Duke Ellington

65 records in the collection· mostly on His Master's Voice, Brunswick, Vocalion

Duke Ellington was one of the central figures in twentieth-century jazz, leading his orchestra from the 1920s through to the 1970s and creating a distinctive sound around the individual voices of his musicians. Pieces such as "Mood Indigo", "Black and Tan Fantasy" and "It Don’t Mean a Thing" made the Ellington orchestra essential listening, and his 78s trace jazz’s development from the hot dance-band era into sophisticated big-band composition.

This introduction was written by AI from what is known of the artist. Ask us if you want to know more about a particular record.

Records by Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington
1. AAt a Dixie Roadside diner
2. BMy greatest mistake
Duke Ellington recorded 'At a Dixie Roadside Diner' and 'My Greatest Mistake' for HMV, novelty compositions in his jazz idiom from the early 1930s.AI summary

His Master's Voice B9129 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABand Call
2. BIsle of Capri
Duke Ellington's orchestra with Band Call and Isle of Capri on Capitol 14132.AI summary

Capitol 14132 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABest wishes
2. BBlue Harlem
Duke Ellington's orchestra recorded 'Best Wishes' and 'Blue Harlem' for Brunswick 1377 in the late 1920s, during Ellington's formative period.AI summary

Brunswick 1377 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABlack and Tan Fantasy
2. BSlippery Horn
Duke Ellington's 'Black and Tan Fantasy' is one of his early masterpieces, a moody blues-inflected composition recorded in the late 1920s; this Brunswick pressing is from his most prolific and influential period, and the side is a perennial favourite of jazz collectors.AI summary

Brunswick 01540 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABlack beauty
2. BThe river and me
Duke Ellington's 'Black Beauty' and 'The River and Me', recorded for His Master's Voice in the early 1930s; Ellington was the most significant jazz composer and bandleader of his era, and his recordings from this period are among the most sought-after 78s by jazz collectors.AI summary

His Master's Voice B6166 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABlackbird Medley
2. B(2 sides)
Duke Ellington on Brunswick 01517, the legendary jazz composer and bandleader recording a medley for the American label; Brunswick 01000-series issues from the early 1930s were mass-produced, and Ellington sides are widely collected, though this particular pressing is not uncommon.AI summary

Brunswick 01517 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABlue Harlem
2. BBest Wishes
Duke Ellington and his orchestra on Brunswick 01377, 'Blue Harlem' and 'Best Wishes', representing Ellington's prolific output for Brunswick in the 1930s–40s.AI summary

Brunswick 01377 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABlues I love to sing
2. BHot feet
Duke Ellington, one of the greatest jazz composers and bandleaders, credited to BD label — performing jazz standards. The catalogue number and label are unusual and require verification.AI summary

BD 5760 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABoo-Dah
2. BGive me the right
Duke Ellington's orchestra with Boo-Dah and Give Me the Right on Capitol CL14012.AI summary

Capitol CL14012 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ABugle call rag
2. B(Kardos)Mean music
Duke Ellington on His Master's Voice (B6188) with 'Bugle call rag' and 'Mean music'; an early Ellington recording, likely from his prolific early-1930s recording period.AI summary

His Master's Voice B6188 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AClarinet Lament
2. BEchoes of Harlem
Duke Ellington's 'Clarinet Lament' and 'Echoes of Harlem', issued on Brunswick; Ellington's 1930s recordings are a core interest for serious jazz collectors and command consistent demand.AI summary

Brunswick 02222 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ACreole Love call
2. BSt Louis Blues (with Bing Crosby)
Duke Ellington, the jazz master, recorded 'Creole Love Call' and 'St. Louis Blues' (with Bing Crosby) for Columbia's prestigious 'DX' series of deluxe 12-inch 78s. These recordings represent Ellington at the height of his powers during the swing era.AI summary

Columbia DX898 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ACreole Rhapsody
2. B(2 sides)
Duke Ellington's 'Creole Rhapsody', recorded in 1931 and issued on Brunswick 01145, is one of the composer's most important extended jazz compositions and a cornerstone of his early catalogue.AI summary

Brunswick 01145 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ADallas doings
2. BRude interlude
Duke Ellington recording 'Dallas Doings' and 'Rude Interlude' for His Master's Voice, B6449, a mid-1930s British pressing. Ellington's orchestral music from this period is sought by jazz collectors.AI summary

His Master's Voice B6449 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ADayBreak Express
2. BDear Old SouthLand
Duke Ellington's jazz orchestra, recorded for His Master's Voice, with two contrasting pieces: the urban dance-band sound of "Daybreak Express" and the bluesy "Dear Old Southland"; Ellington's HMV sides are eagerly collected.AI summary

His Master's Voice B6468 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ADelta Serenade
2. B(Benny Goodman) The Dixieland Band
A pressing credited to Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman on BD 183, attributed to 'The Dixieland Band' with 'Delta Serenade' and 'The Dixieland Band'.AI summary

BD 183 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ADo nothing till you hear from me
2. BLady of the lavender mist
Duke Ellington, the composer and bandleader, recorded 'Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me' and 'Lady of the Lavender Mist' for Columbia DZ678, a British Columbia pressing.AI summary

Columbia DZ678 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ADrop me off at Harlem
2. BClarinet Lament
Duke Ellington's orchestra recorded these two sides for Parlophone; Drop Me Off at Harlem and Clarinet Lament are sophisticated compositions showcasing Ellington's harmonic and orchestral innovations.AI summary

Parlophone R2876 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ADucky Wucky
2. BSwing Low
Brunswick 01426 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AEast St Louis
2. BBaby When You Ain't There
Duke Ellington and his orchestra recorded 'East St Louis' and 'Baby When You Ain't There' for Brunswick 01681 in the late 1920s. These are foundational early Ellington sides.AI summary

Brunswick 01681 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AEast St Louis Toodle-O
2. BHop head
Duke Ellington was one of the greatest jazz composers and bandleaders of the 20th century; this Parlophone pressing offers two early hot-dance sides from his prolific recording career.AI summary

Parlophone R2202 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AEchoes of harlem
2. BClarinet lament
Duke Ellington's orchestra recorded 'Echoes of Harlem' and 'Clarinet Lament' for Brunswick in the early 1930s; landmark Ellington compositions that remain central to jazz discography.AI summary

Brunswick 02222 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AExposition swing
2. BYearning for love
Duke Ellington's 'Exposition Swing' and 'Yearning for Love' on Vocalion S50. Ellington is canonical; Vocalion S-series recordings are uncommon and sought after.AI summary

Vocalion S50 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AGet Yourself a New Broom
2. BStormy Weather
Duke Ellington on Brunswick 01527 with 'Get Yourself a New Broom' and 'Stormy Weather'. This is a late 1930s pressing of two Ellington standards; Ellington was one of the most important jazz composers and bandleaders of the era.AI summary

Brunswick 01527 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AHarlemania
2. BJAzz Lips
Duke Ellington's "Harlemania" and "Jazz Lips" on His Master's Voice represent the saxophonist-composer at the height of his creative powers in the late 1920s, capturing the sophisticated jazz arrangements that defined the Ellington orchestra sound.AI summary

His Master's Voice B8505 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AHarlemania
2. BJazz Lips
Duke Ellington recorded 'Harlemania' and 'Jazz Lips' for HMV—early jazz compositions from the pioneering bandleader and composer.AI summary

His Master's Voice B8505 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AHawk talks
2. BFancy Dan
Duke Ellington, the legendary American jazz composer and bandleader, performing 'Hawk Talks' and 'Fancy Dan' on Columbia. These are sides from Ellington's prolific recording career; UK pressings of his work are commonly found, though all Ellington recordings have collector interest.AI summary

Columbia DC573 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AHayfoot, Strawfoot
2. BSherman Shuffle
His Master's Voice B9324
Duke Ellington
1. AI let a song go out of my heart
2. BGal from Joe's
Duke Ellington and his orchestra on Brunswick 8108, two jazz standards from the 1930s.AI summary

Brunswick 8108 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AI must have that Man
2. B(Selvin)Honey
Duke Ellington, a foundational figure in jazz and one of the most recorded artists of the 20th century, on Columbia 5486, performing 'I Must Have That Man' and Selvin's 'Honey' — early jazz recordings from the mid-1920s.AI summary

Columbia 5486 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AIn a jam
2. BBlack out
A Vocalion pressing of Duke Ellington's 'In a Jam' and 'Black Out', recorded during his prolific 1930s period.AI summary

Vocalion S31 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AIn the Mood to be Wooed
2. BCarnegie Blues
Duke Ellington on His Master's Voice B9448, performing 'In the Mood to be Wooed' and 'Carnegie Blues'. Ellington was the greatest American composer and bandleader of the 20th century.AI summary

His Master's Voice B9448 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AIt was a sad night in Harlem
2. BShoe shine boy
Duke Ellington's 'It Was a Sad Night in Harlem' and 'Shoe Shine Boy' on Vocalion 22. Ellington is canonical; this early Vocalion pressing is scarce.AI summary

Vocalion 22 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AJapanese Dream
2. BHarlemania
Victor 38045
Duke Ellington
1. AJazz cocktail
2. BLightnin
Duke Ellington's orchestra on Brunswick, performing 'Jazz Cocktail' and 'Lightnin''. This is a significant jazz recording by one of the greatest composers and bandleaders of the 20th century. Brunswick issued Ellington recordings throughout the 1930s.AI summary

Brunswick 1399 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AJumpin Pumkins
2. BBlue Serge
Duke Ellington, one of the greatest jazz composers and bandleaders, performs 'Jumpin' Pumpkins' and 'Blue Serge' on His Master's Voice B9196.AI summary

His Master's Voice B9196 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ALove is like a Cigarette
2. BHappy as the Day is Long
Duke Ellington with 'Love Is Like a Cigarette' and 'Happy as the Day Is Long' in British Vocalion's Swing Series.AI summary

Vocalion S64 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AMargie
2. BAccent on Youth
Duke Ellington recorded 'Margie' and 'Accent on Youth' for Brunswick in the early 1930s; these are dance-band sides from his prolific commercial recording period.AI summary

Brunswick 02096 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AMauve
2. BBlue tears
Duke Ellington performing 'Mauve' and 'Blue Tears' on BlueAce 203, a small British label reissue.AI summary

BlueAce 203 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AMe and You
2. BConcerto for Cootie
Duke Ellington, the jazz composer and bandleader, on His Master's Voice with 'Me and You' and 'Concerto for Cootie'—the latter a jazz masterpiece and one of his most celebrated compositions.AI summary

His Master's Voice B9104 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AMerry go round
2. BSophisticated lady
Duke Ellington's orchestra recorded two of his most famous compositions, "Merry-Go-Round" and the perennially popular "Sophisticated Lady", on Columbia's prestigious CB (electrical recording) series.AI summary

Columbia CB591 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AMood Indigo
2. BRunnin' Wild!
Duke Ellington, the jazz composer and bandleader, recorded "Mood Indigo" and "Runnin' Wild!" for Brunswick, likely from the late 1920s or early 1930s; both are signature Ellington compositions.AI summary

Brunswick 1068 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AMoon Mist
2. BThe "C" Jam Blues
Duke Ellington and his orchestra on His Master's Voice, performing two compositions: 'Moon Mist' and 'The C Jam Blues'. Both are characteristic Ellington pieces from his prolific recording career.AI summary

His Master's Voice B9292 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AMystery song
2. B(Carmichael)Georgia on my mind
Duke Ellington, the greatest composer in jazz, recorded 'Mystery Song' and Hoagy Carmichael's 'Georgia on My Mind' for His Master's Voice, catalogue B6133.AI summary

His Master's Voice B6133 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. APerfume Suite
2. Bpart 2
Duke Ellington's 'Perfume Suite' (parts 1 and 2) on V-Disc 516, a 12-inch non-commercial recording made for American servicemen during the Second World War.AI summary

VDisc 516 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ARaincheck
2. BSwing Music
Duke Ellington, the towering figure of American jazz, performing two swing-era compositions on His Master's Voice in the late 1940s.AI summary

His Master's Voice B9305 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AReminiscing in Tempo
2. BDitto
Duke Ellington recorded 'Reminiscing in Tempo' for Brunswick (02104). 'Reminiscing in Tempo' is a celebrated Ellington composition and extended instrumental; this is a Brunswick UK pressing of one of the most important jazz recordings of the 1930s.AI summary

Brunswick 02104 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ARing dem Bells
2. BThree little Words
Duke Ellington, the greatest composer and bandleader in jazz, recorded these two short pieces — "Ring Dem Bells" and "Three Little Words" — for His Master's Voice in the late 1920s. Ellington recordings of this period are cornerstone items for jazz collectors.AI summary

His Master's Voice B5945 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ARing dem Bells
2. BThree little Words
Duke Ellington, the towering jazz composer and bandleader, on His Master's Voice, catalogue B5945. These are standard early Ellington sides from the early 1930s; HMV was a major outlet for his work.AI summary

His Master's Voice B5945 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ARing dem Bells
2. BThree little Words
Duke Ellington recorded 'Ring Dem Bells' and 'Three Little Words' for HMV in the late 1920s; these are early dance-band and novelty sides from his prolific commercial recording period.AI summary

His Master's Voice B5945 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AShoe Shine Boy
2. BIt was a sad Night in Harlem
Duke Ellington's 'Shoe Shine Boy' and 'It Was a Sad Night in Harlem' on Vocalion S22. Ellington is canonical; Vocalion S-series recordings are uncommon and actively collected.AI summary

Vocalion S22 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ASolitude
2. B(Wingy Mannone) Send Me
Duke Ellington, the legendary jazz composer and bandleader, performing "Solitude" and "Send Me" (the latter credited to Wingy Mannone) on Brunswick Records, from his prolific 1930s-40s period.AI summary

Brunswick 02007 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ASolitude
2. BShow Boat Shuffle
Duke Ellington's 'Solitude' and 'Show Boat Shuffle' on Vocalion S40. Ellington is canonical; Vocalion S-series recordings are uncommon and actively collected.AI summary

Vocalion S40 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ASophisticated Lady
2. BMerry-go-round
Duke Ellington performing 'Sophisticated Lady' and 'Merry-Go-Round' on Columbia CB591. Ellington was one of the greatest jazz composers and bandleaders of the 20th century; 'Sophisticated Lady' is one of his most enduring compositions.AI summary

Columbia CB591 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AStevedore stomp
2. BDicty glide
Duke Ellington's 1929 Victor recording of 'Stevedore Stomp' and 'Dicty Glide' dates from his early Cotton Club years and is a well-regarded example of his developing big-band style.AI summary

Victor 38053 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ASwanee shuffle
2. BJungle nights in Harlem
Duke Ellington on His Master's Voice B6328, with 'Swanee shuffle' and 'Jungle nights in Harlem', early hot-jazz compositions.AI summary

His Master's Voice B6328 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ASweet dreams of love
2. BSweet jazz o' mine
Duke Ellington with 'Sweet Dreams of Love' and 'Sweet Jazz o' Mine' on American Victor's 38000 series of the late 1920s.AI summary

Victor 38143 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ATake the "A" Train
2. BThe Sidewalks of NEw York
Duke Ellington performing 'Take the "A" Train' and 'The Sidewalks of New York' on His Master's Voice B9235 — two of the most iconic jazz recordings of the swing era.AI summary

His Master's Voice B9235 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AThe beautiful Indians
Duke Ellington's 'The Beautiful Indians' on Parlophone—a side from the early 1930s by one of jazz's greatest composers and bandleaders.AI summary

Parlophone R3088 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AThe Flaming Sword
2. BA Lull at dawn (Barney Bigard
Duke Ellington recorded 'The Flaming Sword' and 'A Lull at Dawn' for HMV, featuring clarinetist Barney Bigard. These pieces show Ellington's compositional range during his most creative period.AI summary

His Master's Voice B10606 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AThe mooche
2. B(Footwarmers)Sweet chariot
Duke Ellington's small group, often credited as 'The Footwarmers', recorded 'The Mooche' and 'Sweet Chariot' for Parlophone in London in the mid-1920s. This is one of Ellington's earliest and most important recordings. UK Parlophone pressings of Ellington's early sides remain highly sought by jazz collectors.AI summary

Parlophone R1615 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. AThree little words
2. BRing dem bells
Duke Ellington's orchestra recorded 'Three little words' and 'Ring dem bells' for His Master's Voice B5945, likely from the 1930s.AI summary

His Master's Voice B5945 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ATiger rag
2. BTiger Rag pt2
Duke Ellington, the paramount figure in American jazz and composition, recorded 'Tiger Rag' in two parts for Brunswick. This is one of the most recorded jazz standards, and Ellington's numerous versions span his entire recording career; this pressing documents his early-1930s swing-era recording.AI summary

Brunswick 1338 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ATwelfth Street Rag
2. BBundle of Blues
Duke Ellington, the legendary jazz composer and bandleader, recorded 'Twelfth Street Rag' and 'Bundle of Blues' for Brunswick 01573. Both are important jazz pieces; Ellington was prolific on Brunswick in the late 1920s and early 1930s.AI summary

Brunswick 01573 Jazz
Duke Ellington
1. ATwelfth Street Rag
2. BChile Bowl
Duke Ellington's orchestra with Twelfth Street Rag and Chile Bowl on Capitol CL14229.AI summary

Capitol CL14229 Jazz