The song of the day for Wednesday, March 27, 2024, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written in 1930 by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Irving Mills. Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Ellington wrote this song based on a theme by Barney Bigard, who is said to have learned it from his New Orleans clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio. Ellington wrote the song specifically for “microphone transmission” and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, so Irving Mills wrote the lyrics, changing the song’s name to “Mood Indigo.” The song has been widely recorded by instrumental and vocal artists, including Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mood Indigo” in May 1999 for his tribute album to Duke Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The album, released on September 28, 1999, coincided with what would have been Ellington’s centennial birthday year in 1999.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1930 recording of “Mood Indigo.”