams–    'S Wonderful     2:37
12    Nina Simone–    I Loves You Porgy    2:31
13    Bill Henderson–    I've Got A Crush On You     4:01
14    Fred Astaire–    Fascinatin' Rhythm    2:42
15    Blossom Dearie–    Someone To Watch Over Me    5:58
16    Shirley Horn–    Our Love Is Here To Stay    3:35
Track Listing - Disc 2  'S Marvelous
1    Ernestine Anderson–    I Got Rhythm    2:55
2    Billie Holiday–    Nice Work If You Can Get It    3:50
3    Joe Williams–    Embraceable You    4:36
4    Anita O'day–    Who Cares?    3:15
5    Louis Armstrong–    A Woman Is A Sometime Thing     4:45
6    Sarah Vaughan–    Love Walked In     3:06
7    Blossom Dearie–    Love Is Here To Stay     3:11
8    Fred Astaire–    Oh, Lady Be Good     4:30
9    Ella Fitzgerald–    Of Thee I Sing    3:07
10    Morgana King–    For You For Me, For Evermore    3:03
11    Dinah Washington–    A Foggy Day    8:00
12    Arthur Prysock–    Someone To Watch Over Me    2:53
13    Shirley Horn–    Isn't It A Pity?     5:47
14    Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong–    They Can't Take That Away From Me    4:38
15    Sarah Vaughan–    'S Wonderful     2:29
16    Antonio Carlos Jobim–    Fascinatin' Rhythm    2:09
Track Listing - Disc 3  'S Paradise (Instrumentals)
1    Louie Bellson Orchestra–    Fascinatin' Rhythm    4:15
2    Bill Evans, Jim Hall–    My Man's Gone Now    6:44
3    Buddy DeFranco–    Mine    6:27
4    Coleman Hawkins–    How Long Has This Been Going On?    3:54
5    Oscar Peterson–    Somebody Loves Me     3:22
6    Kenny Burrell–    Prelude II    2:17
7    George Shearing–    They All Laughed    2:31
8    Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer–    Nice Work If You Can Get It    5:55
9    Bill Evans–    I Loves You, Porgy    5:40
10    Jimmy Cleveland–    Love Is Here To Stay    3:31
11    Toshiko Akiyoshi–    The Man I Love    5:28
12    Tal Farlow–    A Foggy Day     3:22
13    Oscar Peterson–    Strike Up The Band     3:15
14    Clifford Brown–    Embraceable You    3:01
15    Don Elliott–    'S Wonderful     5:12
16    Art Tatum–    Someone To Watch Over Me    3:10