Brighten the Corner

Brighten the Corner
Studio album by Ella Fitzgerald
Released	August 1967
Recorded	July 17–18, 1967
Genre	Christian music, Popular music
Length	27:27
Label	Capitol
Producer	Dave Dexter, Jr.
Ella Fitzgerald chronology
Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur (1966) Brighten the Corner (1967) Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas (1967)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[2]

Brighten the Corner is a 1967 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, debut album on Capitol Records.^[3] The album charted at #172 in the Billboard Hot 200 album charts.^[4]

The album was reissued by Capitol Records on CD in 1991 and together, on one CD, with the album "Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas" in 2006.

The album was Ella's first since leaving the Verve label, which had seen her produce her most acclaimed body of work. It marked a sharp change of direction for Fitzgerald, as Brighten the Corner saw Ella sing Christian hymns, reflecting her own spirituality, and eschewing the Great American Songbook standards on which she had previously concentrated.

Track listing

For the 1967 LP on Capitol Records; Capitol ST 2684; ; Re-issued in 1991 on CD, Capitol CDP 7 95151-2

Side One:

1. "Abide with Me" (Henry Francis Lyte, Arrangers; G. Price, R. Black) - 3.24
2. "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" (Traditional, Arrangers; G. Price, R. Black) - 5.00
3. "The Old Rugged Cross" (George Bennard) - 3.50
4. "Brighten the Corner Where You Are" (Ina D. Ogdon, Charles H. Gabriel ) - 2.33
5. "I Need Thee Every Hour" (Annie S. Hawks, Robert Lowry) - 3.38
6. "In the Garden" (C. Austin Miles) - 3.14
7. "God Be with You Till We Meet Again" (Jeremiah E. Rankin, William G. Tomer) - 1.19

Side Two:

1. "God Will Take Care of You" (Civilla D. Martin, W. Stillman Martin) - 3.29
2. "The Church in the Wildwood" (William S. Pitts) - 3.00
3. "Throw Out the Lifeline" (Edwin Ufford) - 3.12
4. "I Shall Not Be Moved" (Traditional, Arrangers; G. Price, R. Black) - 2.40
5. "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning" (Philip P. Bliss) - 2.46
6. "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" (Joseph M. Scriven, Charles Crozat Converse) - 4.02
7. "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me" (Augustus Toplady, Thomas Hastings) - 1.58

Personnel

• Ella Fitzgerald - Vocals
• Ralph Carmichael Choir - Vocals
• John Kraus - engineer
• Grace Price, Robert Black - arrangements

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 77. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
3. Ella Fitzgerald Brighten the Corner at AllMusic
4. Billboard album charts Brighten the Corner at AllMusic