''Ellingtonia, Vol. Two'' is a compilation album of

phonograph record A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts nea ...

s assembled by Brunswick Records during the American Federation of Musicians strike, cataloguing the famed early recordings of

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

on Brunswick and Vocalion Records. During the later

Swing era The swing era (also frequently referred to as the big band era) was the period (1933–1947) when big band swing music was the most popular music in the United States. Though this was its most popular period, the music had actually been aroun ...

, the recordings were praised for accurately predicting the developments in the Big band genre several years in advance.

Reception

After

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

purchased the Brunswick and Vocalion metal master records, the first volume of ''Ellingtonia'' became the series' premiere release, and was well-received by ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' magazine. This second volume focuses more on Ellington's forays into longer-length pieces. Keeping in pattern with the earlier set, again the labels replaced group names originally accredited instead of or alongside Ellington, such as the or his "Kentucky Club Orchestra", "Washingtonians", " Cotton Club Orchestra", and the commonly used pseudonym "The Jungle Band" with simply "Duke Ellington and His Orchestra". The first three discs' A-side and B-sides remain unchanged from their original pressings – Brunswick 6093, 4328 and 3987. "Jazz Convulsions" and "Awful Sad" originally appeared on Brunswicks 4705 and 4110. According to Joel Whitburn, only "Creole Rhapsody" charted, hitting number 18 over a two-week chart stay.

Track listing

These previously issued songs, were featured on a 4-disc, 78 rpm album set, Brunswick B-1011. Disc 1: (80047) Disc 2: (80048) Disc 3: (80049) Disc 4: (80050)

References

{{Authority control 1944 albums Duke Ellington albums Brunswick Records albums