Duke Ellington Plays the Blues
1947 studio album by Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra
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Duke Ellington Plays the Blues is an album of phonograph records credited to "Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra", released by RCA Victor in 1947.[1][2]
| Duke Ellington Plays the Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra | ||||
| Released | 1947 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Duke Ellington chronology | ||||
| ||||
Release
Critical reception
Billboard reviewed the album in its issue from September 13, 1947, writing: "It's the very epitome of Ellingtonia in these eight sides being released for the first time by the label. Recorded just before the maestro left the label, it's the Ellington scoring and shading at its best for these blues patterns." The reviewer concluded that the album would "make for a notable addition to the Ellington library on records."[1]
Track listing
Set of four 10-inch 78-rpm records (RCA Victor P 182)[2]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Note(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Royal Garden Blues" | Clarence and Spencer Williams | Duke Ellington and his orchestra |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Note(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Frankie and Johnnie" | Arranged by Duke Ellington | Duke Ellington and his rhythm |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Note(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Memphis Blues" | W. C. Handy | Duke Ellington and his orchestra |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Note(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pretty Woman" | Duke Ellington | Duke Ellington and his orchestra Vocal refrain by Al Hibbler |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Note(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beale Street Blues" | W. C. Handy | Duke Ellington and his orchestra |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Note(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Transblucency (A Blue Fog That You Can Almost See Through)" | Lawrence Brown—Duke Ellington | Duke Ellington and his orchestra Vocal: Kay Davis |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Note(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "St. Louis Blues" | W. C. Handy | Duke Ellington and his orchestra Vocal refrain by Marion Cox |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Note(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Drawing Room Blues" | Duke Ellington—Billy Strayhorn | Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and one piano |
LP re-release
10-inch LP (RCA Victor LPM 3067, 1952)[3]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Royal Garden Blues" | |
| 2. | "Frankie and Johnnie" | |
| 3. | "Memphis Blues" | |
| 4. | "Pretty Woman" |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beale Street Blues" | |
| 2. | "Transblucency (A Blue Fog That You Can Almost See Through)" | |
| 3. | "St. Louis Blues" | |
| 4. | "Drawing Room Blues" |