In A Mellow Tone
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Duke Ellington |
| Lyricist | Milt Gabler |
| Year Written | 1939 |
| About In A Mellow Tone | |
| Ellington’s “In a Mellow Tone” was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald and Annie Ross. | |
Lyrics
In a mellow tone
Feeling fancy free
I am not alone
I’ve got company
Everything’s ok
The live long day
With this mellow song
I can’t go wrong
In a mellow tone
That’s the way to live
If you mope and groan
Something’s gotta give
Just go your way
And laugh and play
There’s joy unknown
In a mellow tone
In a mellow tone
Feeling fancy free
And I’m not alone
I’ve got company
Everything’s ok
The live long day
With this mellow song
I can’t go wrong
In a mellow tone
That’s the way to live
If you mope and groan
Something’s gotta give
Just go your way
And laugh and play
There’s joy unknown
In a mellow tone
Session / Album Information
1977
“In A Mellow Tone” was recorded in May, 1977 and released that year on Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music.
This recording released on:
- 1977: Improv IMP-7123:Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music
- 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
- 2011: Disc #54 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK53) Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music
1999
“In a Mellow Tone” was recorded in May 1999 and released that same year on the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.
This recording released on:
- 1998: Columbia CD: CK 63668 — Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool
- 2011: Disc #65 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK63) Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool