The three sessions here were recorded in N.Y.C. in 1945 - 2 live sessions (Apollo Theatre and Zanzibar Club) plus one studio session (Radio City Music Hall). The 143 minutes (44 tunes) of music on this double-CD have never been released before. The repertoire is classic Ellington/Strayhorn material - including one Strayhorn medley and two suites ("Trio in Blue" and "Perfume Suite") - plus several tunes which were never recorded commercially. Recorded at the end of WWII, the purpose of these three programs - besides providing wonderful music - was to promote the sale of U.S. Treasury bonds to help the war effort. A major attribute of this double-CD is the inclusion of several tunes that Ellington never recorded commercially, like "Fickle Fling", "Hollywood Hangover" and "I'd Do It All Over Again". The great musicianship and enthusiasm of Ellington's orchestra includes countless fine solos - especially with Johnny Hodges and Rex Stewart - and features some great vocals by Al Hibbler, Kay Davis and Joya Sherrill.
10 (Theme) Take the 'A' Train - Into Station Break
11 Return and Introduction to Billy Strayhorn Medley
12 Medley: A)Chelsea Bridge B)I Want Something to Live for (Vocal Marie) C)Clementine Ellington Bond Promo D)My Little Brown Book (Vocal Albert Hibbler)
13 (Otto Make That) Riff Staccato (Vocal Ray Nance)
14 Carnegie Blues
15 I'm Beginning to See the Light (Vocal Joya Sherrill) Into Ellington Bond Promo
16 Old King Dooji
17 (Theme) Things Ain't What They Used to Be
18 (Theme) Take the 'A' Train
19 Clementine
20 I'll Buy That Dream
21 Come to Baby, Do! (Vocal Joya Sherrill)
22 Harlem Airshaft
23 (Theme) Everything But You
- Disc 2 -
1 (Opening Theme) Take the 'A' Train
2 Blue Belles of Harlem
3 I'm Beginning to See the Light (Vocal Joya Sherrill)
4 Ellington Bond Promo
5 Can't You Read Between the Lines?
6 Medley: Trio in Blue A)Diminuendo in Blue B)Carnegie Blues C)Crescendo in Blue
7 Ellington Bond Promo
8 Mood to Be Wooed Into Station Break
9 (Theme) Take the 'A' Train and Return
10 The Perfume Suite: A)Balcony Serenade B)Strange Feeling (Vocal Albert Hibbler) C)Dancers in Love D)Coloratura
11 Ellington Bond Promo
12 Hollywood Hangover
13 I Don't Mind (Vocal Marie)
14 Ring Dem Bells
15 (Theme) Things Ain't What They Used to Be Into Broadcast Close
16 (Theme) Take the 'A' Train
17 Fancy Dan
18 Walkin' with My Honey
19 Go Away Blues (Vocal Joya Sherrill)
20 Homesick, That's All
21 I'd Do It All Over Again
The three sessions here were recorded in N.Y.C. in 1945 - 2 live sessions (Apollo Theatre and Zanzibar Club) plus one studio session (Radio City Music Hall). The 143 minutes (44 tunes) of music on this double-CD have never been released before. The repertoire is classic Ellington/Strayhorn material - including one Strayhorn medley and two suites ("Trio in Blue" and "Perfume Suite") - plus several tunes which were never recorded commercially. Recorded at the end of WWII, the purpose of these three programs - besides providing wonderful music - was to promote the sale of U.S. Treasury bonds to help the war effort. A major attribute of this double-CD is the inclusion of several tunes that Ellington never recorded commercially, like "Fickle Fling", "Hollywood Hangover" and "I'd Do It All Over Again". The great musicianship and enthusiasm of Ellington's orchestra includes countless fine solos - especially with Johnny Hodges and Rex Stewart - and features some great vocals by Al Hibbler, Kay Davis and Joya Sherrill.