Take the "A" Train Take the "A" Train "Take the 'A' Train" is a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn that was the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra. The use of the Strayhorn composition as the signature tune was made necessary by a ruling in 1940 by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). When ASCAP raised its licensing fees for broadcast use, many ASCAP members, including Ellington, could no longer play their compositions over radio, as most music was played live on radio at the time. Ellington turned to Billy Strayhorn and son Mercer Ellington, who were registered with ASCAP
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Glen Gray. The Duke Ellington version reached No. 8 on the pop chart. Don't Get Around Much Anymore "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" is a jazz standard with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Bob Russell. The tune was originally called "Never No Lament" and was first recorded by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra on May 4, 1940 as a big-band instrumental. Russell's lyrics were added in 1942. Two different recordings of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", one by The Ink Spots and the other by Ellington's own band, reached No. 1 on the R&B chart in the