Solitude
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Duke Ellington |
| Lyricist | Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills |
| Year Written | 1934 |
| About Solitude | |
| One of his masterpieces, Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short (Ted Gioia in Jazz Standards). It’s a very strong song for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ellington made over a hundred recordings of this song. Other great recordings include those by Paul Robeson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine. | |
Lyrics
In my solitude you haunt me
With reveries of days gone by
In my solitude you taunt me
With memories that never die
I sit in my chair
Filled with despair
Nobody could be so sad
With gloom ev’rywhere
I sit and I stare
I know that I’ll soon go mad
In my solitude
I’m praying
Dear Lord above
Send back my love
Session / Album Information
1958
Solitude was recorded on December 30, 1958 and released in 1959 on the album In Person! . It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording was also released on:
- Columbia LP 12″: LE 10125 — In Person! With Count Basie
- CBS LP 12″: 35DP159 — In Person! With Count Basie [Japan]
- CBS LP 12″: 20AP1418 — In Person! With Count Basie [Japan]
- Philips LP 12″: 840059BY — In Person! With Count Basie [UK]
- 1959: CBS LP 12″: BPG 62250 — In Person! [UK]
- 1959: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8104 — In Person! With Count Basie
- 1959: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1294 — In Person! With Count Basie
- 1959: Philips LP 12″: BBL 7398/SBBL 542 — In Person! With Count Basie [UK]
- 1983: CBS LP 12″ (Mono): 32373 — In Person! [UK]
- 1987: CBS LP 12″: 4504651 — Jazz (UK) (1987)
- 1987: Columbia LP 12″: C2 40424 — Jazz
- 1987: Columbia CD: CGK 40424 — Jazz
- 1994: Columbia CD: CK 64276 — In Person! With Count Basie
- 1998: Columbia CD: CK 65049 — This Is Jazz #33
- 1999: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab CD: UDCD743 — In Person!
- 2008: Jasmine CD: JASCD482 — Together At Last/A Perfect Combination
- 2011: Disc #14 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK14) In Person!
1962
“Solitude” was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962 and was initially released in 1962 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.
This recording released on:
- 1962: CBS LP 12″: BPG62116 — At Carnegie Hall – Part 1 (UK)
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8705 — At Carnegie Hall – vol.1
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: C2L 23 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: C2S 823 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1993: Sony Music Special Products CD: 15056 — Tony Bennett Sings for You
- 1995: Sony Music CD: WK 75012 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1997: Columbia CD: C2K 64609 — At Carnegie Hall June 9, 1962: Complete Concert
- 2011: Disc #25 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK24) Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall
1996
“Solitude” was recorded in June 1996 and released in 1997 on the album Tony Bennett On Holiday. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.
This recording released on:
- 1997: Columbia CD: CK 67774 — On Holiday
- 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
- 2011: Disc #63 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK61) On Holiday
- 2014: 2013: Columbia/Legacy – Sixty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett