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Duke Ellington discography

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This is the discography of recordings by Duke Ellington, including those nominally led by his sidemen (mainly in the 1930s and early 1940s), and his later collaborations (mainly in the 1960s) with musicians with whom Ellington had generally not previously recorded.

Reissues are listed for recordings dating from before the 1950s, with the exception of radio broadcasts which were only commercially available later. Since many collections of sides from the 78rpm era (and box-sets) contain recordings made over multiple years, these are listed under the earliest year of the tracks included. An exception are those compilations which contain recordings dating from a period extending over more than a decade which are listed in a section at the end of this article. Throughout this list, most entries are listed by the year of recording, rather than the year of release.

The US chart listing information should be considered tentative because sources, like Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories, do not take the cheaper dime-store records into account. During this period, records sold by song title, not by artist, although there are exceptions.

Hit records

Year Single Chart positions
US US
R&B 		UK
1927 "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" 10
1928 "Black and Tan Fantasy" 15
"Creole Love Call" 19
"Doin' the New Low Down" 20
"Diga Diga Doo" 17
"The Mooche" 16
1930 "Three Little Words" 1
"Ring Dem Bells" 17
1931 "Blue Again" 12
"Mood Indigo" 3
"Rockin' In Rhythm" 19
"Creole Rhapsody Parts 1 & 2" 18
"Limehouse Blues" 13
1932 "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" 6
"Creole Rhapsody"(new version) 19
"Rose Room (In Sunny Roseland)" 15
"Moon Over Dixie" 14
"Blue Ramble" 16
1933 "Drop Me Off in Harlem" 17
"Sophisticated Lady" 3
"Stormy Weather" 4
"I'm Satisfied" 11
"In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" 13
1934 "Daybreak Express" 20
"Cocktails For Two" 1
"Moon Glow" 2
"Solitude" 2
"Saddest Tale" 9
1935 "Merry Go Round" 6
"In a Sentimental Mood" 14
"Accent On Youth" 6
"Cotton" 4
1936 "Isn't Love the Strangest Thing?" 12
"Love Is Like a Cigarette" 8
"Clarinet Lament" 12
"Echoes of Harlem" 19
"Oh Babe! Maybe Someday" 8
"Jazz Lips" 20
"Yearning For Love" 16
1937 "The New East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" 16
"There's a Lull In My Life" 12
"Scattin' At the Kit Kat" 9
"Caravan" 4
"Azure" 13
"All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" 14
1938 "Harmony In Harlem" 15
"If You Were In My Place (What Would You Do?)" 10
"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" 1
"The Gal From Joe's" 20
"Lambeth Walk" 7
"Prelude To a Kiss" 18
1940 "You, You, Darlin'" 28
"Ko Ko" 25
"At a Dixie Roadside Diner" 27
"Sepia Panorama" 24
1941 "Flamingo" 11
"Take the A Train" 11
"I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" 13
1942 "Hayfoot, Strawfoot" 10
1943 "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" 8 1
"Perdido" 21
"Take the A Train"(re-entry) 19
"Bojangles" 19
"A Slip of the Lip" 19 1
"Sentimental Lady" 19 1
1944 "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" 10 1
"Main Stem" 23 1
"My Little Brown Book" 4
"Someone" 7
"I Don't Mind" 9
1945 "I'm Beginning To See the Light" 6 4
"Don't You Know I Care" 10
"I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" 4
1946 "Come To Baby, Do" 13
1948 "Don't Be So Mean To Baby" 15
1953 "Satin Doll"
"Boo Dah" 30
1954 "Skin Deep" 7

1920s

During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Ellington and his band recorded for almost every label (BluDisc, Pathé, Perfect, Victor, Brunswick, Columbia Records, Okeh, Vocalion, Cameo, Romeo, Lincoln, Banner, Domino, Jewel, and Hit of the Week). The recordings from labels such as RCA Victor, Okeh and Brunswick have been collected in box sets, while material from other labels is scattered. The most comprehensive source for Ellington's early work are the Classics releases, although that series omits alternate takes, which may be found in other collections.

1924

  • 1924–1926: The Birth of A Band Vol. 1 (EPM Musique) – released 1988)
  • Complete Edition (Masters of Jazz/Media 7, volume 1, 1924–1926) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1924–1927 (Classics) – CD only

1925

  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 1, 1925–1928 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1973

1926

  • The Birth of Big Band Jazz (Riverside EP, released 1956)
  • The Beginning Vol. 1 (Decca Jazz Heritage Series, DL 9224, 1926–1928) – 1987 LP
  • Early Ellington: The Complete Brunswick Recordings (Decca/GRP) – 3-CD set released 1994 containing sides from 1926–1931
    • The Best of Early Duke Ellington (GRP/ Verve, 1926–1931)
  • Complete Edition (Masters of Jazz/Media 7, volume 2, 1926–1927) – CD only

1927

  • Ellingtonia, Vol. One (Brunswick, 1943) – album of four 78-rpm discs containing sides from the period 1927–1931
  • Flaming Youth (RCA Victor) – LP released 1965, recordings from 1927–1929,
  • The Indispensable Duke Ellington Volumes 1/2 (RCA France Jazz Tribune/Double Black & White series) – 2-LP set released 1981, 2-CD set in 1994; contains recordings from 1927 to 1929
  • Jazz Heritage Brunswick/Vocalion Rarities (MCA) – released 1983, recordings 1926–1931
  • The Works of Duke: Vol. 1 – Vol. 5 (RCA, 1927–1930)
  • Jungle Nights in Harlem (Bluebird) – released 1991, recordings from 1927–1932
  • The OKeh Ellington (Columbia) – 2-CD set released 1991 of 1927–1930 sides
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: 1927–1928 (Classics) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1927–1928 (Classics) – CD only
  • Complete Edition (Masters of Jaz/Media 7, volume 3, 1927–1928) – CD only
  • Mood Indigo (Columbia) – released 1992, recordings from 1927–1931
  • Early Ellington: 1927–1934 (Bluebird) – released 1954, CD release 1990 on RCA)
  • Duke Ellington 1927–1934 (Nimbus, 1991) – CD only
  • Great Original Performances 1927–1934 (Mobile Fidelity, released 1989)
  • Rockin' in Rhythm (Jazz Hour, 1927–1936, released 1996)
  • Duke Ellington Playing the Blues (Black and Blue, 1927–1939, released 2002)

1928

  • Ellingtonia, Vol. Two (Brunswick, 1944) – album of four 78-rpm discs containing sides from the period 1928–1931
  • Hot in Harlem Vol. 2 (Decca Jazz Heritage Series, 1928–1929)
  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 2, 1928–1930 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1973
  • Jazz Cocktail (AVS/Living Era 1928–1932)
  • Jubilee Stomp (Bluebird, 1928–1934)
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: 1928 (Classics) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1928 (Classics) – CD only
  • Complete Edition (Masters of Jazz/Media 7, volumes 4 & 5, 1928) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1928–1929 (Classics) – CD only

1929

  • Rockin' in Rhythm Vol. 3 (Decca Jazz Heritage Series, DL 79247, 1929–1931)
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1929 (Classics) – CD only
  • Complete Edition (Masters of Jazz, volumes 6 & 7, 1929) – CD only
  • Complete Edition (December 1929–March 1930; Masters of Jazz/Media 7, volume 9) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1929–1930 (Classics) – CD only

1930s

1930

  • The Indispensable Duke Ellington Volumes 3/4 (RCA France Jazz Tribune/Double Black & White series) – 2-LP set released 1981, 2-CD set in 1994. Contains recordings from the period 1930 to 1934.
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1930 (Classics, 2 volumes) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1930–31 (Classics) – CD only
  • Complete Edition (April–June 1930; Masters of Jazz/Media 7, volume 10) – CD only
  • Complete Edition (August–October 1930; Masters of Jazz/Media 7, volume 11) – CD only
  • Complete Edition (Masters of Jazz/Media 7, volume 12, 1930–1931) – CD only

1931

  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1931–32 (Classics) – CD only

1932

  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 4, 1932 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1974;
  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 5, 1932–1933 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1974
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1932–33 (Classics) – CD only

1933

  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 6, 1933–1936 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1975
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1933 (Classics) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1933–35 (Classics) – CD only
  • The British Connection: 1933–1940 (Jazz Unlimited)

1934

1935

  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1935–36 (Classics) – CD only

1936

  • The Complete Duke Ellington Vol. 7 1936–1937 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1975
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1936–37 (Classics) – CD only

1937

  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 8, 1937 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released, 1976
  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 9, 1937 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1976
  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol.10, 1937–1938 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1977
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1937 (Classics, 2 volumes) – CD only
  • Ellington on the Air (Bulldog, 1982) – LP comprising Cotton Club, NYC appearance in 1937 (side A) and Southland Cafe, Boston, 1940 (Side B)
  • Swing & Jazz (Rhino, 1937–1942)

1938

  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 11, 1938 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1977
  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 12, 1938 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1979
  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 13, 1938–1939 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1981
  • The Duke's Men: Small Groups vol. 2, 1938–1939 (Columbia)
  • Braggin' in Brass: The Immortal 1938 Year (Portrait)
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1938 (Classics, 3 volumes) – CD only
  • Blue Light 1938 (Columbia)
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1938–39 (Classics) – CD only

1939

  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 14, 1939 (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1981
  • The Complete Duke Ellington: Vol. 15, (1939–1940) (CBS France) – 2-LP set released 1981
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1939 (Classics, 2 volumes) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1939–40 (Classics) – CD only
  • The Duke In Boston, 1939-1940 (Jazz Unlimited) – CD released 1993

Decade compilations

  • The Complete 1932–1940 Brunswick/Columbia/Master Recordings of Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (Mosaic) – 11-CD set released 2010[1]
  • The Complete 1936–1940 Variety, Vocalian & OKeh Small Group Recordings (Mosaic) – 7-CD set produced and copyrighted for 2006.[2]

1940s

The decade began with Ellington's recordings featuring Jimmy Blanton and Ben Webster, "the best Ellington" according to critic Bob Blumenthal.[3] Activity in the commercial recording industry was restricted during the 1942–1944 musicians' strike which including a recording ban, but Ellington did make annual visits to Carnegie Hall, listed below. In the January 1943 concert, Ellington introduced his first extended suite, "Black, Brown and Beige."

1940

  • In a Mellotone (RCA Victor) – 1956 LP release of selected 1940–1942 titles
  • Jumpin' Punkins (RCA Victor) – 1965 LP release of selected 1940 and 1941 titles
  • The Indispensable Duke Ellington, Volumes 5/6, 1940 (RCA France Jazz Tribune/Double Black & White series) – 1982 2-LP set, reissued as 2-CD set in 1992
  • The Indispensable Duke Ellington Volumes 7/8, 1941–1942 (RCA France Jazz Tribune/Double Black & White series) – 1984 2-LP set, reissued as 2-CD set in 1992
  • The Indispensable Duke Ellington And The Small Groups, Vol.9/10, 1940–1946 (RCA France Jazz Tribune/Double Black & White series) – 1985 2-LP set, reissued as 2-CD set in 1993
  • The Blanton–Webster Band (1940–1942 [1986],[4] RCA/Bluebird)
  • The Great Ellington Units (RCA/Bluebird) – released 1988, recordings from 1940–1941[5]
  • Duke Ellington at Fargo, 1940 Live (Storyville, 2001)
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1940 (Classics, 2 volumes) – CD only
  • Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band (Bluebird, 1940–1942) – 3-CD set released 2003 from the Centennial set of 1999
  • The Duke Box: Duke Ellington in the Forties (Storyville) – 8-CD set, released 2007. Recorded 1940–1949

1941

  • The Indispensable Duke Ellington, Volumes 7/8, 1941-1942 (RCA France Jazz Tribune/Double Black and White series) – 1984 2-LP set, reissued as 2-CD set in 1992
  • Take the 'A' Train (Vintage Jazz Classics)
  • "1941 Classics – Live in " (Alamac)
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1940–41 (Classics) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1941 (Classics) – CD only

1942

  • The Treasury Shows (D.E.T.S.) – 13 2-LP sets, reissued on CD in 25 2-CD sets from 2000 to 2018; series broadcast from 1942 to 1953
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1942–44 (Classics) – CD only

1943

  • The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943 (Prestige) – released as a 3-LP set in 1977; reissued as a 2-CD set
  • The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1943 (Storyville) – 2-CD set issued 2001; released on Jazz Society (France) & Ember (England) during the LP era
  • Live at the Hurricane (Storyville)
  • The Duke Ellington World Broadcasting Series (Circle) – World transcription recordings, first two volumes date from 1943 only; third volume also contains recordings from 1945
  • Duke's Joint (Buddha) – recording from 1943–1945

1944

  • The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944 (Prestige) – released as 2-LP set in 1977, reissued as a 2-CD set in 1992
  • The Indispensable Duke Ellington, Volumes 10/11, 1944-1946 (RCA France Jazz Tribune/Double Black & White series) – released as 2-LP set in 1987, 2-CD set in 1993 as Vol. 11/12; includes Black, Brown And Beige and The Perfume Suite
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1944–45 (Classics) – CD only
  • Black, Brown & Beige: The 1944–1946 Recordings (Bluebird) – released in 1988
  • The Complete RCA-Victor Mid-Forties Recordings – released 2000, derived from the Centennial set

1945

  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1945 (2 volumes) (Classics) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1945–46 (Classics) – CD only
  • The Duke Ellington World Broadcasting Series (Circle) – World transcription recordings, last two volumes (of five) from 1945

1946

1947

  • Liberian Suite (Columbia) – 10-inch LP released in 1949
  • The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1947 (Prestige) – released on a 2-LP set in 1977; reissued as a 2-CD set in 1991
  • Daybreak Express
  • Live at the Bowl
  • Duke Ellington Vol. 4: April 30, 1947
  • The Complete Duke Ellington 1947–1952, Volume 1 (CBS France) – 1989 CD issue; recorded in Hollywood, 1947
  • The Complete Duke Ellington 1947–1952 Volume 2 (CBS France) – 1989 CD issue; recorded at Liederkranz Hall, New York City, 1947
  • The Complete Duke Ellington 1947–1952 Volume 5 (CBS France) – 1989 CD issue; contains the Liberian Suite (recorded 1947) and Masterpieces by Ellington (1950 session only)
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1947 (Classics, 2 volumes) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1947–48 (Classics) – CD only
  • Duke Ellington at Ciro's (Dems)
  • Caravan (Prestige) – 2-LP set (1981)/2-CD set (1992) as by Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington, and Billy Strayhorn All Stars. Strayhorn substitutes for Ellington on tracks recorded in 1947 (formally credited to Johnny Hodges); also tracks from 1951. Originally recorded for Mercer Records.

1948

  • Live at Click Vol. 1
  • Live at Click Vol. 2
  • Carnegie Hall 30 November 1948 (Musidisc Jazz Anthology series) – French 1975 two-volume LP issue; Vintage Jazz Classics 2-CD set issued in 1991,
  • Cornell (MusicMasters)
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1948–49 (Classics) – CD only

1949

  • The Complete Duke Ellington 1947–1952 Volume 3 (CBS France) – 1989 CD issue, recorded 1949–1951 (studio)
  • Duke Ellington at the Empire (Storyville)
  • Two Great Concerts (Accord) – Recorded 1949 and 1965
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1949–50 (Classics) – CD only

1950s

Ellington began the 1950s with his career seemingly in decline with several musicians leaving, Lawrence Brown, Sonny Greer, and Johnny Hodges, although Brown and Hodges later rejoined. After the orchestra's appearance at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, with Paul Gonsalves running through 27 choruses of "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue", Ellington's profile revived.

1950

  • Live In Zurich, Switzerland 2.5.1950 (TCB) – Recorded in May 1950
  • Great Times! (Riverside) – with Billy Strayhorn
  • The Complete Duke Ellington 1947–1952, Volume 4 (CBS France) –1989 CD issue, recorded in New York City, 1950–1951
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1950 (Classics) – CD only
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1950–51 (Classics) – CD only

1951

1952

  • Ellington Uptown (Columbia)
  • Duke on the Air
  • The Seattle Concert (RCA Victor)
  • Live at the Blue Note (Bandstand)
  • Duke Ellington at Birdland (Jazz Unlimited)
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1952 (Classics) – CD only
  • Live At The Crystal Gardens
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1952–53 (Classics) – CD only

1953

  • The Pasadena Concert (GNP)
  • Duke Ellington Plays the Blues
  • The Chronological Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 1953 (Classics, 2 volumes) – CD only
  • Premiered by Ellington (Capitol)
  • The Duke Plays Ellington (Capitol) released on CD as Piano Reflections
  • Jazz Masters: 1953–1955 (EMI)
  • The Complete Capitol Recordings (Mosaic) – recorded 1953–1955, 5-CD/8-LP set, released 1995[6]

1954

  • Ellington '55 (Capitol)
  • Dance to the Duke! (Capitol)
  • Duke Ellington Plays
  • Happy Birthday Duke! April 29 Birthday Sessions (Laserlight)
  • 1954 Los Angeles Concert (GNP)

1955

  • Ellington Showcase (Capitol)
  • Duke's Mixture (Columbia)
  • Here's the Duke (Columbia)
  • The Duke and His Men
  • The Washington, D.C. Armory Concert (Jazz Guild)
  • The Carnegie Hall Concerts: March 1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960s

In the 1960s, Ellington made recordings with Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins and Frank Sinatra, among others. He continued to write and record extended suites, such as his religious "Sacred Concerts", the "Perfume Suite" and the "Latin American Suite."

1960

1961

The above two albums were re–released together in 2001 on CD by Blue Note as The Great Summit

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970s

Ellington remained active to the end of his life, recording three final major suites in the 1970s, the "New Orleans Suite", his "Third Sacred Concert", the "Toga Brava Suite", and "The Afro–Eurasian Eclipse", his most explicit venture into what would be called "world music." His concert at Eastbourne was Ellington's final recording.

1970

1971

1972

1973

Compilations

  • Complete Works: 1924–1947 (Proper UK, 2003, 40-CD set)
  • Masterpieces, 1926–1949 (Proper, 4-CD set)
  • Beyond Category: The Musical Genius of Duke Ellington (1927–1967) (Smithsonian)
  • The Duke: The Essential Collection (1927-1962) (Columbia Legacy) 3-CD set issued 2000.[8]
  • The Centennial Edition: The Complete RCA-Victor Recordings – 24-CD set containing recordings from 1927 to 1973, released 1999
  • The Duke Box 2 (Storyville) – 7-CD/1-DVD set, recorded 1952 to 1972.[9]
  • The Gold Collection, 40 Classic Performances (Retro) – 2-CD set, Italian issue released 1997; recording 1927–1966
  • The Private Collection (1956–1971) (Saja) – 10-CD set)
  • Duke Ellington's Incidental Music for Shakespeare's Play Timon of Athens, adapted by Stanley Silverman (1993). Posthumous recordings of previously unreleased compositions.

References

  1. ^ "The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick/Columbia/ Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra". Mosaic Records. 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Duke Ellington: The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalian & OKeh Small Group Recordings". Mosaic Records. 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  3. ^ The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide, p. 70.
  4. ^ Gold, Gerald (December 7, 1986). "Bluebird Flies Once More". The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  5. ^ Watrous, Peter (July 31, 1988). "Ellington in Everything but the Name". The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  6. ^ "The Complete Capitol Recordings Of Duke Ellington". Mosaic Records. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Duke Ellington: The Reprise Studio Sessions". Mosaic Records. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  8. ^ "The Duke: The Essential Collection (1927 - 1962): Complete Track Listing and Featured Personnel". Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008.
  9. ^ Mosey, Chris (December 14, 2016). "Duke Elllington And His Orchestra: The Duke Box 2". All About Jazz. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
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