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Posted

After consulting Timner´s discography, Ellington´s autobiography, Strateman´s book and Lambert´s listeners guide, I haven´t found any version of this 1953 Ellington composition by the orchestra or any small Ellingtonians ensemble. I haven´t got Massagli´s New DESOR.

Lord CD-Rom shows this Nina Simone session as the only recorded version of the tune (incorrectly listed as "Merry mending"):

[s6503-4] Nina Simone

Nina Simone sings Ellington:

Nina Simone (vcl,p) acc by big band incl. strings + The Malcolm Dodds Singers (vocal choir)

New York, 1963

I got it bad and that ain't good (*) Colpix CP425, Rhino R2-72472 [CD]

Do nothin' till you hear from me -

Hey, Buddy Bolden -

Merry mending -

You better know it -

I like the sunrise -

Solitude (*) -

The gal from Joe's -

Satin doll -

It don't mean a thing (*) -

Something to live for -

Note: Colpix CP425(mono) = SCP425(stereo).

(*) These titles also on Roulette CDP7-98584-2 [CD].

All above titles also on Pye (Jap)XM-139-Y, UPS-2032Y.

Does anyone know another recorded version of this tune? Bruyninckx?

Thanks in advance!

Posted (edited)

Not in Bruyninckx - here's the only entry:

-Nina Simone sings Ellington- : Nina Simone (vcl,p) acc by big band incl. strings + The Malcolm Dodds Singers (female vcl group)

New York, 1963

I got it bad and that ain't good (*) Colpix CP425, Rhino R2-7272 (CD)

Do nothin' till you hear from me -

Hey, Buddy Bolden -

Merry mending -

You better know it -

I like the sunrise -

Solitude (*) -

The gal from Joe's -

Satin doll -

It don't mean a thing (*) -

Something to live for -

Note : Entire session also on Colpix SCP425, Pye (Jap)XM-139-Y, (Jap)UPS-2032Y.

(*) Also on Roulette CDP7.98584-2.

Mike

I came up with this:

http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/d53016.htm

but that's not a whole lot of help.

Edited by Michael Fitzgerald
Posted

Yes, but it's also on the page I listed - on a cassette tape, performed by "artist unknown" - it's the first tape listed.

Mike

You´re right, Mike. Listed as "Merry Mending".

Posted

Hello,

For the sake of completeness, the Nina Simone Sings Ellington has been recently reissued as EMI 4 73220-2 (in the UK at least, together with 6 other CDs including all the Simone recordings for Colpix)

Fernando

Posted

When I have time, I'll try to call or go to the Smithsonian Archive and find out who the artist is. I may have to listen to the tape, which may or may not help.

Right now, I have a higher priority: if all goes according to plan, I will be listening to the Carnegie Hall Monk/Trane tape on Friday. Knock on wood...

Bertrand.

Posted

Right now, I have a higher priority: if all goes according to plan, I will be listening to the Carnegie Hall Monk/Trane tape on Friday.  Knock on wood...

Bertrand.

You lucky guy! Please, report back. :)

Posted

The the entry for the manuscript at the Smithsonian says

"6. Merrie Mending

Merrily Rolling Along see ANATOMY OF A MURDER"

Merrily Rolling is on the Anatomy cd and in the liner notes Phil Schaap states that Merrily Rolling that it is really "Hero to Zero". (At least I think that's what he means.) Does Simone's Merrie Mending sound like anything on the Anatomy cd?

BTW Simone sings Ellington is also the only place you'll find a vocal version of "The Gal from Joe's". I wonder if Simone wrote these lyrics.

Posted

The the entry for the manuscript at the Smithsonian says

"6. Merrie Mending

    Merrily Rolling Along see ANATOMY OF A MURDER"

Merrily Rolling is on the Anatomy cd and in the liner notes  Phil Schaap states that  Merrily Rolling that it is  really "Hero to Zero". (At least I think that's what he means.)  Does Simone's  Merrie Mending  sound like anything on the  Anatomy cd?

Note that, in each box, the songs that are included in a larger work ("Melloditty" in "Tonal group") or have another name ("Mellotone" ---> "In a mellotone") have no number.

So, "Merrily rolling along" is placed between 16.- "Merrie mending" and 17.- "Merry Christmas", but no relation with them.

Posted

BTW Simone sings Ellington is also the only place you'll find a vocal version of "The Gal from Joe's".  I wonder  if  Simone wrote these lyrics.

The CD liner notes credit the song to Duke Ellington and Irving Mills.

Fernando

Posted

Jane Volmer on the Duke-Lym list (and I did send your request again) writes:

Merrie (Merry) Mending was written during the polio epidemic for the

Sister Kenny Institute. Heard on radio for the Sister Kenny Appeal 1952.

Posted

And Jane just posted the following :

According to my research DE never recorded Merrie Mending but unless

someone can dig up a tape of the Sister Kenny radio appeal no definite

conclusions can be made.

Merrie Mending by DE cc 1954

Merrie mending, Merrie Mending

May your convalescence be fun

As you chat about prevention.

Forget about your pills,

For get about your ills

Forget get about your bills.

Get up, get out, get well again.

Merrie Mending with health and happiness blending.

Merrie Mending to you.

(There another verse)

Are these the lyrics Simone sings? (I haven't been able to find the cd yet.)

Posted

Jane Volmer on the Duke-Lym list (and I did send your request again) writes:

...

Thanks!

Let´s hope they reply to your message. I tried to subscribe again, with no results.

Posted

Merrie (Merry) Mending was written during the polio epidemic for the

Sister Kenny Institute. Heard on  radio for the Sister Kenny Appeal 1952.

And Jane just posted the following :

According to my research DE never recorded Merrie Mending but unless

someone can dig up a tape of the Sister Kenny radio appeal no definite

conclusions can be made.

Merrie Mending by DE cc 1954

Merrie mending, Merrie Mending

May your convalescence be fun

As you chat about prevention.

...

So, when did Ellington compose it? 1952, 1953 or 1954?

In "Music is my mistress" it´s listed 1953.

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