The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 17, 2022, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written in 1930 by Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, and Irving Mills. Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Ellington wrote this song, which is 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, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song 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 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The album, a tribute to Duke Ellington, was released in 1999, one hundred years after Ellington was born. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

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

I found this 1931 version of “Mood Indigo” with Ellington and The Cotton Club Orchestra:

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 23, 2021, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written by Duke Ellington, based on a theme by Barney Bigard; Irving Mills wrote the lyrics. Ellington wrote the song, originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” specifically for ‘microphone transmission,’ and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song 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 1999 for his tribute album to Duke Ellington, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot and Cool, released in Ellington’s centennial year. The album was conducted and arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. Joining Bennett for this recording were Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone.

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

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Saturday, May 1, 2021, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Duke Ellington wrote this song in 1930, which is 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, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song 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 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The arrangement by Jorge Calandrelli features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone.

We hope you have enjoyed Duke Ellington Week on The Year of Tony Bennett. To quote Duke: “We love you madly!”

Mood Indigo

Listen to Mood Indigo on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

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

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Friday, May 29, 2020, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Mood Indigo” in 1930 and named it “Dreamy Blues”; the lyrics by Irving Mills were added later. The song, which is 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, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyrics, changing the name of the song 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 the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, which was released in the 100th year anniversary of Ellington’s birth. The album won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 18, 2020, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Mood Indigo” in 1930; the lyrics by Irving Mills were added later. Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Ellington wrote this song, which is 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, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyrics, changing the name of the song 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 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released on the centenary of Ellington’s birth in 1899. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

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 from iTunes.

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