Uploaded by projazz on December 30, 2019 at 4:54 pm

is the debut studio album by, accompanied by, released in mono on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 872. Although she had appeared on albums before, it had been in the context of either a musical theater or multiple artist recording. The album also marked the return of Ellington to Columbia after an absence of four years, and was one of the first examples of overdubbing being used as an integral part of the creation, rather than for effects or to correct mistakes. "Rosemary Clooney may have seemed to be a surprising choice to be featured with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, but this collaboration is extremely successful in spite of the fact that Clooney was unable to join the band in the studio due to complications of a very difficult pregnancy. The solution was for the band to record the music (after Billy Strayhorn made the first of several trips to Los Angeles to consult with her). The results are stunning and not in the least bit canned, due to the professionalism of all parties involved and a stellar engineering of the separately recorded tracks. Clooney swings throughout "Me and You" and "It Don't Mean a Thing" without excess, her wordless vocal on "Blue Rose," and a captivating "Mood Indigo" are among the many highlights. The sound on this Legacy series reissue is greatly improved over the earlier Mobile Fidelity CD, plus there are two tracks added, the obscure but appealing "If You Were in My Place (What Would You Do?)" and "Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin'," that were only issued as a single and omitted from the original release. It's a pity that the collaboration of Rosemary Clooney and Duke Ellington was only a one-shot deal, as she easily ranks as one of the greatest vocalists to appear on record with the maestro." - Ken Dryden/AllMusic Side one 1. "Hey Baby" Duke Ellington 3:53 2. "Sophisticated Lady" Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish 2:57 3. "Me and You" Duke Ellington 2:28 4. "Passion Flower" Billy Strayhorn, Milton Raskin (lyrics) 4:33 5. "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, John Redmond 2:37 6. "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" Duke Ellington, Irving Mills 2:48 Side two 1. "Grievin'" Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn 4:20 2. "Blue Rose" Duke Ellington 2:21 3. "I'm Checkin' Out - Goombye" Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn 3:09 4. "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster 3:07 5. "Mood Indigo" Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, Irving Mills 6:28Rosemary Clooney – vocals Duke Ellington – piano Billy Strayhorn – arranger, conductor Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry – trumpets Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombones John Sanders – valve trombone Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone Harry Carney – baritone saxophone Jimmy Woode – bass Sam Woodyard – drums ______________________ Released: May 21, 1956 Recorded: January–February 1956 Length: 39:04 Label: Columbia Producer: Irving Townsend

Blue Rose is the debut studio album by Rosemary Clooney, accompanied by Duke Ellington and his orchestra, released in mono on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 872. Although she had appeared on albums before, it had been in the context of either a musical theater or multiple artist recording. The album also marked the return of Ellington to Columbia after an absence of four years, and was one of the first examples of overdubbing being used as an integral part of the creation, rather than for effects or to correct mistakes.

“Rosemary Clooney may have seemed to be a surprising choice to be featured with Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, but this collaboration is extremely successful in spite of the fact that Clooney was unable to join the band in the studio due to complications of a very difficult pregnancy. The solution was for the band to record the music (after Billy Strayhorn made the first of several trips to Los Angeles to consult with her). The results are stunning and not in the least bit canned, due to the professionalism of all parties involved and a stellar engineering of the separately recorded tracks. Clooney swings throughout “Me and You” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing” without excess, her wordless vocal on “Blue Rose,” and a captivating “Mood Indigo” are among the many highlights. The sound on this Legacy series reissue is greatly improved over the earlier Mobile Fidelity CD, plus there are two tracks added, the obscure but appealing “If You Were in My Place (What Would You Do?)” and “Just a-Sittin’ and a-Rockin’,” that were only issued as a single and omitted from the original release. It’s a pity that the collaboration of Rosemary Clooney and Duke Ellington was only a one-shot deal, as she easily ranks as one of the greatest vocalists to appear on record with the maestro.” – Ken Dryden/AllMusic.

Track listing:

Side one

1. “Hey Baby” Duke Ellington 3:53

2. “Sophisticated Lady” Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish 2:57

3. “Me and You” Duke Ellington 2:28

4. “Passion Flower” Billy Strayhorn, Milton Raskin (lyrics) 4:33

5. “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart” Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, John Redmond 2:37

6. “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” Duke Ellington, Irving Mills 2:48

Side two

1. “Grievin'” Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn 4:20

2. “Blue Rose” Duke Ellington 2:21

3. “I’m Checkin’ Out – Goombye” Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn 3:09

4. “I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)” Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster 3:07

5. “Mood Indigo” Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, Irving Mills 6:28

Personnel:

Rosemary Clooney – vocals

Duke Ellington – piano

Billy Strayhorn – arranger, conductor

Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry – trumpets

Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombones

John Sanders – valve trombone

Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet

Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone

Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet

Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone

Harry Carney – baritone saxophone

Jimmy Woode – bass

Sam Woodyard – drums

______________________

Released: May 21, 1956

Recorded: January–February 1956

Length: 39:04

Label: Columbia

Producer: Irving Townsend



