“In April 1945, Duke Ellington began what was to be the largest single recording project of his career, though it is most unlikely that he or anyone else thought of it in such terms at the time… [He] signed an agreement with the newly formed American Broadcasting Company to broadcast a series of hour-long Saturday afternoon network shows under the title “A Date With The Duke.”… The recordings of these complete broadcasts…make up the largest single block of material in the Ellington discography.”

– Eddie Lambert, A Listener’s Guide – Duke Ellington

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Errata –  For “Solitude,” I omitted crediting Al Hibbler as one of the vocalists. Rex Stewart was cited as a trumpeter; he was a cornetist.

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The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

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1-1                      Take The “A” Train & Broadcast Intro

1-2                      Blutopia

1-3                      Midriff

1-4                      Creole Love Call

1-5                      Suddenly It Jumped

1-6                      Frustration

1-7                      I’m Beginning To See The Light

1-8                      Duke Introduces The Perfume Suite

1-9                      Love (Balcony Serenade)

1-10                    Violence (Strange Feeling)

1-11                    Dancers In Love (A Stomp For Beginners)

1-12                    Sophistication (Coloratura)

1-13                    Air Conditioned Jungle

1-14                    I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues

1-15                    Subtle Slough

1-16                    Passion Flower (Into Closing)

1-17                    Take The “A” Train

1-18                    Hayfoot , Strawfoot

1-19                    Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

1-20                    A Slip Of The Lip

1-21                    Take The “A” Train

2-1                      Moon Mist (And Intro)

2-2                      New World A-Comin

2-3                      Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen

2-4                      Mood Indigo

2-5                      Chant For FDR (American Lullaby)

2-6                      Poor Pilgrim Of Sorrow

2-7                      Creole Love Call

2-8                      Moon Mist (Into Broadcast Close)

2-9                      (Transcription Theme) Any Bonds Today?

2-10                    (Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-11                    Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

2-12                    Caravan

2-13                    Bond Promo

2-14                    It Can’t Be Wrong

2-15                    Johnny Come Lately

2-16                    (Closing Theme) Any Bonds Today?

2-17                    (Opening Theme) Any Bonds Today?

2-18                    (Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-19                    Wait For Me Mary

2-10                    Moon Mist

2-21                    Bond Promo

2-22                    A Slip Of The Lip

2-23                    Things Ain’t What They Used To Be

2-24                    (Closing Theme) Any Bonds Today?

Credits

• Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick
• Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Nat Jones (tracks: 10-2 to 15-2 , 18-2 to 23-3), Oett “Sax” Mallard (tracks: 17-1 to 21-1)
• Arranged By, Leader, Piano – Duke Ellington
• Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
• Bass – Junior Raglin
• Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton (tracks: 1-1 to 21-1 , 1-2 to 8-2 , 10-2 to 15-2 , 18-2 to 23-2)
• Drums – Sonny Greer
• Guitar – Fred Guy
• Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn (tracks: 1-1 to 16-1 , 1-1 to 16-1 , 1-2 to 8-2 , 10-2 to 15-2 , 18-2 to 23-3)
• Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 16-1 , 2-1 to 2-8 , 2-10 to 2-15 , 2-18 to 2-23), Ben Webster(tracks: 1-17 to 1-21 , 2-10 to 2-15 , 2-18 to 2-23)
• Trombone – Claude Jones (tracks: 2-1 to 2-8), Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol (tracks: 1-1 to 1-21 , 2-10 to 2-16 , 18-2 to 23-2), Lawrence Brown (tracks: 1-1 to 21-1 , 2-1 to 2-8), Sandy Williams (tracks: 10-2 to 15-2 , 2-18 to 2-23)
• Trumpet – Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16 , 2-1 to 2-8), Harold Baker (tracks: 1-17 to 1-21 , 2-18 to 2-24), Rex Stewart (tracks: 1-1 to 1-21 , 2-1 to 2-8), Shelton Hemphill (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16 , 2-1 to 2-8), Taft Jordan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16, 1-2 to 24-2), Wallace Jones (tracks: 1-17 to 1-21 , 2-18 to 2-24)
• Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance
• Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-10 , 1-14 , 2-3 , 2-14 ), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-7), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-4 , 2-6 , 2-7), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-20 ,2-22)

Notes

Tracks 1-1 to 1-16 recorded at 400 Restaurant ,NYC,April 7th,1945 – Treasury Broadcast No.1
Tracks 2-1 to 2-8 recorded at 400 Restaurant ,NYC,April 14th,1945 – Duke Ellington’s Treasury Broadcast Replaced By A Special FDR Memorial Broadcast
Tracks 1-17 to 1-21 recorded at NBC – Studio 6B – Radio City – NYC , May 1st,1943 – Duke Ellington Performing At A War Bond Rally
Tracks 2-10 to 2-15 , 2-18 to 2-23 recorded in New York – June 1943 – Treasury Star Parade No. 231
Tracks 2-18 to 2-23 recorded in New York – June 1943 – Treasury Star Parade No. 232
Tracks 2-19 , 2-16 , 2-17 , 2-24 recorded by an unknown studio orchestra.

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1-1              Take The “A” Train & Broadcast Intro

1-2              Mood To Be Wooed

1-3              If You Are But A Dream

1-4              (Otto Make That) Riff Staccato

1-5              I’m Beginning To See The Light

1-6              Duke Ellington Presents “Black, Brown And Beige” (Excerpts)

1-7              West Indian Dance

1-8              The Blues

1-9              Emancipation Celebration

1-10            Sugar Hill Penthouse

1-11            Sentimental Lady (Small Excerpt)

1-12            Stomp, Look And Listen

1-3              Frantic Fantasy

1-14            It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t That Swing)

1-15            Sentimental Lady (Into Closing)

1-16            Any Bonds Today?

1-17            (Theme) Take The “A” Train

1-18            Tonight I Shall Sleep

1-19            Go Away Blues

1-20            Bond Promo

1-21            Creole Love Song

1-22            Three Cent Stomp

1-23            (Closing Theme) Any Bonds Today?

2-1              (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-2              Midriff

2-3              Carnegie Blues

2-4              Someone

2-5              My Little Brown Book

2-6              Kissing Bug

2-7              Ring Dem Bells

2-8              I’m Beginning To See The Light

2-9              Duke Ellington Presents “Black, Brown And Beige ” (Excerpts)

2-10            Work Song

2-11            Come Sunday

2-12            Candy

2-13            Broadcast Interrupted By War Bulletin

2-14            Teardrops In The Rain (In Progress)

2-15            Accentuate The Positive

2-16            Way Low

2-17            (Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-18            (Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-19            Love Letters

2-20            Main Stem

2-21            Fishing For The Moon

2-22            Riff’N Drill

2-23            Kissing Bug

• Recorded At – 400 Restaurant, NYC
• Recorded At – The New Zanzibar ,NYC

Credits

• Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23)
• Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
• Bass – Junior Raglin
• Drums – Sidney Catlett (tracks: 2-18 to 2-23), Sonny Greer (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 1-17 to 1-22 , 2-1 to 2-17)
• Guitar – Fred Guy
• Leader, Arranged By, Piano – Duke Ellington
• Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn (tracks: 1-2 to 2-23)
• Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23), Ben Webster (tracks: 1-17 to 1-22)
• Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
• Trombone – Claude Jones (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15 , 2-1 to 2-23), Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol (tracks: 1-17 to 1-22), Lawrence Brown (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23)
• Trumpet – Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23), Harold Baker (tracks: 1-17 to 1-22), Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23), Taft Jordan
• Violin – Ray Nance (tracks: 2-1 to 2-17)
• Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 2-5), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-5, 2-6, 2-8, 2-15, 2-23), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-3),Marie Ellington (tracks: 1-8), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-14), Taft Jordan (tracks: 1-14

Notes

Tracks 1-1 to 1-15 recorded at 400 Restaurant, NYC, April 21st,1945 – Treasury Broadcast No.2
Tracks 2-17 to 2-22 recorded in NYC, June 1943 – Treasury Star Parade No. 233
Tracks 1-16 and 1-23 unknown studio orchestra –
Tracks 2-1 to 2-17 recorded at 400 Restaurant, NYC, April 28th,1945 – Treasury Broadcast No.3
Tracks 2-18 to 2-23 recorded at The New Zanzibar, NYC, October 7th,1943 – Duke Ellington Broadcast From The New Zanzibar (Mutual Broadcasting System)

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1-1               (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

1-2               Blutopia

1-3               Bond Promo

1-4               Clementine

1-5               My Hearts Sings

1-6               Sentimental Journey

1-7               I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

1-8               Three Cent Stomp

1-9               Black And Tan Fantasy

1-10             Blue Skies (Broadcast Break)

1-11             Broadcast Return

1-12             Passion Flower

1-13             Air Conditioned Jungle

1-14             Frantic Fantasy

1-15             I’m Beginning To See The Light (& Bond Promo)

1-16             Main Stem

1-17             Everything But You

1-18             Carnegie Blues

1-19             Jump For Joy – (Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To be

1-20             Jumpin’ Pumpkins

1-21             A Door Will Open

1-22             West Indian Dance

1-23             I Ain’t Got Nothin But The Blues

1-24             Jack The Bear (Into Broadcast Close)

2-1               (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-2               Carnegie Blues

2-3               Riff Staccato

2-4               Bond Promo

2-5               All At Once

2-6               Yesterdays

2-7               I Miss Your Kiss

2-8               Accentuate The Positive

2-9               Bond Promo

2-10             Blue Cellophane

2-11             (Theme) Take The “A” Train (Station Break)

2-12             (Theme)Take The “A” Train (Station Return)

2-13             Prelude To A Kiss

2-14             Caravan

2-15             Sophisticated Lady

2-16             I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues

2-17             I’m Beginning To See The Light – Bond Promo

2-18             In A Mellotone

2-19             Harlem Air Shaft

2-20             I Don’t Mind

2-21             Bond Promo

2-22             The Jeep Is Jumpin (Broadcast Close)

2-23             (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-24             Just A-Settin And A-Rockin’

2-25             Clementine

2-26             The Wonder Of You

2-27             I’ll Buy That Dream

2-28             Come To Baby, Do (Broadcast Close)

Credits

• Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick
• Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
• Bass – Junior Raglin (tracks: 1-1 to 1-9 , 2-2 to 2-22), Lloyd Trotman (2) (tracks: 1-20 to 1-24 ), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 2-23 to 2-28)
• Drums – Sonny Greer
• Guitar – Fred Guy
• Liner Notes – Frank Rutter
• Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
• Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
• Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears
• Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
• Trombone – Claude Jones, Joe Nanton (tracks: 1-1 to 1-24 , 2-1 to 2-22), Lawrence Brown, Wilbur De Paris (tracks: 2-23 to 2-28)
• Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan
• Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance (tracks: 1-1 to 1-24 , 2-1 to 2-22)
• Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-7 , 1-23 , 2-16), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 3-1 , 1-17 , 2-8, 2-17 , 2-26), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-23 , 2-16), Marie Ellington (tracks: 2-20), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-19)

Notes

Tracks 1-1 to 1-19 – Treasury Broadcast No. 4, Adams Theatre, Newark, N.J, May 5th, 1945 (ABC)
Tracks 1-20 to 1-24 – Remote Broadcast From The New Zanzibar, New York City, October 1945 (NBC)
Tracks 2-1 to 2-22 – Treasury Broadcast No. 5, From Studio 6B, Radio City, NYC, May 12th, 1945 (ABC)
Tracks 23-2 to 2-28 – Remote Broadcast From The New Zanzibar, New York City, November 1945 (NBC)

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1-1              (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

1-2              Teardrops In The Rain

1-3              Everything But You

1-4              Ellington Bond Promo

1-5              Perdido

1-6              If You Are But A Dream

1-7              Pitter Panther Patter

1-8              Emancipation Celebration

1-9              Ellington Bond Promo

1-10            I Should Care

1-11            Take The “A” Train (Station Break)

1-12            Take The “A” Train (Broadcast Return)

1-13            In A Sentimental Mood

1-14            It Don’t Mean A Thing

1-15            Solitude

1-16            I’m Beginning To See The Light And Ellington Bond Promo

1-17            Subtle Slough

1-18            C-Jam Blues

1-19            Don’t You Know I Care

1-20            Ellington Bond Promo

1-21            Stomp Look And Listen

1-22            (Closing Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be

1-23            In The Special Of The Old Apple Tree

1-24            9:20 Special

1-25            Tell Ya’ What I’m Gonna Do

1-26            West Indian Dance

2-1              A Door Will Open

2-2              In A Mellotone

2-3              Everything But You

2-4              Solid Old Man

2-5              Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Into Broadcasting Closing)

2-6              (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-7              Ellington Bond Promo

2-8              Sugar Hill Penthouse

2-9              Suddenly It Jumped

2-10            Ellington Bond Promo

2-11            Candy

2-12            A Friends Of Yours

2-13            Kissing Bug

2-14            Hollywood Hangover

2-15            Laura

2-16            Ellington Bond Promo (Station Break)

2-17            (Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-18            In The Special Of The Old Apple Tree

2-19            Frankie And Johnny

2-20            I’m Beginning To See The Light And Ellington Bond Promo

2-21            Midriff

2-22            I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues

2-23            My Honey’s Lovin Arms

2-24            Ellington Bond Promo

2-25            Rockin’ In Rhythm (Into Broadcasting Closing)

Credits

• Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick
• Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
• Bass – Junior Raglin
• Drums – Sonny Greer
• Guitar – Fred Guy
• Liner Notes – Rob Bamberger
• Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
• Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
• Reissue Producer – Jerry Valburn
• Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears
• Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
• Trombone – Claude Jones, Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown
• Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan
• Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-14, 1-15, 1-19, 2-22), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-3, 1-14, 1-15, 1-25, 2-3 , 2-13 ), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-6, 1-14, 1-15, 2-22), Marie Ellington (tracks: 1-14, 1-15), Ray Nance (tracks: 2-11)

Notes

Tracks 1-1 to 1-22 : Treasury Broadcast No. 6 – Paradise Theatre, Detroit, Michigan – May 19th, 1945
Tracks 1-23 to 2-5 : Broadcast from the New Zanzibar, NYC – October 10th, 1945 (MBS)
Tracks 2-6 to 2-25 : Treasury Broadcast No. 7 from the Regal Theatre, Chicago, Illinois – May 26th, 1945

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1-1              (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

1-2              Mood To Be Wooed

1-3              Jack The Bear

1-4              Ellington Bond Promo

1-5              The More I See You

1-6              Way Low

1-7              Blues On The Double

1-8              Ellington Bond Promo

1-9              Summertime

1-10            (Theme) Take The “A” Train (Station Break)

1-11            (Theme) Take The “A” Train (Broadcast Return)

1-12            Come Sunday

1-13            Light

1-14            I’m Beginning To See The Light – Ellington Bond Promo

1-15            On The Alamo

1-16            Carnegie Blues

1-17            Ellington Bond Promo

1-18            Riff Staccato

1-19            Blues Skies

1-20            (Closing Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be

1-21            (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

1-22            As Long As I Live

1-23            Nine-Twenty Special

1-24            The Wonder Of You

1-25            Walkin With My Honey

1-26            Three Cent Stomp

2-1              Don’t Take Your Love From Me

2-2              Court Session

2-3              Emancipation Celebration

2-4              Let The Zoomers Drool

2-5              (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train

2-6              Blues Is The Night

2-7              Ellington Bond Promo

2-8              Can’t You Read Between The Lines?

2-9              Hop Skip And Jump

2-10            Kissing Bug

2-11            Solid Old Man

2-12            I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues

2-13            Ellington Bond Promo

2-14            I Miss Your Kiss

2-15            (Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Station Break)

2-16            (Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Broadcast Return)

2-17            Duke Ellington Presents The “Blues Clusters”

2-18            Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue

2-19            Rocks In My Bed

2-20            Crescendo In Blue

2-21            I’m Beginning To See The Light – Ellington Bond Promo

2-22            Teardrops In The Rain

2-23            My Little Brown Book

2-24            Ac-Cen-Tu-Ate The Positive

2-25            Ellington Bond Promo

2-26            C-Jam Blues

2-27            (Closing Theme) Take The “A” Train

Credits

• Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick
• Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
• Bass – Junior Raglin, Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1-21 to 2-4)
• Drums – Sonny Greer
• Guitar – Fred Guy
• Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
• Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
• Reissue Producer – Jerry Valburn
• Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears
• Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
• Trombone – Claude Jones, Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown
• Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan
• Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance
• Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 2-1, 2-12, 2-23), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-14, 1-24, 2-10, 2-21, 2-24), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-5, 2-12), Marie Ellington (tracks: 2-19), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-18)

Notes

Tracks 1-1 to 1-20 : Treasury Broadcast No. 8 – Percy Jones Center, Battle Creek, Michigan – June 2nd, 1945
Tracks 1-21 to 2-4 : Broadcast from the New Zanzibar, NYC, September 18th,1945 (NBC)
Tracks 2-5 to 2-27 : Treasury Broadcast No. 9 from Paramount Theatre, Toledo, Ohio