The song of the day for Friday, April 10, 2025, is “Sophisticated Lady.”
About This Song
“Sophisticated Lady” was written in 1932 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Mitchell Parish and Irving Mills. Ellington wrote it as an instrumental named “Never No Lament,” but changed the title to “Sophisticated Lady” after the lyrics were added.
Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year. “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s “Stormy Weather.” It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.
“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.
We have Ellington’s 1933 recording of “Sophisticated Lady” with Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Juan Tizol, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney and more:
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