“They Can’t Take That Away From Me”

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On this episode of Let’s Face The Music, we hear early versions of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” that left those involved bitter and disappointed. And we find out from Nashville composer and arranger Larissa Maestro how Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong were able to bring new life to the tune, one of the last songs George Gershwin ever wrote.

Sources:
Philip Furia, Ira Gershwin: The Art of the Lyricist, 1996
Charles Waring, “Cheek To Cheek: Celebrating The Perfect Partnership of Ella and Louis,” April 9, 2010
Tad Hershorn, Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice, 2011
Michael Feinstein, The Gershwins And Me, 2012
Tom Maxwell, “The Story of Ella and Louis: 60 Years Later,” Nov 7, 2016

audio:
Fred Astaire “They Can”t Take That Away From Me,” 1937
Fred Astaire “Shall We Dance,” 1937
Shall We Dance excerpts 1937
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong “You Won”t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart),” 1946
Thelonious Monk “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” 1947
Frank Sinatra “They Can”t Take That Away From Me,” 1954
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong “They Can”t Take That Away From Me,” 1956
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong “Stompin At The Savoy,” 1957
Jimmy Smith “”S Wonderful,” 1957
Art Pepper “Fascinating Rhythm,” 1957
Ella Fitzgerald “The Song Is Ended,” 1958
Ella Fitzgerald “They Can”t Take That Away From Me,” 1959
Oscar Peterson Trio “Easter Parade” 1960

Norman Granz, interview with Binny Lum, 1960
Louis Armstrong, Desert Island Discs, BBC, 1968
Ella Fitzgerald, interview with Bill McNeil, 1971
Michael Feinstein, Broadway or Bust, PBS, 2012

Theme Music:
“Let”s Face The Music And Dance,” Ella Fitzgerald, 1958
“Let”s Face The Music And Dance,” Nelson Riddle, 1966