The two aspects of his career were related; Ellington used his band as a musical laboratory for his new compositions and shaped his writing specifically to showcase the talents of his band members, many of whom remained with him for long periods.

During the first three decades of his career, before rock ‘n’ roll changed the pop landscape irrevocably, he had more than 70 records that were credited as chart hits and this 4CD set includes all those 77 recordings which are listed in recognised sources as hits. Alongside them, a further 20 or so numbers appear which are now regarded as significant compositions that became standards, or were hits for other artists.

It features his celebrated No.1s Three Little Words, Cocktails For Two, I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart, and the Billboard R&B No.1s Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Sentimental Lady, Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me and Main Stem. Also included are classics like Mood Indigo, Sophisticated Lady, Solitude, Caravan, Take The ‘A’ Train and I Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good.

“Ellington Uptown” was originally issued in two different versions, one containing The Harlem Suite and the other replacing it with The Controversial Suite. Both are included here.