The OKeh Ellington

• Artist: Duke Ellington
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1927 03 22-1930 11 08
• Total Time: 152:57
• Type: Compilation (best of), Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Although generally not as celebrated as his Victor recordings of the same period, Duke Ellington's performances for OKeh (late acquired by Columbia) are among the best of the period, featuring distinctive solos by the likes of trumpeter Bubber Miley (and later his replacement Cootie Williams), trombonist Tricky Sam Nanton (who, like Miley, was an expert with wah-wah mutes), clarinetist Barney Bigard, and altoist Johnny Hodges, among others. These 50 performances (which bypass Ellington's alternate takes) contain many classics, including his original theme "East St. Louis Toodle-oo," "Black and Tan Fantasy," "The Mooche," "Mood Indigo," and his two earliest solo piano sides. This is one of the best sets of early Ellington available. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
East St. Louis Toodle-Oo	Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:03)
Hop Head	Duke Ellington, Otto Hardwick	Duke Ellington	(2:55)
Down in Our Alley Blues	Duke Ellington, Otto Hardwick	Duke Ellington	(3:01)
What Can a Poor Fellow Do?	Elmer Schoebel, Billy Meyers	Duke Ellington	(3:08)
Black and Tan Fantasy	Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:23)
Chicago Stomp Down	James P. Johnson, Henry Creamer	Duke Ellington	(2:46)
Sweet Mama (Papa's Getting Mad)	Fred Rose, George A. Little, Peter Frost	Duke Ellington	(2:52)
Stack O' Lee Blues	Rafael Lopez, Lew Colwell	Duke Ellington	(2:49)
Bugle Call Rag	Jack Pettis, Elmer Schoebel, Billy Meyers	Duke Ellington	(2:37)
Take It Easy	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:12)
Jubilee Stomp	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(2:42)
Harlem Twist [East St. Louis Toodle-Oo]	Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:15)
Diga Diga Doo	Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields	Duke Ellington	(2:51)
Doin' the New Low Down	Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields	Duke Ellington	(3:05)
Black Beauty	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:00)
Swampy River	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(2:48)
The Mooche	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:11)
Move Over	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:03)
Hot and Bothered	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:15)
The Blues With a Feeling	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:13)
Goin' to Town	Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(2:55)
Misty Mornin'	Duke Ellington, Arthur Whetsol	Duke Ellington	(3:20)
I Must Have That Man!	Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields	Duke Ellington	(3:19)
Freeze and Melt	Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields	Duke Ellington	(2:51)
Mississippi Moan	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:24)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
That Rhythm Man	Fats Waller, Andy Razaf, Harry Brooks	Duke Ellington	(2:41)
Beggar's Blues	Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard	Duke Ellington	(3:16)
Saturday Night Function	Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:22)
Jungle Jamboree	Fats Waller, Andy Razaf, Harry Brooks	Duke Ellington	(3:02)
Snake Hip Dance	Fats Waller, Andy Razaf, Harry Brooks	Duke Ellington	(2:48)
Lazy Duke	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:06)
Blues of the Vagabond	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:13)
Syncopated Shuffle	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(2:45)
The Mooche	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:20)
Ragamuffin Romeo	Harry DaCosta, Mabel Wayne	Duke Ellington	(3:15)
East St. Louis Toodle-Oo	Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:13)
Sweet Mama	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:00)
Hot and Bothered	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(2:52)
Double Check Stomp	Irving Mills, Barney Bigard	Duke Ellington	(3:20)
Black and Tan Fantasy	Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:07)
Big House Blues	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:01)
Rocky Mountain Blues		Duke Ellington	(3:08)
Ring Dem Bells	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(2:47)
Three Little Words (Lyrics)	Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby	Duke Ellington	(3:12)
Old Man Blues	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:05)
Sweet Chariot	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(2:47)
Mood Indigo (Lyrics)	Irving Mills, Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:06)
I Can't Realize You Love Me	Buddy DeSylva, Walter Donaldson	Duke Ellington	(3:23)
I'm So in Love With You	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(2:56)
Rockin' in Rhythm	Irving Mills, Harry Carney, Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	(3:14)

Credits

Lonnie Johnson (Guitar), Johnny Hodges (Clarinet), Johnny Hodges (Sax (Alto)), Johnny Hodges (Sax (Soprano)), Cootie Williams (Trumpet), Cootie Williams (Vocals), Jabbo Smith (Trumpet), Louis Metcalf (Trumpet), Irving Mills (Vocals), Irving Mills (Producer), Bubber Miley (Trumpet), Wellman Braud (String Bass), Sonny Greer (Chimes), Sonny Greer (Drums), Barney Bigard (Clarinet), Barney Bigard (Sax (Tenor)), Harry Carney (Sax (Alto)), Harry Carney (Sax (Baritone)), Stanley Dance (Liner Notes), Duke Ellington (Piano), Duke Ellington (Arranger), Duke Ellington (Leader), Duke Ellington (Main Performer), Henry Edwards (Tuba), Fred Guy (Banjo), Rudy Jackson (Clarinet), Rudy Jackson (Sax (Tenor)), Freddie Jenkins (Trumpet), Joe Tricky Sam Nanton (Trombone), Bob Stephens (Producer), Juan Tizol (Trombone), Arthur Whetsol (Trumpet), Tommy Rockwell (Producer), Prince Robinson (Clarinet), Prince Robinson (Sax (Tenor)), Allen Weinberg (Art Direction), Baby Cox (Vocals), Bruce Mishkin (Art Direction), Otto Hardwick (Sax (Alto)), Otto Hardwick (Sax (Baritone)), Otto Hardwick (Sax (Soprano)), Sid Garry (Vocals), Michael Brooks (Series Producer)