It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

~ Recording by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

Appears on releases

#TitleLengthTrack artistRelease titleRelease artistRelease group typeCountry/DateLabelCatalog#
Official
1.1It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)?:??Duke Ellington & His Famous OrchestraIt Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) / Rose Room (In Sunny Roseland)Duke Ellington & His Famous OrchestraSingle
  • US1932-03-24
Brunswick (Imprint of Brunswick Record Corporation)6265
1.1It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)?:??Duke Ellington & His Famous OrchestraI Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) / Rose Room (In Sunny Roseland)Duke Ellington And His Famous OrchestraSingle
Brunswick (Imprint of Brunswick Record Corporation)A 9230
1.3It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraIn the Mood, Vol. 2Various ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Yesterdays GoldYDG 74628
1.9It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:12Duke Ellington and His OrchestraThe Chronological Classics: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra 1931-1932Duke Ellington and His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
Classics (French jazz reissue label)616
3.2It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:13Duke Ellington & His OrchestraKings of SwingVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Intersound (formerly independent Roswell-based label, under Platinum Entertainment since 1996)CDC 1035
1.14It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraSwing Time! The Fabulous Big Band Era 1925-1955Various ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)C3K 52862
1.3It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington and His OrchestraThe Great Depression: American Music in the '30sVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation + Soundtrack
Columbia (owned by Sony Music Entertainment, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)CK 57589
1.1It Don't Mean a Thing3:12Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe Original Edward Duke Ellington, Volume 2Duke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
King Jazz
1.1It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His Orchestra16 Most Requested SongsDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
  • US1994-05-31
1.1It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington16 Most Requested SongsDuke EllingtonAlbum + Compilation
  • US1994-05-31
Columbia (owned by Sony Music Entertainment, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)CK 57901
1.9It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His Orchestra with Ivie AndersonCorrina, CorrinaVarious ArtistsAlbum + Soundtrack
  • US1994-08-02
RCA (RCA Records: simple ‘RCA’ or ‘RCA’ with lightning bolt in circle)07863 66443-2
1.1It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraBest of the Big Bands: Duke Ellington and His Great VocalistsDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)66372
1.1It Don't Mean a Thing (If Itain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington and His Great VocalistsDuke EllingtonAlbum + Compilation
Columbia (owned by Sony Music Entertainment, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)CK 66372
3.10It Don’t Mean a Thing3:12Duke Ellington & His OrchestraJazz MoodsVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
K-Box (imprint of Weton-Wesgram B.V.)KBOX333
1.6It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraAmerican Legends: Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
Stanyan Records12 731
2.18It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraA Portrait of Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
GallerieGALE 405
1.3It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:12Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe Music of ProhibitionVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)CK 65326
2.7It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington100ᵉ AnniversaireDuke EllingtonAlbum + Compilation
  • FR1999-08-10
EPM Musique159432
2.7It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got that Swing)3:10Duke Ellington100ᵉ AnniversaireDuke EllingtonAlbum + Compilation
  • US1999-08-10
EPM Musique159432
7.13It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing3:10Duke Ellington And His OrchestraSony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack for a CenturyVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • US1999-10-12
CBS Records Masterworks, Columbia (owned by Sony Music Entertainment, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Columbia Jazz, Columbia Masterworks, Epic (US label founded by CBS in 1953, now owned by Sony), Harmony Records (budget label owned by Columbia), OKeh, Perfect (1922-1938), Philadelphia International Records, Romeo (1920-1930s US 25¢ shellac label), Sony Classical, Sony Discos (an imprint owned by Sony Discos, Inc.)JXK 65750
1.13It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:12Duke Ellington & His OrchestraSoundtrack for a Century – Jazz: The Definitive PerformancesVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • US1999-10-12
Sony Music (global brand, excluding JP, owned by Sony Music Entertainment)J2K 65807
1.6It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraJazz MastersVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Sony Music Special ProductsA 34981
1.17It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:14Duke Ellington & His OrchestraJazzuela: Le jazz dans Marelle de Julio CortázarVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
11.17It Don’t Mean a Thing3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe DukeDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
History (TIM AG imprint)204139, 204140, 204141, 204142, 204143, 204144, 204145, 204146, 204147, 204148, 204149, 204150, 204151, 204152, 204153, 204154, 204155, 204156, 204157, 204158, 204159
1.7It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:08Duke EllingtonThe Duke - The Essential Collection (1927-1962)Duke EllingtonAlbum + Compilation
Columbia (owned by Sony Music Entertainment, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)C3K 65841
1.8It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraKen Burns Jazz: Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
  • US2000-11-07
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)CK 61444
2.1It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraKen Burns Jazz: The Story of America’s MusicVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • US2000-11-14
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)C5K 61432
1.8It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraKen Burns Jazz: Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonAlbum + Compilation
Columbia (owned by Sony Music Entertainment, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)CK 61444
1.8It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraKen Burns Jazz: Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)CK 61444
4.9It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:12Duke Ellington and His OrchestraThe Chronological Classics: Duke Ellington, Volume 2: 1930-1933Duke EllingtonAlbum + Compilation
Classics (French jazz reissue label)66
3.9It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe Great Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
RedX EntertainmentRMGR0056
1.18It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:12Duke Ellington & His OrchestraMasterpieces 1926-1949Duke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
  • GB2001-07-16
Proper RecordsP1197, P1198, P1199, P1200, PROPERBOX 25
1.17It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:14Duke Ellington & His OrchestraJazzuela: Julio Cortázar y el JazzVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
K Industria
1.17It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:14Duke Ellington & His OrchestraJazzuela: Julio Cortázar y el JazzVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
K Industria
2.2It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:13Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe History of Jazz: 100 Jazz Hits as Featured in the Celebrated TV SeriesVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • -2001
Prism Leisure (budget UK-based compilation label)PLATBX 708
2.13It Don’t Mean a Thing3:12Duke Ellington & His OrchestraSongs for Lovers of SwingVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
1.8It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraDixieland & Swing Jukebox HitsVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
United Audio Entertainment
3.18It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:13Duke Ellington & His OrchestraLate Night JazzVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
SohoSOHOCD023
153.1It Don’t Mean a Thing3:12Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe Ultimate Jazz ArchiveVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • DE2005-08-29
Membran Music Ltd.222800-387
1.1It Don’t Mean a Thing3:12Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe Ultimate Jazz Archive, Set 39: VocalistsIvie Anderson, Ella Fitzgerald, The Andrews Sisters, Lena HorneAlbum + Compilation
  • DE2005-08-29
Membran Music Ltd.222795-382
1.11It Don’t Mean a Thing, If It Ain’t Got That Swing3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraJazz in the Charts 012 (1932)Various ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Membran Music Ltd.223711-222
1.1It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe Best of SwingVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Apace MusicBOFCD06
1.8It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:13Duke EllingtonThe EssentialDuke EllingtonAlbum + Compilation
  • GB2009-08-17
Not Now MusicNOT2CD308
1.11It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraSong Hits of the Early 1930’sVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • XW2010-03-24
Up Records (independent; Seattle, WA)
5.1It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:12Duke Ellington & His Orchestra100 Hits: SwingVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • GB2013-11-11
100 Hits, Demon Music GroupDMG 100 120
1.2It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington and His OrchestraSavage Rhythm – Hot Swing for the Bass BinVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • XW2024-10-06
1.9It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His Orchestra with Ivie AndersonCorrina, Corrina (The original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Various ArtistsAlbum + SoundtrackRCA (RCA Records: simple ‘RCA’ or ‘RCA’ with lightning bolt in circle)66443-2, RCA 07863
2.1It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraKen Burns Jazz: The Story of America’s MusicVarious ArtistsAlbum + CompilationColumbia (owned by Sony Music Entertainment, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88875147312, C5K 61432, CK 61433 / CK 61434 / CK 61435 / CK 61436 / CK 61437
1.3It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraLet's Dance, Volume 2Various ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
3.9It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraThe Great Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
RedX Entertainment
Promotion
1.1It Don't Mean a Thing (If Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraRolling Stone: Rare Trax, Volume 12: Let's SwingVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Rolling Stone (Germany)
1.11It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:13Duke EllingtonHot Summer, Cool JazzVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Bootleg
2.11It Don’t Mean a Thing3:08Edward EllingtonMafia IIVarious ArtistsOther + Soundtrack
  • -2010-08-24
2K Games
Pseudo-Release
1.2640s: Empire Central: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:08Duke Ellington & His OrchestraMafia IIVarious ArtistsOther + Soundtrack
  • US2010-08-24
2K Games
2.7It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)3:08Duke Ellington & His OrchestraMafia IIVarious ArtistsOther + Soundtrack
  • -2010-08-24
2K Games
(unknown)
1.6It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:11Duke Ellington & His OrchestraJazz ProfilesDuke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008)
1.16It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)3:09Duke Ellington & His OrchestraMiss Fisher's Murder MysteriesVarious ArtistsAlbum + Soundtrack
  • AU2012-04-27
ABC Music (Australian Broadcasting Corporation in-house label)2799479
1.6It Don't Mean a Thing3:10Duke Ellington & His OrchestraMasterpieces 2Duke Ellington & His OrchestraAlbum + Compilation

Relationships

alto saxophone:Harry Carney
Johnny Hodges
banjo:Fred Guy
baritone saxophone:Harry Carney
clarinet:Barney Bigard
Harry Carney
Johnny Hodges
double bass:Wellman Braud
drums (drum set):Sonny Greer
piano:Duke Ellington (US composer, pianist & jazz bandleader)
soprano saxophone:Johnny Hodges
tenor saxophone:Barney Bigard
trombone:Lawrence Brown (jazz trombonist)
Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton
trumpet:Freddie Jenkins
Arthur Whetsel
Cootie Williams
valve trombone:Juan Tizol
lead vocals:Ivie Anderson
recording of:It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (on 1932-02-02)

It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

lyricist:Irving Mills (in 1931)
composer:Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (Duke Ellington, US composer, pianist & jazz bandleader) (in 1931-08)
publisher:Duke Ellington Music
EMI Mills Music (ASCAP-affiliated)
referred to in medleys:Duke Elington Medley: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) 〜Satin Doll〜Mood Indigo〜Take the “A” Train〜ending〜It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (order: 1)
later parody versions:It Don't Mean a Thing If Your State's Not a Swing
later versions:Doo Uap, Doo Uap, Doo Uap
part of:The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I) (part of collection)
is the basis for:Ellington Mix: It Don’t Mix
Swingy Thing (Solo Tenor Horn & Brass Band)
arrangements:It Don't Mean A Thing (Arr. Bengt Hallberg)
It Don’t Mean a Thing (arr. Mac Huff)
It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (for choir, Parry)