Emily Carter
A-Tisket, A-Tasket is a jazz song recorded by Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald in 1938. It is based on a nursery rhyme and was composed by Fitzgerald in conjunction with Al Feldman (later known as Van Alexander). The song was a breakthrough hit for Fitzgerald, launching her into fame and becoming a jazz standard. It was also a major success for Webb, bringing him the success he had long strived for. The song has since been featured in films and games, and it continues to be recognised as one of the catchiest tunes in jazz.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of song release | 1938 |
| Songwriters | Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, and Al Feldman (later known as Van Alexander) |
| Songwriters' roles | Webb on drums, Fitzgerald as vocalist, Feldman as arranger |
| Song's origin | A North American nursery rhyme from the late 19th century |
| Song's melody | Same as "It's Raining, It's Pouring", "Rain Rain Go Away", and "Ring around the Rosie" |
| Song's lyrics | Changed the basket's colour to brown and yellow |
| Song's commercial performance | A major hit, reaching number one on Billboard's Sheet Music and Record Buying Guide (jukebox) charts and Your Hit Parade |
| Song's cultural impact | Used in the 1942 film Ride 'Em Cowboy and the 2012 film The Master; featured in the 2018 horror game Baldi's Basics |
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What You'll Learn
Ella Fitzgerald's rise to fame
Ella Fitzgerald, born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia, had a tumultuous adolescence before finding stability and fame in music. She began her career as a singer in the Harlem swing scene of the 1930s, joining Webb's orchestra and performing at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem.
Between 1935 and 1942, Fitzgerald recorded nearly 150 songs with Webb's orchestra, including hits like "Love and Kisses" and "(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)". However, it was her collaboration with Chick Webb in 1938 that propelled her to national fame. Fitzgerald and Webb recorded a jazz version of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", which became an instant hit and one of the biggest-selling records of the decade. The song was composed by Fitzgerald in conjunction with Al Feldman (later known as Van Alexander), and it helped boost both her and Webb to stardom.
After Webb's death in 1939, Fitzgerald took over as bandleader of the orchestra, which was renamed "Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous Orchestra". They recorded for Decca and performed at the Roseland Ballroom, gaining national exposure through NBC radio broadcasts. Fitzgerald also appeared in films and on popular television shows in the second half of the twentieth century. She collaborated with renowned artists such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and The Ink Spots, producing classics like "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and "Cheek to Cheek".
Under the management of Norman Granz, Fitzgerald toured with the Philharmonic, launched her famous songbook series, and covered songs by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and more. She performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Mocambo nightclub in Hollywood, solidifying her status as one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. Her career spanned nearly six decades, and she left an indelible mark on the world of jazz music, influencing both jazz and pop standards and breaking racial barriers in the entertainment industry.
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The song's composition
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" is a song composed by Ella Fitzgerald in conjunction with Al Feldman, who was later known as Van Alexander. The song was recorded by Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald in 1938 and became a major hit, reaching number one on several charts. The song is based on a nursery rhyme that was first recorded in North America in the late 19th century and was often sung while children danced in a circle and played games.
The composition of the song involved extending and embellishing the original nursery rhyme into a 32-bar jazz piece. The lyrics were also modified, including changing the colour of the basket to brown and yellow, and adding exchanges between Ella and the band, such as "Was it red? Was it blue?". Ella Fitzgerald also contributed to the lyrics, making changes to make the song more "hip" and appealing to audiences.
The swing period of the 1930s, with its rhythmic momentum and variations, provided the perfect musical elements for the song's success. The propulsive rhythmic quality and smooth musical line made it easy listening, and musicians were encouraged to play slightly ahead of the beat. The recording of the song on May 2, 1938, involved only one hour of rehearsal before it was recorded that night. Despite some initial resistance from the recording engineer at Decca Records, the song became a hit and launched Ella Fitzgerald into fame.
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Chick Webb's success
Webb was a drummer and band leader who, in the years 1935 to 1939, saw his band's commercial possibilities increase significantly due to Fitzgerald's singing. Her presence and personality became central to the band, and critics noted the increasingly commercial character of the group. However, Webb was unbothered by this shift, finally achieving the success he desired.
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" was composed by Fitzgerald in conjunction with Al Feldman (later known as Van Alexander), based on a North American nursery rhyme from the late 19th century. The song was recorded on May 2, 1938, with Chick Webb and His Orchestra, and released in early June of that year. It became an immediate hit, reaching number one on the charts and staying on the hit parade for nineteen weeks.
The song's success can be attributed to its catchy tune and smooth, propulsive rhythmic quality, which made it easy listening for audiences. It also benefited from Fitzgerald's vocal talents and her ability to swing. She brought her own flavour to the song, making it more hip and appealing to listeners.
In addition to "A-Tisket, A-Tasket", Chick Webb also collaborated with Fitzgerald on another song called "Liza" in 1938. Webb's success was short-lived, however, as he passed away in 1939. Nonetheless, his contributions to jazz, particularly through his work with Fitzgerald, left a lasting impact on the genre.
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Jazz standard
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" is a jazz standard that was recorded by Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald in 1938. The song is based on a nursery rhyme that was first recorded in North America in the 19th century. The melody is used in other children's rhymes such as "It's Raining, It's Pouring", "Rain Rain Go Away", and "Ring around the Rosie".
The song was composed by Fitzgerald in conjunction with Al Feldman, who later changed his name to Van Alexander. It was Fitzgerald's idea to turn the nursery rhyme into a jazz song. She said to arranger Van Alexander: "They're swingin' everything else—why not nursery rhymes?". Alexander recalled that there "wasn't much of a song to begin with", so he put the children's tune into a 32-bar song, adding a bridge and release, as well as novelty lyrics, including exchanges between Ella and the band. Fitzgerald made changes to the lyrics, such as changing "walkin' on down the avenue" to "truckin' down the avenue" to make the song more hip.
The song was recorded on May 2, 1938, and released in early June. It became a hit almost immediately, reaching number one on the charts and staying on the hit parade for a total of nineteen weeks. The song helped to launch Fitzgerald into fame and brought success to Webb as well. It has been described as one of the catchiest tunes in jazz and has been featured in films and a horror game.
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Appearances in popular culture
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" has made several appearances in popular culture since its release in 1938. The song was performed by Ella Fitzgerald in the 1942 Abbott and Costello film Ride 'Em Cowboy. A rendition of the song was also featured in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 film The Master. In 1959, The Platters recorded a version of the song, and it was included on actress-singer Hayley Mills' 1961 album Let's Get Together with Hayley Mills. The song was also used in the 2018 horror game Baldi's Basics, playing on a loop whenever the character Playtime is near the player.
The song's lyrics were based on a children's rhyming game, Drop the Glove, which was brought to the United States by English colonists. The melody is also used in other nursery rhymes, including "It's Raining, It's Pouring", "Rain Rain Go Away", and "Ring around the Rosie".
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" is considered one of the catchiest tunes in jazz and became an instant hit, launching Ella Fitzgerald into fame and becoming Chick Webb's greatest hit recording. The song reached number one on Billboard's Sheet Music and Record Buying Guide (jukebox) charts and Your Hit Parade. It remained on the hit parade for a total of nineteen weeks.
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Frequently asked questions
"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" is a nursery rhyme that was first recorded in North America in the late 19th century. It was sung as a children's rhyming game and was later adapted into a jazz song by Ella Fitzgerald and Al Feldman (later known as Van Alexander) in 1938. The song became a hit and is considered one of the catchiest tunes in jazz.
Ella Fitzgerald, also known as "The First Lady of Song," worked with Al Feldman to extend and embellish the nursery rhyme into a jazz piece. She also contributed to the lyrics, making changes to make the song more hip and adding her own flavour.
The song "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" was a collaboration between vocalist Ella Fitzgerald and Chick Webb's band. The orchestra included Chick Webb on drums, Mario Bauza on first trumpet, Bobby Stark and Taft Jordan on trumpets, Nat Story on first trombone, Sandy Williams and George Matthews on trombones, Garvin Bushell on first alto saxophone, Louis Jordan on alto saxophone, Teddy McRae and Wayman Carver on tenor saxophones, Tommy Fulford on piano, Bobby Johnson on guitar, Beverly Peer on bass, and Ella Fitzgerald on vocals.
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