Monday Side-Session: More from the Heart

We follow up on Duke Ellington’s 1938 classic I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart with a parade of covers and remakes — and boy, did they come fast and furious. Duke’s original was an instrumental, but the lyrics by Henry Nemo, John Redmond and Irving Mills (?) caught fire almost instantly. Of all the Ellington tunes that sprouted lyrics after the fact, this is the one where I can’t not hear the words when the band plays the melody. If you know what I mean!

Let's start spinning...

Hot Lips Page (Bluebird)

Most of the 1938 responses were vocal versions, but let’s start with an instrumental detour. Here’s trumpeter Hot Lips Page with a Bluebird side that jumps right out of the speakers:

He had hot lips all right!

Now the canaries take over with four stellar vocal renditions from that same whirlwind year.

Mildred Bailey (Brunswick)

Mildred is backed by the band of her then‑husband Red Norvo. It’s always fun to compare the sides issued under Mildred’s name with the ones issued under Red’s name with Mildred as the vocalist. The “solo” sides let her stretch out in ways the Norvo discs sometimes don’t.

Connie Boswell (Decca)

Such a wonderful stylist — that rhythmic ease, that conversational glide. Connie never forces this tune; she just lets it bloom.

June Richmond with Jimmy Dorsey (Decca)

June Richmond was likely the first Black singer to be featured regularly with a major white band. She was no novelty — she could sing — but the public wasn’t ready, and her stay with Jimmy was far too short.

This record also gives Jimmy plenty of alto space, which makes for a fascinating comparison with Johnny Hodges. Johnny admired JD’s tone and technique, and you can hear why.

Martha Tilton with Benny Goodman (Victor)

The biggest vocal hit of the tune in 1938. Prime BG, with a sparkling Edgar Sampson arrangement and the Liltin' Miss Tilton in peak form.

I love how each of these women puts her own stamp on the song.

To hear a male vocalist tackle it in 1938, we have to cross the Atlantic...

Mantovani with Ken Crossley (Columbia UK)

Annunzio Mantovani was so associated with lush postwar mood music that it’s easy to forget how jaunty his 1930s records can sound!

Now let’s time‑hop to 1954 for a pair of male vocalists who each brought their own distinctive style to the tune.

Al Hibbler (Norgran)

Former Ellington vocalist Hibbler sounds terrific here, and the arrangement is pure Ellingtonia.

Billy Eckstine (MGM)

You know I’m all over any record of Billy singing an Ellington tune!

We go from Mr. B to Miss D to show that the ladies were still at it in the ’50s...

Dinah Washington (EmArcy/Mercury, 1954)

An extended version from After Hours with Miss D gives Dinah and the band a chance to really pour out their hearts.

Ella Fitzgerald (Verve, 1957)

From her magnificent Duke Ellington Songbook. Ella makes the melody feel inevitable, with great support from Ben Webster on tenor and Barney Kessel on guitar.

Let's wrap up with one more instrumental version...

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott (Prestige)

Tenor man "Lockjaw" and organist Shirley romp through the tune in awesome 1959 stereo from the album Jaws.

So: lots of songs from lots of hearts. Which one makes your heart sing?