Side‑Session Monday: More Sentimental Moods

Following up on Duke Ellington’s standard In a Sentimental Mood, today’s side‑session rounds up some (then) contemporary covers along with a handful of later remakes.

Goodman Gets Moody

Duke’s version was released in 1935, and by 1936 a whole wave of bands jumped on the tune — mostly as an instrumental. First up, Benny Goodman on Victor:

A typically great Goodman record of a Jimmy Mundy arrangement. Murray McEachern sounds wonderful on trombone.

Jimmy Joins In

Jimmy Dorsey’s version for Decca features an even more prominent trombone — Bobby Byrne even gets (slightly misspelled) label credit:

Bobby replaced Tommy Dorsey after Tommy left the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. Byrne was a fine trombonist and later a bandleader himself, but he couldn’t really compete with Tommy in either category — though honestly, who could?

Pollack’s Parade of Stars

Ben Pollack also recorded the tune for Irving Mills’ Variety label, featuring the great clarinetist Irving Fazola:

Pollack was never quite a top‑tier bandleader, but the roster of future stars who passed through his band is astounding. Around this time, Glenn Miller, Harry James, Charlie Spivak and Freddie Slack were all on the payroll!

McDonough’s Pickup Perfection

Ace studio guitarist Dick McDonough led some pickup groups for the ARC line of budget labels, which still managed to feature top musicians — including trumpeter Bunny Berigan:

This session also includes Toots Mondello on clarinet, Adrian Rollini doing double‑duty on vibes and bass sax, and that steady beat courtesy of the great Cozy Cole on drums.

Mills Adds the Missing Lyrics

Yesterday I mentioned that In a Sentimental Mood had lyrics by Manny Kurtz (AKA Mann Curtis) and Irving Mills, though Duke never recorded a vocal version. Mills did, however, have The Mills Blue Rhythm Band cut it with vocalist Chuck Richardson:

Lucky Millinder leads the band, and the lineup includes such stars as Henry “Red” Allen on trumpet, J.C. Higginbotham on trombone, Tab Smith on sax, and Edgar Hayes on piano.

Collectively, these 1936 recordings feature a ton of talent!

We encounter another high level of talent as we move into 1937 for an instrumental version by the Quintette of the Hot Club of France featuring guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli on the HMV label:

Pretty cool to hear Stéphane take on the tune 25 years or so before his 1963 recording session with Duke

Mr. B’s Velvet Version

The tune became a standard and has been remade many times, but we have to jump ahead to 1948 for another notable vocal version. It’s worth the wait — Billy Eckstine wraps his velvet baritone around the tune for the National label:

There’s something about Mr. B singing an Ellington melody that’s pure magic.

Tommy's Sentimental Trombone

Since we’re already time‑traveling, let’s stop in the 1950s for a couple more instrumental versions of note. The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing, Tommy Dorsey, finally recorded his own version for Decca in 1953:

This was the title track of TD’s album In a Sentimental Mood, and the tune fits his trombone style like a glove.

Hackett's Mellow Mood

Another great musician, cornetist Bobby Hackett, included the song as a track on his 1955 Capitol album In a Mellow Mood:

An absolutely gorgeous nightcap for our little sentimental stroll!

Do you have a favorite version? Let me know in the comments.