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A Date with the Duke

Join Duke Ellington Orchestra in the live 1945 broadcasts from the 400 Restaurant on Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street in New York City.

Date with the Duke

57 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 40 hours, 3242 min)
available in the following formats:

2 MP3 CDs
or
45 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from May 12, 1945:

"400 Restaurant NYC Cargenie Blues"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Duke EllingtonThere was Jazz Music before Duke Ellington, but until the Duke came along, Jazz was not art.

Duke Ellington followed a slightly different path to stardom than most other Jazzmen. A native of Washington D.C., his parents were both pianists, his mother playing parlor music while his father, who drew blue-prints for the Department of the Navy, specialized in operatic airs. As a youth he was far more interested in baseball (President Teddy Roosevelt would sometimes interrupt his horse rides to watch Ellington's team play) than the piano. When he began sneaking into pool halls as a teenager he heard the playing of pool-room pianists, which fired his passion for the instrument. From that time on he began to take his lessons seriously, and to draw upon a number of influences.

Duke EllingtonEllington's mother made it a point to keep refined women in his life, and he developed a sense grace and style, along with a dapper dress styling. His friends teased him about having a royal manner, and tagged him as "The Duke".

While still in his teens he began appearing with different bands in clubs in the Washington area, and in the early 1920's made the move to New York to break into the Harlem music scene. He survived by hustling pool during the day and playing what gigs he could find in the evening, often at rent parties. After a few months he returned to Washington, discouraged. But the call of the music couldn't be ignored. A gig in Atlantic City in 1923 led to a four year engagement at the Hollywood Club at 49th and Broadway. This is where Duke Ellington grew as a musician and artist.

After the Hollywood Club burned down and reopened as the Kentucky Club, Ellington took over as leader of the house orchestra. "Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Orchestra" soon grew into a ten piece outfit with a distinctive sound that combined the Harlem street rhythms and Ellington's expressive arrangements with exotic trombone wah-wahs and growls, squealing high trumpets, and sultry blues licks.

The Duke Ellington Orchestra survived the great depression, when many bands were being let go by the recording studios, but only through hard work touring and exposure on radio. Engagements at New York's Cotton Club exposed him to a European audience, but at home he was in competition with the likes of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Count Basie. Although the Duke could swing with the best, he felt constrained by the 3 minute limitation of the 78 rpm record side.

Finally, by the end of WWII, the music industry began to favor the easy to promote image of the solo vocalists like Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Dinah Shore. Jazz itself began to move away from big bands.

These shows were mostly recorded at the 400 Restaurant on fifth Avenue and 43rd Street in New York City. They were adapted for use by the AFRS. The show was a "weekly concert", that features the Duke Ellington Orchestra at their high point.

For more jazz broadcasts, see also: Charlie and His Orchestra (Nazi Propganda), Date with the Duke, Eddie Condon Jazz Concert, Esquire Jazz Concert, Jubilee, Music Depreciation, Navy Swings, Live from Birdland, and New Orleans Jazz Band.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    3
    3     0


    COMMENTS

    I have quite a few CD's and LP's from the 'Date With the Duke' series, but amazingly none of them are repeated in the OTRCAT broadcasts, but I would imagine hundreds of these broadcasts were made, or even thousands (7500 at least insofar as the Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands were concerned). Again as per other recent collections that I have purchased, the sound quality is excellent, especially since they have not been digitally cleaned up and enhanced etc. So far I have purchased 20 standard Audio CD's of this series, and will gradually buy up the remaining CD's, along with the 'Sammy Kaye Sunday Serenade' and 'Woody Herman' series of broadcasts. Now that the commercial labels seem to be releasing less and less material as time goes by, except perhaps some labels here in the UK and also Spain, collectors like me are now tapping heavily into OTR.CAT. Looking forward to additional broadcasts being sourced and made available in all these series'

    Colin Verified Purchase

    I have now purchased the full set of 'Date with the Duke' series on OTRCAT on Standard CD format. I have some episodes released on Redmond Nostalgia and Radio Archives, none of which have been repeated in this series. The sound quality is very good considering the broadcasts have not been digitally cleaned up. I would thoroughly recommend this collection to all those who appreciate top notch big band remote broadcasts.

    Colin Verified Purchase

    I especially like the Duke's engaging banter between songs. They bring him to life.

    Jack Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    57 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00. Total playtime 40 hours, 3242 min
    57 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00
    total playtime 40 hours, 3242 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. Volume 1 – 28 shows – total playtime 18 hours, 37 minutes
      MP3 CD
      Volume 1: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Date With Duke 450000 23 Mood To Be Wooed.mp3
    3. Date With Duke 450000 24 Blutopia.mp3
    4. Date With Duke 450000 25 Blue Belles Of Harlem.mp3
    5. Date With Duke 450000 26 Perfume Suite.mp3
    6. Date With Duke 450000 27 Autumn Serenade.mp3
    7. Date With Duke 450000 29 Caravan.mp3
    8. Date With Duke 450000 33 Cant You Read Between Lines Afrs.mp3
    9. Date With Duke 450000 52 Unannounced.mp3
    10. Date With Duke 450000 57 Ultra Blue.mp3
    11. Date With Duke 450000 59 Johnny Come Lately.mp3
    12. Date With Duke 450000 61 Clementine.mp3
    13. Date With Duke 450407 01 Blutopia AFRS.mp3
    14. Date With Duke 450421 02 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS.mp3
    15. Date With Duke 450421 03 Three Cent Stomp.mp3
    16. Date With Duke 450427 02 Bluetopia Afrs.mp3
    17. Date With Duke 450428 03 Midriff AFRS.mp3
    18. Date With Duke 450505 04 Blutopia AFRS.mp3
    19. Date With Duke 450505 05 Bluetopia.mp3
    20. Date With Duke 450512 05 Carnegie Blues AFRS.mp3
    21. Date With Duke 450512 07 Carnegie Blues.mp3
    22. Date With Duke 450519 06 Teardrops In Rain AFRS.mp3
    23. Date With Duke 450519 06 Teardrops In Rain.mp3
    24. Date With Duke 450526 07 Sugar Hill Penthouse AFRS.mp3
    25. Date With Duke 450602 08 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS.mp3
    26. Date With Duke 450609 09 Blue Is Night AFRS.mp3
    27. Date With Duke 450609 15 Blue Is Night.mp3
    28. Date With Duke 450616 10 Indiana AFRS.mp3
    29. Date With Duke 450623 11 Jump For Joy AFRS.mp3

    1. Volume 2 – 29 shows – total playtime 22 hours, 16 minutes
      MP3 CD
      Volume 2: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Date With Duke 450630 12 Caravan AFRS.mp3
    3. Date With Duke 450707 13 Blue Belles Of Harlem AFRS.mp3
    4. Date With Duke 450714 14 In Shade Of Old Apple Tree AFRS.mp3
    5. Date With Duke 450721 15 In Mellotone AFRS.mp3
    6. Date With Duke 450728 16 Teardrops In Rain AFRS.mp3
    7. Date With Duke 450804 17 Dancing In Dark AFRS.mp3
    8. Date With Duke 450811 18 What Am I Here For AFRS.mp3
    9. Date With Duke 450818 19 Work Song Black Brown Beige AFRS.mp3
    10. Date With Duke 450825 20 Mood Indigo AFRS.mp3
    11. Date With Duke 450901 21 On Alamo AFRS.mp3
    12. Date With Duke 450908 22 Carnegie Blues AFRS.mp3
    13. Date With Duke 450915 23 Subtle Slough AFRS.mp3
    14. Date With Duke 450922 24 Someone AFRS.mp3
    15. Date With Duke 451006 25 Main Stem AFRS.mp3
    16. Date With Duke 451013 26 Times Awastin AFRS.mp3
    17. Date With Duke 451020 27 Ultra Blue AFRS.mp3
    18. Date With Duke 451027 28 Johnny Come Lately AFRS.mp3
    19. Date With Duke 451103 29 Clementine AFRS.mp3
    20. Date With Duke 451110 30 Just Asittin And Arockin AFRS.mp3
    21. Date With Duke 451117 31 Walking With My Honey AFRS.mp3
    22. Date With Duke 451117 32 Walking With My Honey.mp3
    23. Date With Duke 451124 32 Way Low AFRS.mp3
    24. Date With Duke 460000 64 Unannounced.mp3
    25. Date With Duke 460000 66 Unannounced.mp3
    26. Date With Duke 460000 73 Eighth Veil.mp3
    27. Date With Duke 460000 79 Just Asittin And Arockin.mp3
    28. Date With Duke 460413 33 Jamaditty Partial Broadcast AFRS.mp3
    29. Date With Duke 460420 34 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS.mp3
    30. Date With Duke 460427 35 Stompy Jones AFRS.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    57 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00. Total playtime 40 hours, 3242 min
    57 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00
    1123 MB – total playtime 40 hours, 54 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. Volume 1 – 28 shows – 512 MB – total playtime 18 hours, 37 minutes
      Instant Download
      Volume 1: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Date With Duke 450000 23 Mood To Be Wooed.mp3
    3. Date With Duke 450000 24 Blutopia.mp3
    4. Date With Duke 450000 25 Blue Belles Of Harlem.mp3
    5. Date With Duke 450000 26 Perfume Suite.mp3
    6. Date With Duke 450000 27 Autumn Serenade.mp3
    7. Date With Duke 450000 29 Caravan.mp3
    8. Date With Duke 450000 33 Cant You Read Between Lines Afrs.mp3
    9. Date With Duke 450000 52 Unannounced.mp3
    10. Date With Duke 450000 57 Ultra Blue.mp3
    11. Date With Duke 450000 59 Johnny Come Lately.mp3
    12. Date With Duke 450000 61 Clementine.mp3
    13. Date With Duke 450407 01 Blutopia AFRS.mp3
    14. Date With Duke 450421 02 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS.mp3
    15. Date With Duke 450421 03 Three Cent Stomp.mp3
    16. Date With Duke 450427 02 Bluetopia Afrs.mp3
    17. Date With Duke 450428 03 Midriff AFRS.mp3
    18. Date With Duke 450505 04 Blutopia AFRS.mp3
    19. Date With Duke 450505 05 Bluetopia.mp3
    20. Date With Duke 450512 05 Carnegie Blues AFRS.mp3
    21. Date With Duke 450512 07 Carnegie Blues.mp3
    22. Date With Duke 450519 06 Teardrops In Rain AFRS.mp3
    23. Date With Duke 450519 06 Teardrops In Rain.mp3
    24. Date With Duke 450526 07 Sugar Hill Penthouse AFRS.mp3
    25. Date With Duke 450602 08 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS.mp3
    26. Date With Duke 450609 09 Blue Is Night AFRS.mp3
    27. Date With Duke 450609 15 Blue Is Night.mp3
    28. Date With Duke 450616 10 Indiana AFRS.mp3
    29. Date With Duke 450623 11 Jump For Joy AFRS.mp3

    1. Volume 2 – 29 shows – 612 MB – total playtime 22 hours, 16 minutes
      Instant Download
      Volume 2: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Date With Duke 450630 12 Caravan AFRS.mp3
    3. Date With Duke 450707 13 Blue Belles Of Harlem AFRS.mp3
    4. Date With Duke 450714 14 In Shade Of Old Apple Tree AFRS.mp3
    5. Date With Duke 450721 15 In Mellotone AFRS.mp3
    6. Date With Duke 450728 16 Teardrops In Rain AFRS.mp3
    7. Date With Duke 450804 17 Dancing In Dark AFRS.mp3
    8. Date With Duke 450811 18 What Am I Here For AFRS.mp3
    9. Date With Duke 450818 19 Work Song Black Brown Beige AFRS.mp3
    10. Date With Duke 450825 20 Mood Indigo AFRS.mp3
    11. Date With Duke 450901 21 On Alamo AFRS.mp3
    12. Date With Duke 450908 22 Carnegie Blues AFRS.mp3
    13. Date With Duke 450915 23 Subtle Slough AFRS.mp3
    14. Date With Duke 450922 24 Someone AFRS.mp3
    15. Date With Duke 451006 25 Main Stem AFRS.mp3
    16. Date With Duke 451013 26 Times Awastin AFRS.mp3
    17. Date With Duke 451020 27 Ultra Blue AFRS.mp3
    18. Date With Duke 451027 28 Johnny Come Lately AFRS.mp3
    19. Date With Duke 451103 29 Clementine AFRS.mp3
    20. Date With Duke 451110 30 Just Asittin And Arockin AFRS.mp3
    21. Date With Duke 451117 31 Walking With My Honey AFRS.mp3
    22. Date With Duke 451117 32 Walking With My Honey.mp3
    23. Date With Duke 451124 32 Way Low AFRS.mp3
    24. Date With Duke 460000 64 Unannounced.mp3
    25. Date With Duke 460000 66 Unannounced.mp3
    26. Date With Duke 460000 73 Eighth Veil.mp3
    27. Date With Duke 460000 79 Just Asittin And Arockin.mp3
    28. Date With Duke 460413 33 Jamaditty Partial Broadcast AFRS.mp3
    29. Date With Duke 460420 34 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS.mp3
    30. Date With Duke 460427 35 Stompy Jones AFRS.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    57 recordings on 45 Audio CDs. Total playtime 39 hours, 40 min
    57 recordings on 45 Audio CDs
    total playtime 39 hours, 40 min

    Date with the Duke Disc A001

    1. Date With Duke 450000 23 Mood To Be Wooed
    2. Date With Duke 450000 24 Blutopia

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    Date with the Duke Disc A002

    1. Date With Duke 450000 25 Blue Belles Of Harlem
    2. Date With Duke 450000 26 Perfume Suite

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    Date with the Duke Disc A003

    1. Date With Duke 450000 27 Autumn Serenade
    2. Date With Duke 450000 29 Caravan

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    Date with the Duke Disc A004

    1. Date With Duke 450000 33 Cant You Read Between Lines Afrs
    2. Date With Duke 450000 52 Unannounced

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    Date with the Duke Disc A005

    1. Date With Duke 450000 57 Ultra Blue
    2. Date With Duke 450000 59 Johnny Come Lately

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    Date with the Duke Disc A006

    1. Date With Duke 450000 61 Clementine

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    Date with the Duke Disc A007

    1. Date With Duke 450407 01 Blutopia AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A008

    1. Date With Duke 450421 02 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A009

    1. Date With Duke 450421 03 Three Cent Stomp
    2. Date With Duke 450427 02 Bluetopia Afrs

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    Date with the Duke Disc A010

    1. Date With Duke 450428 03 Midriff AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A011

    1. Date With Duke 450505 04 Blutopia AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A012

    1. Date With Duke 450505 05 Bluetopia

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    Date with the Duke Disc A013

    1. Date With Duke 450512 05 Carnegie Blues AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A014

    1. Date With Duke 450512 07 Carnegie Blues

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    Date with the Duke Disc A015

    1. Date With Duke 450519 06 Teardrops In Rain AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A016

    1. Date With Duke 450519 06 Teardrops In Rain

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    Date with the Duke Disc A017

    1. Date With Duke 450526 07 Sugar Hill Penthouse AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A018

    1. Date With Duke 450602 08 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A019

    1. Date With Duke 450609 09 Blue Is Night AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A020

    1. Date With Duke 450609 15 Blue Is Night

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    Date with the Duke Disc A021

    1. Date With Duke 450616 10 Indiana AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A022

    1. Date With Duke 450623 11 Jump For Joy AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A023

    1. Date With Duke 450630 12 Caravan AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A024

    1. Date With Duke 450707 13 Blue Belles Of Harlem AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A025

    1. Date With Duke 450714 14 In Shade Of Old Apple Tree AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A026

    1. Date With Duke 450721 15 In Mellotone AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A027

    1. Date With Duke 450728 16 Teardrops In Rain AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A028

    1. Date With Duke 450804 17 Dancing In Dark AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A029

    1. Date With Duke 450811 18 What Am I Here For AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A030

    1. Date With Duke 450818 19 Work Song Black Brown Beige AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A031

    1. Date With Duke 450825 20 Mood Indigo AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A032

    1. Date With Duke 450901 21 On Alamo AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A033

    1. Date With Duke 450908 22 Carnegie Blues AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A034

    1. Date With Duke 450915 23 Subtle Slough AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A035

    1. Date With Duke 450922 24 Someone AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A036

    1. Date With Duke 451006 25 Main Stem AFRS
    2. Date With Duke 451013 26 Times Awastin AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A037

    1. Date With Duke 451027 28 Johnny Come Lately AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A038

    1. Date With Duke 451103 29 Clementine AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A039

    1. Date With Duke 451110 30 Just Asittin And Arockin AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A040

    1. Date With Duke 451117 31 Walking With My Honey AFRS
    2. Date With Duke 451117 32 Walking With My Honey

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    Date with the Duke Disc A041

    1. Date With Duke 451124 32 Way Low AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A042

    1. Date With Duke 460000 64 Unannounced
    2. Date With Duke 460000 66 Unannounced

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    Date with the Duke Disc A043

    1. Date With Duke 460000 73 Eighth Veil
    2. Date With Duke 460000 79 Just Asittin And Arockin
    3. Date With Duke 460413 33 Jamaditty Partial Broadcast AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A044

    1. Date With Duke 460420 34 Mood To Be Wooed AFRS

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    Date with the Duke Disc A045

    1. Date With Duke 460427 35 Stompy Jones AFRS

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