Early Ellington: The Complete Brunswick and Vocalion Recordings of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931 (1994) [Big Band, Swing]

[Mike1985]

Artist: Duke Ellington
Album: Early Ellington: The Complete Brunswick and Vocalion Recordings of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931
Genre: Big Band, Swing
Label: Decca Jazz
Released: 1994
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:

CD 1:

1. East St. Louis Toodle-o (1st version) (2:55)
2. Birmingham Breakdown (1st version) (2:47)
3. Immigration Blues (3:02)
4. The Creeper (1st take) (2:52)
5. The Creeper (2nd take) (2:49)
6. New Orleans Low-Down (3:00)
7. Song of the Cotton Field (3:01)
8. Birmingham Breakdown (2nd version) (2:41)
9. East St. Louis Toodle-o (2nd version) (3:02)
10. Black and Tan Fantasy (3:20)
11. Soliloquy (3:10)
12. Red Hot Band (2:56)
13. Doin' the Frog (3:11)
14. Take It Easy (2:42)
15. Jubilee Stomp (2:47)
16. Black Beauty (1st take) (3:08)
17. Black Beauty (2nd take) (3:15)
18. Yellow Dog Blues (2:58)
19. Tishomingo Blues (3:01)
20. Awful Sad (3:18)
21. The Mooche (3:13)

CD 2:

1. Doin' the Voom Voom (3:11)
2. Tiger Rag - Part I (Take A) (2:55)
3. Tiger Rag - Part I (Take B) (2:54)
4. Tiger Rag - Part II (2:54)
5. Rent Party Blues (3:27)
6. Paducah (2:33)
7. Harlem Flat Blues (3:10)
8. (What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue (3:30)
9. Jungle Jamboree (2:47)
10. Ain't Misbehavin' (3:22)
11. Doin' the New Low Down (3:06)
12. Jolly Wog (3:06)
13. Jazz Convulsions (2:52)
14. Six or Seven Times (Take A or B) (3:08)
15. Six or Seven Times (Take B or A) (3:04)
16. Goin' Nuts (2:35)
17. Oklahoma Stomp (Take A) (2:47)
18. Oklahoma Stomp (Take B) (2:44)
19. Sweet Mama (3:10)
20. Wall Street Wail (Take A) (3:00)
21. Wall Street Wail (Take B) (3:01)
22. Cincinnati Daddy (3:22)

CD 3:

1. Maori (A Samoan Dance) (1st version) (3:11)
2. When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You) (Take A) (3:07)
3. When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You) (Take B) (3:06)
4. Maori (A Samoan Dance) (2nd version) (Take A) (3:01)
5. Maori (A Samoan Dance) (2nd version) (Take B) (3:06)
6. Admiration (3:11)
7. Double Check Stomp (2:54)
8. Accordion Joe (Take A) (3:00)
9. Accordion Joe (Take B) (3:00)
10. Cotton Club Stomp (Take A) (2:54)
11. Cotton Club Stomp (Take B) (2:56)
12. Runnin' Wild! (2:46)
13. Mood Indigo (2:59)
14. Home Again Blues (3:00)
15. Wang-Wang Blues (3:03)
16. Rockin' Chair (3:10)
17. Rockin' in Rhythm (3:02)
18. Twelfth Street Rag (3:01)
19. The Peanut Vendor (3:20)
20. Creole Rhapsody - Part 1 (3:10)
21. Creole Rhapsody - Part 2 (Take A) (3:21)
22. Creole Rhapsody - Part 2 (Take AA) (2:56)
23. Is That Religion? (2:21)

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This three-CD set, which has all of Duke Ellington's recordings for the Brunswick and Vocalion labels, dwarfs all of the earlier reissues that Decca and MCA have put out of this important material. Starting with the first session in which the Ellington Orchestra sounds distinctive ("East St. Louis Toodle-oo" and "Birmingham Breakdown" from November 29, 1926) and progressing through the Cotton Club years, this essential release (which contains 67 performances) adds a few "new" alternate takes and rare items ("Soliloquy" and a few titles by the "Six Jolly Jesters") to make this collection truly complete, at least for MCA's holdings (since Ellington also recorded for Columbia- and Victor-owned labels during the same period). With such major soloists as trumpeters Bubber Miley (and his replacement Cootie Williams), Freddy Jenkins, and Arthur Whetsol, trombonist Tricky Sam Nanton, clarinetist Barney Bigard, altoist Johnny Hodges, baritonist Harry Carney, and the pianist/leader, along with the classic arrangements/compositions, this set is essential for all serious jazz collections.
Review by Scott Yanow