The song of the day for Sunday, May 19, 2024, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”
About This Song
Duke Ellington wrote “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in 1931, with lyrics by Irving Mills. It was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and to listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” in May 1999 for his centennial tribute to Duke Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, featuring a very fine arrangement by Ralph Burns.
“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.
Here’s the original recording with Ivie Anderson:
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