I first heard this when I was 13 and the impact it made on me was amazing. At 55 I still love this early version of the tune, it still gives me goose bumps. Love you madly Duke.
In my estimation one of the greatest tunes ever written.. I was fortunate to find this version on a cheap compilation CD of early Ellington, called "rockin' in rhythm".... Every different version Duke did of this tune is unique in some way or other; it's a superb composition. Makes me always think of a comment Miles Davis made, about how every jazz fan in the world should everyday pray and thank God for Duke Ellington.
Great, great composition, and great, great recording, and I feel super lucky to have in my collection an actual original copy from the first pressing of this 1930 Victor recording, released in 1931! No one needs to feel any sympathy for this Victor version, as it is THE HIT version of this classic tune, hitting number 3 on the charts in 1931! The Brunswick version, while still a very good version, did not chart.
You did a very fine and utterly commendable job; thank you.
When the arrangement was published (either by Gotham Music or Mills Music Inc., of course) the stock arrangement had two trumpets playing the opening and closing theme, rather than a trumpet and very highly pitched trombone as Ellington did on the record.
It was felt that a local band playing in a dance hall would not have a trombonist skilled enough to play that high as "Tricky Sam" did on the record.
Man, you know it! When I messed around with trombone back in the mid-late 1990's (main axe is drums ;) ), I used to practice to this - DAMN tough to sustain the high note here! I almost burst blood vessels trying to do so. LOL!
There is a recording that preceded this. One from Brunswick recorded in October 1930. I like it better because of the high pitched clarinet sound. Simple. This is good too.
I first heard this when I was 13 and the impact it made on me was amazing. At 55 I still love this early version of the tune, it still gives me goose bumps. Love you madly Duke.
crichta 1 week ago
In my estimation one of the greatest tunes ever written.. I was fortunate to find this version on a cheap compilation CD of early Ellington, called "rockin' in rhythm".... Every different version Duke did of this tune is unique in some way or other; it's a superb composition. Makes me always think of a comment Miles Davis made, about how every jazz fan in the world should everyday pray and thank God for Duke Ellington.
Blackgeoff1 1 month ago
when i remember that recorder-sounding noise is a trombone, i'm like WTH?
therunningpiano 3 months ago
Great, great composition, and great, great recording, and I feel super lucky to have in my collection an actual original copy from the first pressing of this 1930 Victor recording, released in 1931! No one needs to feel any sympathy for this Victor version, as it is THE HIT version of this classic tune, hitting number 3 on the charts in 1931! The Brunswick version, while still a very good version, did not chart.
TheHeater90 6 months ago
he is talented in the instraments but i don't like this song
frandalion 1 year ago
You did a very fine and utterly commendable job; thank you.
When the arrangement was published (either by Gotham Music or Mills Music Inc., of course) the stock arrangement had two trumpets playing the opening and closing theme, rather than a trumpet and very highly pitched trombone as Ellington did on the record.
It was felt that a local band playing in a dance hall would not have a trombonist skilled enough to play that high as "Tricky Sam" did on the record.
SatchmoSings 1 year ago
@SatchmoSings Thanks, SS. :)
Man, you know it! When I messed around with trombone back in the mid-late 1990's (main axe is drums ;) ), I used to practice to this - DAMN tough to sustain the high note here! I almost burst blood vessels trying to do so. LOL!
SwingMan1937 1 year ago
You did a very fine and utterly commendable job; thank you.
SatchmoSings 1 year ago
There is a recording that preceded this. One from Brunswick recorded in October 1930. I like it better because of the high pitched clarinet sound. Simple. This is good too.
AMEwrestling 1 year ago
@AMEwrestling Yes, I too prefer the Brunswick version though this is also excellent.
SatchmoSings 1 year ago
I like this one! Did victor ever release this other than on a V disk? If they didn't its a shame as it such a great version....
phonophonic 2 years ago
Hmm. I know that Victor re-released it several times on its main label, but maybe there's a Bluebird 78rpm re-issue out there somewhere?
Yeah, this take is definitely tops, IMO.
SwingMan1937 2 years ago