The second vocal track on Ella Fitzgerald’s Gershwin Songbook LP won the best vocal performance Grammy for a female singer in 1960 and after only a few listens it’s easy to hear why.
“But Not For Me” like “Sam And Delilah” was written by George and Ira for the 1930 musical, “Girl Crazy”. This tune though , is a straight up tearjerker in the unrequited love vein, not unlike some of the sadder tunes on Sinatra’s “Wee Small Hours”.
Perhaps the female spin is what puts it over the top here, but Ella’s vocal is impassioned and so wonderfully timeless. You hear a guy complaining that he can’t get any lovin’, and the typical response would be to “Man up” or “buy a dog” or something like that.
The same sentiment coming from Ella, you want to instead do everything in your power to make it all better.
“I Got Rhythm” was the big showstopper from this musical, but “Girl Crazy” was absolutely loaded with terrific tunes. Seek out the 1943 film version with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, but avoid the 1932 RKO version.