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Do Nothing till You Hear from Me
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Wikipedia article
"'Do Nothing till You Hear from Me'" (also written as "'Do Nothin' Til You Hear from Me'") is a song with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Bob Russell. It originated as a 1940 instrumental ("Concerto for Cootie") that was designed to highlight the playing of Ellington's lead trumpeter, Cootie Williams. Russell's words were added later. In 1944, Ellington's own recording of the song was a number one hit R&B chart for eight non-consecutive weeks and number six on the pop chart.
Other recordings to reach the 'Billboard' charts in 1944 were by Woody Herman and by Stan Kenton (vocal: Red Dorris).
Other versions
"Do Nothing till You Hear from Me" has since been performed by many other famous musical artists, including:
*Nat King Cole, 1944, with The King Cole TrioThe King Cole Trio. '[http://apileocole.alongthehall.com/sessions/session1944.html Sessions of 1944]'. Nat King Cole: An Informal Discography.
*Billie Holiday, 1944 - Live, 1955, Studio, 'Stay With Me'Holiday, Billie. '[http://www.billieholidaysongs.com/recording-sessions/1944-sessions-2/ B. Live Sessions]'. Billie Holiday Songs.
*Lena Horne, 1944, appears on her 2002 compilation album 'The Young Star'Horne, Lena. '[https://www.discogs.com/Lena-Horne-The-Young-Star/release/7024026 The Young Star]' (CD, Compilation, Remastered, Mono). RCA/BMG/Bluebird. 2 September 2002.
*Patti Page, 1949, released in 1986 on 'The Uncollected Patti Page (1949): Patti Page with Lou Stein's Music'Page, Patti. '[http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-uncollected-patti-page-1949-patti-page-with-lou-steins-music-mw0000691660 The Uncollected Patti Page...with Lou Stein's Music]'. Hindsight, 1986.
*Hampton Hawes, 1956 - 'All Night Session! Vol. 3'
*Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1957 for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the album 'Shall We Dance?' (2012).
*Ella Fitzgerald, 1957, 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book'
*Mose Allison, 1959 - 'Autumn Song'
*Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, 1961, 'The Great Summit'Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington. '[http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-complete-louis-armstrong-duke-ellington-sessions-mw0000609730 The Complete...Sessions]'. Roulette Records, 1990.
*Frances Faye, 1962, 'Swinging All the Way with Frances Faye'
*Al Hirt, 1962, 'Horn-A-Plenty'Al Hirt. '[http://www.allmusic.com/album/horn-a-plenty-mw0000876000 Horn A-Plenty]'. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
*Joni James, 1962, 'After Hours'
*Don Lamond & His Orchestra, 1962, 'Off Beat Percussion'
*Anita O'Day, 1962, 'All the Sad Young Men'
*Nina Simone, 1962, 'Nina Simone Sings Ellington'
*Dinah Washington, 1962, 'In Love'
*Sammy Davis Jr. (with Sam Butera & the Witnesses, 1965, 'When the Feeling Hits You!'
*Cal Tjader & Carmen McRae, 1982, 'Heat Wave'
*Harry Connick Jr., 1988, '20'
*Robert Palmer, 1992, 'Ridin' High'
*Diana Krall, 1993, 'Stepping Out'
*Phil Collins, 1995, from Quincy Jones's album 'Q's Jook Joint'
*Tony Bennett, 1999, 'Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool'
*Dr. John, 1999, 'Duke Elegant'Dr. John. '[https://www.discogs.com/Dr-John-Duke-Elegant/release/3826258 Duke Elegant]' (CD, Album).Parlophone, 1999. -
*Silje Nergaard, 2000, 'Port of Call'Nergaard, Silje. '[https://www.discogs.com/Dr-John-Duke-Elegant/release/3826258 Port of Call]' (CD, Album, Digipak). EmArcy, 2000.
*Andy Williams, 2000, Released on his 2001 live album 'Andy Williams Live'Williams, Andy. '[http://www.allmusic.com/album/andy-williams-live-treasures-from-his-personal-collection-mw0000011006 Andy Williams Live: Treasures from His Personal Collection]'. Neon Records, 10 July 2001.
*Mary J. Blige, 2001, 'Red Hot + Indigo'
*Robbie Williams, 2001, 'Swing When You're Winning'
*Suzy Bogguss, 2003 - 'Swing'Bogguss, Suzy. '[https://www.discogs.com/Suzy-Bogguss-Swing/release/7906068 Swing]' (CD, Album). Compadre Records, 2003.
*Gladys Knight, 2006, 'Before Me'Knight, Gladys. '[http://www.allmusic.com/album/before-me-mw0000408605 Before Me]'. Verve, 10 October 2006.
*Fiona Apple & Jon Brion, 2011 or earlierFiona Apple & Jon Brion. '[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hgavRJrF9ic Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me]'. YouTube: LyricsBYFionaAppleIT. 21 February 2011.
*Phil Collins again on his 2018 compilation 'Plays Well With Others' with Quincy Jones.
References
Category:Songs with music by Duke Ellington
Category:Songs with lyrics by Bob Russell (songwriter)
Category:Nina Simone songs
Category:Al Hirt songs
Category:Instrumentals
Category:1940 songs
Category:1944 singles
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