A-Tisket A-Tasket

Strange fact: as far as I know, ILM has not only never discussed this track but - extraordinary - never ('really') discussed Ella Fitzgerald. Seems a good thing to put right at start of a New Year.

Edna W's verdict = "It's another 'How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?'".

(i "know" the answers to all these questions but will have to be at home to actually deliver them)

Yeah, it was her breakthrough record; I believe it was written or co- written by the artiste herself.

Quintessential Ella = The Cole Porter Songbook, a record that makes the perfect gift for someone you don't know well because EVERYONE LIKES IT. (Dissenters?) Also, it sounds great at a party no matter who the partiers are.

Somewhere around here I've got an Ella version of "Air Mail Special" that's the most impressive scat-singing I've ever heard.

I don't like it cos I haven't heard it. I'll love it the minute I hear it. Hey - maybe that means I ALREADY like it.

Fascinating to hear that EF co-wrote the song.

Mark S: am still awaiting your secret Knowledge.

A-TISKET A-TASKET
Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb and his Orchestra, w.Ella Fitzgerald, Al Feldman, Decca 1840, rec.nyc 2.5.38.

"When Ella Fitzgerald recorded A-Tisket A-Tasket — adapted by Ella and Al from an old nursery rhyme — she was still only 20. She had been singing with the dynamic Chick Webb Orchestra for three years. It was her first major hit as a recording artist — eventually attaining Gold Disc status… On Webb's untimely death in June 1939 her colleagues were unanimous she should take over leadershp of the band… Two years later, though, came the decision to call it a day… and Ella Fitzgerald went on to become known as America's First Lady of Song… A-Tisket A-Tasket, arranged by Van Alexander, made its Chart debut on June 18, 1938, remaining there for 19 weeks, and peaking at Number One. Collective sales, over the years, amounted to a figure well over two million.

Turning point in pop?: maybe, but in a complex way. Ella's hit pushed Webb's band up from cool hipster jazz-swing muso status to mass trash-pop success: he started to record more songs than instrumentals!! (A major crime, in the eyes of jazz historians anyway...)

Ella's subsequent 50s careers, esp. after her famous Cole Porter collection recording, was (maybe) in secret grown-up proper-art distancing atonement for her youthful silly glam explosion. As was Sinatra's. As was much too much of the swing generation's music (in conceit a heroic resistence to delinqent rock'n'roll rubbish...)

re writer credit: words of ATAT = trad. It's possible she was only included as a "writer" to ensure decent sales royalties went to the key performer. Writers did much better than performers royalties-wise (via SHEET MUSIC sales, mainly). This was a routine little trick, more generous than corrupt. On the other hand, she may have come up with part of the tune.

I think Ella = boring as a jazz-scat goddess, and more fun as a silly swing-pop kylie- type...

Am struggling to imagine Ella in Kyliedress, she was, ahem a big woman I believe, but you're otm as a pop/soul singer. Do you know the late 60's stuff she recorded when she battled through Beatles and Motown numbers? The 60's floored other singers from her generation but she sounds like she's finding her (new) voice. Her version of Sunshine of your love pisses over Cream's.

It's true. Somewhere around here I've got a recording of Ella singing "Savoy Truffle" (!) ca. 1970--it's weird as hell, definitely, but the remarkable thing is that she DOESN'T sound out of her depth, more like "okay, this is a peculiar little pop tune, lay it on me and let's see what we can do." Makes the weaknesses of the song itself more apparent, though.

she was seriously ill (and didn't record) throughout most of the 60s IIRC, and the late 60s stuff (Sunshine of Your Love etc) was a bit of a comeback, before she died

Y'know, I used to sing "A-tisket a-tasket, a green and yellow basket". I'm all packed up and I'm on my way, and I'm gonna fall in love. But at the moment, it doesn't look good. At the moment, I don't think it will ever. Happen. Again.

Nick, r u ok?

Am I remembering right that the Ken Burns doc included a promo film of Ella lipsynching this song to a bus full of eagerly attentive passengers? It's v. strange imagery and not what I would have thought of.

I'm fine, sorry.

This thread inspired me to listen to Ella last night, but decided to play Sarah Vaughan instead. I've said it before, and I'm saying it again; I'll never name anyone "best singer of all time" but if I had to, Sarah would be the one.

I have now got a 100-SONG 4CD SET of Fitzgerald. So am using this thread rather than a new one to mention 'It's Only A Paper Moon'. I don't seem to be able to buy a record which doesn't have a version of this song on it. Perhaps that's why I can't decide whether I like it or not. I think I find it slightly irritating. Does anyone else? Who do you ppl think cut the best version?

Didn't I hear Eminem quote 'a-tisket a-tasket' in his new single? Along with the use of the word 'divvy', last heard on Brookside c.1989. I might have imagined both these things.

But N.! What do you think of 'It's Only A Paper Moon'??

I don't know it.

I vote for Vic Fontaine's version! (I've never heard it, honest)

"You know, I used to sing, 'A tisket, a tasket, a green and yellow basket.' I'm all packed up and I'm on my way and I'm going to fall in love. But at the moment, it doesn't look good. At the moment, it will never happen again. I don't think it will ever happen again."

I didn't even read that Nick had posted it. I don't think that will ever happen again.

I just remembered on an Illinois Jacket (sp?) live album, he stops in the middle of the songs and says "Look who just stopped in her to see me! It's Ella Fitzgerald." He starts singing "A tisket, a tasket a green and yellow basket" and shouts to his bandmates colors. "Was it red?" "No no no no!" "Was is pink?", etc. and the he howls in the funniest voie ever "Was it BLACK POWA?" "Oh no!" replies his bandmate, and they scat sing into fade.