Search - Duke Ellington :: The Best of the Complete RCA Victor Mid-Forties Recordings

Duke Ellington
The Best of the Complete RCA Victor Mid-Forties Recordings
Genres: Jazz, Pop

Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
1. I'm Beginning To See The Light
2. Don't You Know I Care
3. Come Sunday
4. The Blues
5. Prelude To A Kiss
6. Caravan
7. In A Sentimental Mood
8. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
9. Sophisticated Lady
10. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
11. Solitude
12. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
13. I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So
14. Tonk
15. Transblucency
16. Just Squeeze Me
17. St. Louis Blues
18. Esquire Swank

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CD Details

All Artists: Duke Ellington
Title: The Best of the Complete RCA Victor Mid-Forties Recordings
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: RCA
Original Release Date: 4/4/2000
Release Date: 4/4/2000
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Style: Swing Jazz
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 090266346226

Synopsis

Amazon.com

The 24-CD set of Ellington's RCA recordings released in 1999, The Centennial Edition: The Complete Duke Ellington RCA Victor Recordings, was a monumental project, not only the ultimate celebration of the anniversary but also a summit in jazz research and the art of the reissue. The benefits of that project's immense labor--both in sound restoration and research--are now appearing in more modest, and far more affordable, forms. This single disc is drawn from the Ellington's three-CD The Complete RCA Victor Mid-Forties Recordings. It contains both revisions of earlier classics like "Solitude" and "Caravan" and then-new songs like "I'm Beginning to See the Light," one of Ellington's most popular songs and a hit for Harry James as well. Also included is "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" by Duke's son Mercer. The reverent "Come Sunday," one of Duke's most beautiful melodies, appears in its first recorded form, while "Tonk" is a spirited piano duet with Billy Strayhorn, his composition partner. Throughout, the band is simply magnificent, with veterans like Johnny Hodges and Lawrence Brown and newcomers Cat Anderson and tenor saxophonist Al Sears among the soloists lending their distinctive voices to Ellington's extraordinary musical conception. --Stuart Broomer

CD Reviews

Disappointing selection

12/21/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This disc was taken from the 3CD set, "The Complete RCA Victor Mid-Forties Recordings," which was taken from the larger 24CD box set, "Centennial: The Complete RCA Victor Recordings." Thus, it has the same great remastered sound, utilizing the absolute best sources (this time around, they spent the time, money, and effort to secure top-notch sources) as well as state-of-the-art transfer technology and some very sparse noise reduction.However, this disc is a major disappointment in terms of selection. Ellington's mid-forties recordings were very, very good, often great, but it was inconsistent enough to merit a single disc distillation, one that could've been very impressive had it taken the absolute best material of this period. Unfortunately, this disc fails on that level, selecting some weak recordings (such as a "Solitude," one of ten reinterpretations Ellington recorded in this period, and the only major disappointment of all ten) and omitting essential ones (only two of four selections from "Black, Brown & Beige" are included, a terrible omission indeed since those four studio recordings are the most desirable tracks from this period).It's also strange how such tracks as "Frankie & Johnny," "Dancers In Love," "Midriff," and "Black Beauty," all great tracks, would be heaped with so much praise in the liner notes to "The Complete RCA Victor Mid-Forties Recordings," yet they're not included here. Space wouldn't be the issue, as there's certainly enough room left for at least four more tracks. Besides, why include such uninspired work as "Don't You Know I Care" when you have something like "Work Song" available?I would recommend this for people on a severe budget; in the age of CD recording, this need to buy this disc is minimal. If you're a huge fan of Ellington, pick up either of the larger sets, depending on your budget. You'll be much more satisfied."

Not real best of.

Slaninka Frantisek | Bratislava Slovakia | 03/16/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Don't buy this Cd. Complete RCA - Victor Mid - forties recordings (1944 -1946) is better way.

Where are songs like Midriff or Work Song?

In my opinion this is not real best of. There are better songs on Complete Mid - forties 3cd box."