Ellington's A-Train with trio opening ...

[neveronfriday]

Not that long ago, my father was visiting. We talked quite a bit about jazz, his life in Germany during WWII and shortly after, and about this board.

I told him that there is a wealth of information to be had and he actually asked me to forward a question to all of you.

I have already asked EKE BB and he did send what I would think is the definitive answer, but I'd still be happy if you could have a look and see if you can come up with anything not mentioned here.

Here we go:

We were talking about Duke Ellington and my dad recalls listening to one specific session on his old radio (which he says he didn't have anymore after 1949, but he admits that he might have confused something there) which has stayed in his mind ever since then.

It was a version of "Take the A-Train" which he describes like this: The tune opened with a trio or small group session with vocals (female) and then segued into a full-blown big band recording (as far as he recalls, without vocals ... but he's not sure anymore). All he recalls is a line like "if you take the A-Train from Harlem" or something like that, and that's it.

EKE BB came up with this info:

June 30, 1952. New York.

Columbia recording session. Matrix 47485 later became matrix 48343. "Take The 'A' Train" is not complete on EsCo.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, t; Britt Woodman, tb; Jimmy Hamilton, cl, ts; Russell Procope, as, cl; Paul Gonsalves, ts; Harry Carney, bs; Duke Ellington, p; Wendell Marshall, b; Louis Bellson, d.

CO47482-5

Columbia CG-33961

CoCo:4/13

I Love My Lovin' Lover

(Ellington)

[betty Roche, vocal]

Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, t; Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman, tb; Juan Tizol, vtb; Jimmy Hamilton, cl, ts; Johnny Hodges, Hilton Jefferson, as; Russel Procope, as, cl; Paul Gonsalves, ts; Harry Carney, bs; Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, p; Wendell Marshall, b; Louis Bellson, d.

CO47483-8

Okeh 6911

CoCo:4/14

Come On Home

(Ellington)

CO47485-3

Columbia ML-4639

Upt:1

EsCo:2/20

Voc:12

Take The "A" Train

(Strayhorn)

[betty Roche, vocal]

This version of "Take the A train" was included in the "Ellington uptown" LP, which was reissued in 1991 by CBS/Sony including the Controversial Suite, http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=A38jweal14x07

and has been reissued this month, adding the "Liberian Suite" http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&u...l=Axce9975dkrst

Listened to the old reissue while coming to work this eeeeearly morning. Betty Roche´s scatting on this one is simply superb!!! The track starts with a trio setting, then comes the vocal part, then comes the whole orchestra (with a splendid tenor solo in it)

When asked if there were any previous sessions which could fit my father's description, EKE BB wrote:

A little research in the Ellington discography I have in my computer shows there´s no vocal version of "A train" during the 40´s.

And for the 50´s the only additional FEMALE vocal version is that with Ella Fitzgerald in 1957:

June 24, 1957. New York.

Verve recording session at Fine Sound Studios. "Lush Life" not listed in the New Desor.

Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, t; Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman, tb; John Sanders, vtb; Jimmy Hamilton, cl, ts; Russell Procope, cl, as; Johnny Hodges, as; Paul Gonsalves, Frank Foster, ts; Harry Carney, bcl, cl; Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, p; Jimmy Woode, b; Sam Woodyard, d; Billy Strayhorn replaces Ellington on "Day Dream."

21033-6

Verve MGV-4008-2

EFSB:1/3

Day Dream

(Ellington-Strayhorn-Latouche)

[Ella Fitzgerald, vocal]

21034-5

Verve MGV-4008-2

EFSB:1/5

Take The "A" Train

(Strayhorn)

[Ella Fitzgerald, vocal]

21035

Verve

EFSB:2/11

Lush Life

(Strayhorn)

[Ella Fitzgerald, vocal]

(there a few 50´s versions with Ray Nance on vocals)

[...]

My discography is supposed to include all the commercial recordings. It includes concerts and broadcastings as well, but I´m afraid it´s not "the definitive Duke Ellington discography".

That´s all I can contribute! I would stick to Betty Roche version 

As far as I can tell then, the Betty Roche version seems to be the one. To be sure though, here my question:

Does anyone know of another version which was recorded before 1952 and fits my dad's description above? If at all, if there was one at all, it must have been before, because the Fitzgerald one he surely knows (he loves Ella) and timewise, after '52 would be too late.

Any input greatly appreciated!

Thanks and Cheers!

[EKE BBB]

I can´t add anything more...

[jazzbo]

Unless it was a radio broadcast item that I haven't encountered (a possibility for sure) I'd say it's the Roche version.

[ghost of miles]

Probably not the version your father heard, but just for kicks I thought I'd mention that Roche also recorded this tune for Bethlehem in the 1950s.

[neveronfriday]

Well, my dad bought "Ellington Uptown" and is sure that it wasn't this version (he loves the CD though).

I guess that only leaves (a probably unissued) radio broadcast?

Cheers!

[Edit: He's still quite sure it must have been 1949, so the recording should be from then or the time before].

Edited March 7, 2004 by deus62

[mikeweil]

There is a version recorded by a Lionel Hampton group that only in part fits above description.

New York City, August 1956

Ray Copeland tp

Jimmy Cleveland tb

Lucky Thompson ts

Lionel Hampton vib

Oscar Dennard p

Oscar Pettiford b

Gus Johnson d

unknown vocal group (to me they sound like The Gordons)

recorded for Jazztone, this particular track is currently available on an Oscar Pettiford compilation "First Bass" on IAJRC CD 1010.

It starts with Lionel and rhythm, heard through an old radio the vibes sound is very close to piano. The vocal sings the theme, there is a vibes chorus, then the chorus takes it out. The horns lay out on this one.

Considering there are hundreds of airchecks of the Duke .....

lyrics:

C'mon, hurry take the A train

that's the quickest way you'll get to Harlem

get this train 'cause it's no freight train

hurry don't be late it might be

C'mon, hurry take the A train

that's the quickest way you'll get to Harlem

[ghost of miles]

I don't think this is the version Deus62 was looking for, but as re: 1940s versions of "A Train" with vocals, Duke and/or Betty Roche fans have got to check this one out. I posted it already in my Betty Roche Night Lights thread but will repost it here:

Betty Roche sings "A Train" w/Duke in 1943 film REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY

I couldn't find this clip anywhere when I was preparing the Roche program last autumn--apparently it was posted five months ago on the site to which I've linked. We're getting ready to re-air the Roche show, and out of curiosity I did a Google search (after a look on Youtube failed to produce any results) and turned it up. Great to see a celluloid performance from Betty Roche!

Edited July 16, 2007 by ghost of miles

[medjuck]

My admittedly not good memory is that the performance in the film matches your father's description.