Sophisticated Lady
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington |
| Lyricist | Irving Mills/Mitchell Parish |
| Year Written | 1932 |
| About Sophisticated Lady | |
| Duke Ellington wrote “Sophisticated Lady” in 1932 as an instrumental. Lyrics were added later by Mitchell Parish. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year. “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s Stormy Weather. It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller. | |
Lyrics
They say into your early life romance came
And in this heart of yours burned a flame
A flame that flickered one day and died away
Then, with disillusion deep in your eyes
You learned that fools in love soon grow wise
The years have changed you, somehow
I see you now
Smoking, drinking, never thinking of tomorrow, nonchalant
Diamonds shining, dancing, dining with some man in a restaurant
Is that all you really want?
No, sophisticated lady,
I know, you miss the love you lost long ago
And when nobody is nigh you cry
Smoking, drinking, never thinking of tomorrow, nonchalant
Diamonds shining, dancing, dining with some man in a restaurant
Is that all you really want?
No, sophisticated lady,
I know, you miss the love you lost long ago
And when nobody is nigh you cry
Session / Album Information
1960
This song was recorded on February 28, 1960 and released in 1960 on the album Alone Together.
This recording released on:
- 1960: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8262 — Alone Together
- 1960: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1471 — Alone Together
- 1960: Philips LP 12″: BBL 7452 — Alone Together (UK)
- 1990: CBS/Sony CD: 32DP-568 — Alone Together [Japan]
- 2011: Disc #17 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK17) Alone Together
1973
“Sophisticated Lady” was recorded in 1973 and released that year on the album Tony Bennett’s Greatest Hits, Volume 7. It was arranged by Torrie Zito.
This recording released on:
- 1973: Verve LP 12″: SE 4929 — Tony Bennett’s Greatest Hits No. 7
- 2011: Disc #47 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK46) Tony Bennett’s Greatest Hits Volume 7
1999
“Sophisticated Lady” was recorded in May 1999 and released that same year on the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.
This recording released on:
- 1998: Columbia CD: CK 63668 — Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool
- 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
- 2011: Disc #65 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK63) Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool
- 2013: Columbia/Legacy – Sixty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
2014
“Sophisticated Lady” was recorded in 2014 as a solo by Tony Bennett and released that year on Cheek To Cheek. It was arranged by Marion Evans.
This recording released on:
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021493-02 – Cheek To Cheek (standard edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021494-02 – Cheek To Cheek (deluxe edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021861-03 – Cheek To Cheek (Target edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021688-02 – Cheek To Cheek (HSN edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: Cheek To Cheek (iTunes edition)