About This Item
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 (InchTrio in BlueInch and InchPerfume SuiteInch) - 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 InchFickle FlingInch, InchHollywood HangoverInch and InchI'd Do It All Over AgainInch. 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. Album Tracks 1. Take the 'A' Train (Opening Theme) 2. Caravan 3. Fickle Fling 4. Ellington Bond Promo 5. Kissing Bug 6. Honeysuckle Rose 7. Day Dream 8. One O'Clock Jump 9. Ellington Bond Promo 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. Harl