In a Mellow Tone

"In a Mellow Tone", also known as "In a Mellotone", is a 1939 jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics written by Milt Gabler.^[1] The song was based on the 1917 standard "Rose Room" by Art Hickman and Harry Williams.^[2] Howard Stern used a recording of this song (from Ellington's Blues in Orbit album) as the opening theme to The Howard Stern Show from 1987 to 1994.

Notable recordings

• Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook (1958)
• Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross - Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross! (1960)
• Billy May - Cha Cha! Billy May (1960)
• Coleman Hawkins with Eddie Lockjaw Davis - Night Hawk (1960)
• Oscar Peterson - Mellow Mood (1968)
• Paul Gonsalves - Humming Bird (1970)
• Joe Pass - Portraits of Duke Ellington (1975)
• The Manhattan Transfer - Pastiche (1978)
• Nick Brignola - L.A. Bound (1979)
• Marcus Roberts - Plays Ellington (1995)
• Tony Bennett - Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool (1999)
• Clare Teal - Don't Talk (2004)
• Royce Campbell - A Tribute to Charlie Byrd (2004)

Notes

1. ↑ Milton Gabler, Storekeeper of the Jazz World, Dies at 90 - New York Times
2. ↑ In a Mellotone at jazzstandards.com - retrieved on 24 May 2009