Such Sweet Thunder

Duke Ellington | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: April 27, 1999
• Label: Columbia/Legacy
• Copyright: Originally Released 1957. All rights reserved by SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (P) 1982, 1984 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
• Total Length: 1:15:28
• Genres:
• ASIN: B00138F1Q6
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,550 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a regrettable mistake., October 22, 2001

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Such Sweet Thunder (Audio CD)

[Update: The 2008 reissue is the same as the previous edition--i.e. the original recording's most memorable moment, Clark Terry's/Puck's vocalized trumpet proclaiming "Oh what fools these mortals be," is omitted, even though the included earlier commentaries by Irving Townsend and Bill Berry both single it out. Instead the purchaser is subjected to Phil Schaap's tedious, all-but-unreadable screed detailing his quest to uncover and preserve every precious detail of the session, including ambient sound! Not even a mention of the unconscionable switcheroo (whatever happened to the original "Up and Down"?). Very discouraging. But give Schaap and company credit for the miraculous restoration (and improvement) of "Ellington at Newport '56." As for "Such Sweet Thunder," keep scouring the auctions for a decent LP version.]

There was a time when the producers of records actually knew something about the music itself. The vinyl Columbia albums, for example, frequently included copious musical analysis supplied by George Avakian and other resident producer-critics. As listeners, we may think we know what we like, then realize we tend to like what we know. Reading liner notes, for some reason, often proved a more effective way of learning things about jazz and its creators than pulling books out of the library.

The point is that the omission of Clark Terry's celebrated Shakespearean quotation/Puck impersonation from this edition of one of Ellington's recorded treasures is more than an oversight. It's a flagrant disregard for the real listener, an insult to the makers and custodians of this music, and a stunning, shameless display of sheer ignorance. It demonstrates the complete "disconnect" between the product and its exploitive marketers.

Music, and especially Ellington's music, represents a considerable challenge to anyone who tries to articulate its non-verbal meanings. By seizing a rare and serendipitous jazz moment, Ellington seemingly insured that "Such Sweet Thunder" would continue to resonate with successive generations of listeners thanks in part to an instrumental statement receptive to precise verbal description. Unfortunately, Duke could not have known about his editors.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lord what fools these producers be., September 21, 2000

By 

David G. Smith (Fairfax, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Such Sweet Thunder (Audio CD)

Unless you have heard the vinyl cut of Up and Down you will never know how sad it is that it is not on this cd. But...all of that aside This is an amazing creation...a sensuous, beautiful combination of two artforms into a third. This almost stands on its own as a new form, the musical interpretation of art done in the most gut-wrenching impulsive way. This is intellectual, but so soul filled. Here are two of my favorite moments...Up and Down is still awesome, a fugue for 7 voices including Clark Terry who plays puck. Terry is one the distinctive voices of the trumpet, and he alone is worth the listen. But above all, lock me in a room and play me Star Crossed Lovers, the romeo and Juliet piece, After Johnny Hodges first verse as Juliet there is this orchestral cascade which is the heart stoppingly beautiful moment of life, first love, life itself. This is such a stupendous journey. You would be a foolish mortal not to at least check it out.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous music and remastering marred by mistake, June 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Such Sweet Thunder (Audio CD)

The sound quality on this album, easily one of Ellington's finest suites, is top-notch -- particularly when compared with the older French import of several years ago.

However, the unlabeled alternate take of "Up and Down" sticks out as an unfortunate, embarrassing oversight on Columbia/Legacy's part. The fact that the new liner notes mention Clark Terry's "famous" musical quotation, which is not even present in this take, is especially glaring.

Ellingtonians beware.