The original 12 songs on the album come from 5 different sessions, featuring orchestras led by Nelson Riddle, Frank DeVol, Russell (Russ) Garcia, Marty Paich or Paul Weston.
The first two tracks are from the sessions for the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook, which were later included on the 1998 reissue of the album, and Berlin's "Blue Skies" was recorded at the sessions for the 1958 album Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook, but inexplicably omitted from the final cut, despite featuring one Ella's most impressive extended scat improvisations.
"The Swingin' Shepherd Blues" (Previously unreleased, alternate take) (Kenny Jacobson, Moe Koffman, Rhoda Roberts) – 2:50 Recorded in six sessions from July 24, 1957- July 11, 1959 in Hollywood, Los Angeles: Tracks 1,2 Capitol Studios, Hollywood January 7, 1959 Nelson Riddle (arr, con) Paul Smith (p) Herb Ellis (g) Joe Mondragon (b) Bill Richmond (d) Conrad Gozzo, Cappy Lewis, Vito Mangano, Shorty Sherock (tpt); Dick Noel, Tommy Pederson, George Roberts (trmb);rmb) Tracks 3,7 Radio Recorders, Hollywood, July 11, 1959 Frank DeVol (arr, con) Lou Levy (p) Herb Ellis (g) Joe Mondragon (b) Alvin Stoller (d) Frank Beach, Pete Candoli, Cappy Lewis, Al Porcino (t) Harry Betts, Dick Noel, George Roberts, lloyd Ulyate (vtrmb) Track 4 United Recorders, Hollywood, September 3, 1959, Russell Garcia (arr, con) Claude Williamson Jr. (p) Herb Ellis (g) Red Mitchell (b) Jack Sperling (drums) (d) Pete Candoli, Philip Candreva, Buddy Childers, Stu Williamson (t) Tracks 5,6 United Recorders, Hollywood, September 3, 1959, Marty Paich (arr, con) Claude Williamson Jr. (p) Herb Ellis (g) Red Mitchell (b) Jack Sperling (d) Pete Candoli, Philip Candreva, Buddy Childers, Stu Williamson (t) Track 8 Radio Recorders, Hollywood, March 18, 1958, Paul Weston (arr, con) Paul Smith (p) Barney Kessel (g) Joe Mondragon (b) Alvin Stoller (d) John Best, Pete Candoli, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Don Fagerquist, Mannie Klein (t) Tracks 9–13 Capitol Studios.
Hollywood, July 24, 1957, Frank DeVol (arr, con) Arnold Ross (p) Barney Kessel (g) Ben Webster (ts) Abe Luboff, Joe Mondragon, Philip Stephens (b) Alvin Stoller (d) Pete Candoli, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Ray Linn, George Werth (t) Milt Bernha Track 14 Radio Recorders Annex, Hollywood, March 19, 1958, Weston (arr, con) Harry "Sweets" Edison (t) Leonard Hartman, Matty Matlock.
Ted Nash, or Fred Stulce (fl) Paul Smith (p) Barney Kessel (g) Joe Mondragon (vb; Alvin Stoller (d)