St James Infirmary - Duke Ellington his Orchestra and Irving Mills. (Rare)

[@marshallbenjamin5319]

So many people changed this song still my favorite song of all time

[@ebookpioneers]

This is in my opinion the definitive version when it comes to the lyrics. I don't know why more people don't sing it like this.

[@thanasisKrispis]

❤❤❤

[@rwharwood]

March, 1930. Duke Ellington and Orchestra posed as The Harlem Hot Chocolates for this version, released on the "Hit-Of-The-Week" label, available on inexpensive and flexible Durium, sold at local newsstands. Irving Mills on vocals. Mills was one of the few impresarios of the time (he was, among many things, Ellington's manager) to appear - even if only on record - with a black band. And one of the very few, perhaps the first, to include black and white musicians in the same recording orchestra.

[@thehatedcat]

From the younger generation to you, thanks very much for the info and I will never stop loving this music. Also, considering the race-based tension in the country we still have right now it means a lot to me that it was a black band and a mixed race recording.

[@rwharwood]

thehatedcat Thanks for saying that. I have made a bit of a study of St. James Infirmary, and the people who first encountered the song (iwentdowntostjamesinfirmary.blogspot.ca/).

[@Westtoledoguy]

one of my favorite tunes never heard it by the Duke always Cab Calloway very nice

[@rwharwood]

I have heard Mills with Ellington before, singing this song - recorded in 1930. But that version is very different from this one. There is no doubt this is Mills on the vocal here, but I wonder - where did you find this?

[@principalpercussion]

You have to know where you came from to know where you are going.. Duke set the standard for quality and the Jazz and Classical Cats took it from there while Duke continued his inventive work !! RESPECT !! Herb

[@dick12235]

Thanks again.

[@dariovarchetta]

awesome!!

[@Twentythousandlps]

The solo after the vocal is a trumpet, in the trombone register - Cootie, I guess.

[@BorisGrkovic]

+++

[@jenniferallan5251]

This version is different than the one I have that's by The Ten Blackberries (with Irving Mills on vocal). That version is much more mournful. This one is kind of sassy, which is weirdly inappropriate for the song.

[@tashunkasuarez5533]

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