SATIN DOLL
Music: Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn- Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
Year: 1953
Origin of the song
In early 1953 Duke Ellington left Columbia Records and signed a major contract with Capitol Records. On April 6 he made the first recording session, which included 'Satin Doll', 'Without A Song' and 'Cocktails For Two'. It appears that Ellington initially wrote the melody of 'Satin Doll' and Billy Strayhorn wrote the lyrics, but this was not considered commercially viable. Five years later Johnny Mercer, co-founder of Capitol Records, wrote the new lyrics, which is what is now known and unanimously praised by critics.
The name 'Satin Doll' is not known. Some say it's Strayhorn's mother, while others, like Mercer Ellington, suspect that the mysterious woman is Edna, Duke's wife, who, for her part, always claimed that she was the recipient of the song.
In 1969, pianist Earl Hines placed an advertisement in Downbeat magazine wishing Duke Ellington a happy 70th birthday, but in small print he added: 'remember that I wrote 'Satin Doll'’. Hines never explained more details of his startling statement, but he recorded the song several times, and included it in an album honouring Ellington.
Billy Strayhorn is the author of ‘Chelsea Bridge’ (1941), ‘Rain Check’ (1942), ‘A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing’ (1944), ‘Lotus Blossom’ (1947) and ‘Lush Life’ (1949). In collaboration with Ellington he composed 'Day Dream' (1941), 'Something to Live For' (1939) and 'Satin Doll' (1953), among many other songs.
Versions in the top charts
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
DAY OF
ENTRANCE |
PERMANENCE WEEKS |
HIGH POSITION REACHED |
|
|
1953.04.06 |
1953.06.13 |
3 |
27 |
Instrumental |
Jazz. Outstanding performances
Instrumental
|
PERFORMANCES |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra |
1953.04.06 |
Duke Ellington (p, dir), Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry (tp), Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol, Britt Woodman (tb), Russell Procope (as, cl), Rick Henderson (as), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Harry Carney (bars, cl), Wendell Marshall (b), Butch Ballard (d) |
|
Victor Feldman Trio |
1958.01.22 |
Victor Feldman (vib, p), Scott LaFaro (b), Stan Levey (d) |
|
1958.04.05 |
Johnny Hodges (as), Billy Strayhorn (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d) |
|
|
1958.04.30 |
Ray Bryant (p), Tommy Bryant (b), Jo Jones (d) |
|
|
1959.10.02 |
Red Garland (p), Doug Watkins (b), Charles 'Specs' Wright (d) |
|
|
1959.10.05 |
Wes Montgomery (g), Mel Rhyne (org), Paul Parker (d) |
|
|
1962.08.15 |
Coleman Hawkins (ts), Roy Eldridge (tp), Johnny Hodges (as), Tommy Flanagan (p), Major Holley (b), Eddie Locke (d) |
|
|
1963.03.04 |
McCoy Tyner (p), Steve Davis (b), Lex Humphries (d) |
|
|
1965.06.15 |
Jimmy Smith (org), Kenny Burrell (g), Grady Tate (d) |
|
|
Duke Ellington |
1972.04.10 |
Duke Ellington (p), Joe Benjamin (b), Rufus Jones (d) |
|
Earl Hines |
1973.03.27 |
Earl Hines (p) |
|
1974.06.21 |
Joe Pass (g), Ray Brown (b), Bobby Durham (d) |
|
|
1975.05.18 |
Oscar Peterson (p), Clark Terry (tp, tpa) |
|
|
1984.09.03 |
Milt Hinton (b), Jane Jarvis (p), Louis Bellson (d) |
|
|
Oscar Peterson Quartet |
1998.07.22 |
Oscar Peterson (p), Ulf Wakenius (g), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b), Martin Drew (d) |
|
Jessica Williams |
2000.09.?? |
Jessica Williams (p) |
Vocal
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1963.07.15 |
Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Al Aarons, Joe Newman, Don Rader, Fip Ricard (tp), Henry Coker, Urbie Green, Grover Mitchell, Benny Powell (tb), Eric Dixon, Frank Foster, Frank Wess (as, ts, fl), Marshall Royal (as, cl), Charlie Fowlkes (bars), Count Basie (p), Freddie Green (g), Buddy Catlett (b), Sonny Payne (d), Quincy Jones (dir) |
|
|
1963.10.08 |
Nancy Wilson (voc), Al Porcino, Carmell Jones (tp), Harold Land (ts), Wild Bill Davis (org), Joe Pass (g), Jimmy Bond (b), Kenny Dennis (d) |
|
|
Kenny Burrell Orchestra |
1975.02.?? |
Kenny Burrell (g), Jerome Richardson (ts), Jimmy Smith (org), Jimmy Jones (p), Stanley Gilbert (b), Jimmie Smith (d), Ernie Andrews (voc) |
On cinemas
The song 'Satin Doll' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:
|
ORIGINAL TITLE |
TITLE IN SPAIN |
YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM |
|
Rough Cut |
Golpe audaz |
1980 |
|
|
White Hunter, Black Heart |
Cazador blanco, corazón negro |
1990 |
Kevin Mahogany |
|
Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell Of Fear |
Agárralo como puedas 2 ½, el aroma del miedo |
1991 |
|