My favorite version of “Love for Sale,” and of a bunch of other Cole Porter songs, is on the album from a show called “Cole!” that was done by the Mermaid Theater in England. I don’t think it’s available as a new recording any more, but you can find it on YouTube.
@hunt, ok thanks.
I am going to look it up.
@hunt,
So I don’t go on a wild goose chase, are you talking about this?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IsSJfI2HZZ8i
Do you know Ella’s background? She was a lookout for prostitutes when she was a teenager.
Ok…I found it around the 8 minute mark of part 2. If this isn’t the right version, that is ok. I thought the singer sang it beautifully.
You don’t have to like Ella.
The comment Ella doesn’t understand Cole Porter bugs me. (I will get over it). She was a musical genius surrounded by musical geniuses. She had a tough time. I think she gets it. She sings her own interpretations. Many different versions.
Does Janis Joplin not understand Gershwin’s Summertime because she changed things up… A little…no a lot? 
Anyway, I do like the Mermaid Theater production’s of Love For Sale.
Thanks.
And your opinion of Ella’s version fits the thread better than my opinion. 
That’s it. Ella may have been well aware of the tragedy of prostitutes’ lives; I just don’t think she conveys that in her rendition of “Love for Sale.” But she uses a lot of songs that way, as essentially the basis for riffs. That’s OK, if you like that sort of thing.
My wife also criticizes me when I say that Ella doesn’t understand “Love for Sale,” so maybe that’s too harsh. I do think, however, that her rendition doesn’t capture the real meaning of the song. (This is also true, by the way, of instrumental versions, especially jazz versions, of lots of songs, but we probably don’t notice so much if the lyrics aren’t heard.)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KeKLo10lwrI
My brother owned a record store and loves all kinds of music but doesn’t like Ella’s scatting.
You are right about jazz. That’s why some of us like jazz. Improvization and interpretation. Sometimes we barely know what we are listening too. 
Have you really heard Ella’s songbook version of Love for Sale? There are so many versions. The song books are more pop oriented.
The link is up above, if you have time and want to give it a shot.
Your wife is right.
Someone mentioned Genesis upthread. I like them OK but absolutely cannot stand Phil Collins as a solo artist! Seriously, he’s about as pretentious as the come, without the talent to back it up. In fairness, it doesn’t help that his heyday was during one of the most difficult periods of my life and his songs were everywhere.
@Hunt - are you familiar with Red Hot and Blue? It is an album of Cole Porter songs recorded by popular artists (circa 1990?) and was an AIDS benefit. Some very good stuff there, IMO. KD Lang singing So In Love, U2 playing Night and Day, etc.
^ I love Red, Hot and Blue!
@Hunt
I can’t believe that there’s another living person on cc who knows this album; you’ve made my day!
ps. I totally agree that this is the best version of “Love for Sale” ever.
My entry in this is Madonna, when I hear how she changed music and the value of her music, it drives me nuts. She was a great at marketing, but after that it was all hype over substance. Then again, I never went for the whole stage show-dancer-stuff, if you can’t do a concert without that it isn’t music to me. Doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a good stage show with good music, have seen some damn good musicians with light shows and such, but they were musicians.
Thank goodness someone said it.^^^
Several years ago I was at one of D’s dance competitions when someone danced to a song that I thought was so horribly sung I could not concentrate on watching the dance. The singer was someone named Kate Bush.
Kate Bush? I knew someone in college back in the dark ages of the first Reagan administration who was into her, he was a weird dude…
@lje62 :
"Does anyone remember when Eddie Murphy attempted a singing career ?
" My girl wants to party all the time, party all the time, party all the tiimme "
That song was hilarious! My brother and I sang that mockingly, yet with much love for Eddie Murphy, * all the time.* That cat was rad in those days.
I agree. Totally unAmerican, and unBritish as well 
Kate Bush’s music is an acquired taste. Her voice is unique. Not saying she’s terrible or anything, but she has a devoted following.
OMG, I love Ella Fitzgerald’s Cole Porter albums. IIRC I have the the 2 record series. Still have a turntable too
Why don’t you like her renditions, Hunt?