78rpm pressing: Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra, 1930 - V-Disc No. 67

Yep - this is the December 10, 1930 Victor take, but it was subsequently pressed on a 12" V-Disc and that's what you're hearing!

One of Duke's best - it really needs no explaination.

VERY difficult to get a decent sound out of this one. While this particular V-Disc wasn't thoroughly abused like most V-Discs tend to be, this one was definitely thoroughly PLAYED. The high-end on the Victor take was low enough without adding tons of wear into the mix. Still, I think it turned out clear enough - all things considered. ;)

Hope you enjoy this unique disc. :)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Duke
• Ellington
• classic
• prohibition
• era
• big
• band
• jazz

[SatchmoSings]

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.

[SwingMan1937]

@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!

[phonophonic]

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....

[SwingMan1937]

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.

[crichta]

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.

[Blackgeoff1]

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.

[therunningpiano]

when i remember that recorder-sounding noise is a trombone, i'm like WTH?

[TheHeater90]

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.

[frandalion]

he is talented in the instraments but i don't like this song

[SatchmoSings]

@AMEwrestling Yes, I too prefer the Brunswick version though this is also excellent.

[SatchmoSings]

You did a very fine and utterly commendable job; thank you.

[AMEwrestling]

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.