Sunday Music: The Best of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Album Title: The Best of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Why I Bought It: Trying to expand my collection of 30's/40's music (which still needs expanding; at the moment it consists of this, a Nat King Cole album, and a Billie Holiday album).

What I Like (Silly): "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off". Look, nobody says "po-tah-to", or ever did except for this song; but who cares?

What I Like (Oops): "You Won't Be Satisfied". In this recording, Ella fluffs one verse, repeating the words of the previous one, and then, without missing a beat or dropping the tune, apologizes in verse. I strongly suspect it was rehearsed, but it's still funny.

What I Like (Classic): "Summertime". It's not my favorite cover, but it's the only duet version I have.

What I Like (Get Down): "Stompin' at the Savoy". Can't call it a rockin' good time, actually, but it's the pre-rock equivalent.

Overall: Face it, Louis Armstrong's voice wasn't exactly beautiful, but as a counterpoint to Ella's lovely voice it works just fine. There's nothing on the album that really sends me, but pretty much everything is fun to listen to. "Love Is Here to Stay", "They Can't Take That Away from Me", "Autumn in New York", "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" - it's all good.

Yay?

Hallelujah: the Padres have actually managed to win two games in a row. It only took them two and a half weeks to do it....

Seriously, the season so far has been, um, unsatisfactory. Most of the regulars aren't hitting, and the defense that was one of the team's hallmarks the last two years has just collapsed. (Heck, they committed three errors today. Fortunately, the Phillies did likewise.) Chase Headley's been just about the only bright spot on offense. Nick Hundley had a big day today - triple, homer, sac fly, and four RBI - but his batting average is still almost Mendozan, at .219. Two of the starting pitchers are on the DL, one of them probably for the season, and the bullpen has been unreliable. Again, some bright spots: Luebke continues his impressive pitching from last year, and the rookies - Bass, Cashner, Wieland - are putting in solid performances, albeit without much reward as yet.

It's going to be a long year, but I'm still optimistic. About 2013, that is....