Ella Fitzgerald on album chart after 38 years

By Fred Bronson

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald is back on the U.S. pop album charts for the first time in just under 38 years.

"Love Letters from Ella" debuted at No. 97 on the Billboard 200 Wednesday, and it also entered the Top Jazz Albums tally at No. 2, behind Michael Buble's "Call Me Irresponsible."

Fitzgerald, who died in 1996, had not been on the Billboard 200 since "Ella" peaked at No. 196 in October 1969. The new CD, released through a partnership between Concord Jazz and Starbucks, is her highest-ranked title since "Ella and Basie!" went to No. 69 in 1963. Counting only her solo LPs, this is Fitzgerald's finest hour since "Ella in Hollywood" starred at No. 35 in 1962.

While her career dates back to 1934, Fitzgerald's chart span on the Billboard 200 now extends 51 years to the debut of "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook" in 1956.

On the Top Jazz Albums tally, "Love Letters from Ella" ties the peak position of the "Best of Song Book Collections" CD in July 1996 as the highest-charting Ella titles since "Ella in Rome - The Birthday Concert" ruled for five weeks in July-August 1988.

Reuters/Billboard