Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

Duke Ellington

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Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Review

by Michael G. Nastos

Vol. 2 of Duke Ellington's "hits" from the Charly reissue label is an interesting collection of many well-known selections not included on the initial compilation, but also features quite a few obscure pieces. Among the 20 tracks are all-time favorites all lovers of Duke know: "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo," "Black & Tan Fantasy," "The Mooche," "Ring Dem Bells," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Drop Me Off in Harlem," and "Warm Valley" are here. The pieces "Creole Rhapsody," "Slippery Horn," "Hyde Park," and "Country Gal," among others, might throw you for a loop, but they are interesting choices and make this CD one to seek out unless you are a completist and already have them. Both Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 combined provide a good beginner's retrospective of Ellington in the first half of his lengthy career, and at an affordable price to boot.

Track Listing

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	East St. Louis Toodle-Oo Duke Ellington / Bubber Miley	Duke Ellington	02:53	Amazon
2	Black and Tan Fantasy Duke Ellington / Bubber Miley	Duke Ellington	03:19	Amazon
3	The Mooche Duke Ellington / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington	03:14	Amazon
4	Ring Dem Bells Duke Ellington / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington	02:53	Amazon
5	Doin' the Voom Voom Duke Ellington / Bubber Miley	Duke Ellington	03:14	Amazon
6	Creole Rhapsody, Pts. 1 & 2 Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	08:28	Amazon
7	It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) Duke Ellington / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington	03:12	Amazon
8	Slippery Horn Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	03:17	Amazon
9	Merry-Go-Round Duke Ellington / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington	02:51	Amazon
10	Drop Me off in Harlem Duke Ellington / Nick A. Kenny	Duke Ellington	03:00	Amazon
11	Hyde Park Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	02:57	Amazon
12	Showboat Shuffle Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	03:05	Amazon
13	Stompy Jones Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	03:04	Amazon
14	Clarinet Lament (Barney's Concerto) Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	03:11	Amazon
15	In a Jam Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	03:00	Amazon
16	Harmony in Harlem Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington	03:10	Amazon
17	Stepping into Swing Society Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Henry Nemo	Duke Ellington	03:05	Amazon
18	The Gal from Joe's Duke Ellington / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington	02:59	Amazon
19	Country Gal Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	02:58	Amazon
20	Warm Valley Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	03:23	Amazon