Legends Mix

In today's mixed bag the making of a classic - take the 'A' Train. Originally it was an instrumental composed by Billy Strayhorn - hired by Duke Ellington because of troubles with fees for radio broadcast that the music licensing company ASCAP had raised. The title was chosen when Ellington had given directions how to get to his home - with that new subway line that ran from Brooklyn to Harlem. The lyrics came later in two versions - one for the Delta Rhythm Boys and another, by a talented young singer and a fan, that were adopted by Ellington.

There's more - a second Bessie Smith, an obscure band with a hunch their name would be used by others, and the self-proclaimed inventor of jazz.

Transcript

Playlist

Four Blazes - Mood Indigo
J.B. Lenoir - The Mountain
Buster Bennett - Let Me Love You, Baby
Andrew Tibbs - Going Down Fast
Walter 'Fats' Pichon - Deep South Boogie
Savannah Churchill - He's Commander-In-Chief Of My Heart
Erskine Butterfield & His Blue Boys - Boogie De Concerto
Bill Samuels - Ghost Of A Chance
Duke Ellington - Take The A Train
Al Cooper - Sophisticated Jump
Streamline Mae (St. Louis Bessie Mae Smith) - Blues Blues
Alice Moore - Hand In Hand Women
Anna Bell - Shake It, Black Bottom
Original Yellow Jackets - My Blue Heaven
W.C. Handy - Yellow Dog Blues
Jelly Roll Morton - Dr. Jazz

Outtro:

Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce

The following music served as background music during the spoken parts:

Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
Andy Kirk - Blue Clarinet Stomp
Eddie Durham - Moten's Swing
Georgia Washboard Stompers - Farewell Blues
King Brady's Clarinet Band - Embarressement Blues (Sidewalk Blues)
Tiny Bradshaw - Heavy Juice
Todd Rhodes - Chicken Strut