Side-Session Monday – Three Treks Through the Swamp

Yesterday we heard two songs popularized by Duke Ellington - “Cocktails for Two” and “My Old Flame” - wind up as classic Spike Jones parodies. For today’s side-session, we visit another tune recorded by both Duke and Spike: the 1928 standard Chloe (Song of the Swamp).

Duke’s 1940 Trek — The Swamp as Atmosphere

Duke recorded Chlo-e (with the old school hyphen) for Victor in 1940:

I’m absolutely fascinated by Tricky Sam Nanton on this one. His plunger-muted trombone always has personality, but here it crosses into something uncanny — a voice calling out across the marsh. It’s eerie, expressive, and completely alive. One of those moments where Ellington’s sound world feels like it’s breathing.

Spike’s 1944 Trek — The Swamp as Vaudeville

Spike Jones cut his version for Victor in 1944, shortly after the recording ban lifted:

This is controlled chaos at its best. Red Ingle is front and center with a bravura performance, and Country Washburne (Red’s old pal from the Ted Weems band) turns in another brilliantly unhinged arrangement. The City Slickers play it with that perfect balance of precision and anarchy.

And the label gag - Red billed as “Swamphead” - is exactly the kind of Victor in-joke that makes these records feel like a little clubhouse.

Tommy Dorsey’s 1945 Trek — The Swamp Swings

You’d think Spike’s record might have permanently tilted Chloe toward comedy, but Tommy Dorsey brought it back into the serious-swing column with his 1945 Victor version:

That’s Charlie Shavers on trumpet, absolutely tearing through Bill Finegan’s chart. It’s bold, brassy, and full of momentum - a reminder that “Chloe” still had plenty of musical life left in it.

Three Treks, One Swamp

So Victor Records take us on three very different journeys through the same murky landscape:

• Duke’s atmospheric call across the reeds
• Spike’s comic swamp revue
• TD’s swinging, brass-forward expedition

And after all that… we still haven’t found Chloe!