by Scott Yanow
During her long career, every once in awhile Ella Fitzgerald would attempt to &get with it& and record contemporary pop tunes. In 1968 for a live concert with a big band and the Tommy Flanagan Trio, the First Lady of the American Song did what she could with such unsuitable material as &Hey Jude,& &Sunshine of Your Love,& &Watch What Happens& and &A House Is Not a Home.& The results (despite her sincerity) sometime borders on the embarassing; there is no way anyone can swing &Hey Jude.& A few of the other numbers (particularly &Give Me the Simple Life,& &Old Devil Moon& and &Love You Madly&) are of a higher quality but when Ella tries to turn &Alright, Okay, You Win& into funk, it is time to switch records.