It Do n't Mean a Thing ( If It Ai n't Got That Swing ) - wikipedia It Do n't Mean a Thing ( If It Ai n't Got That Swing ) For the Duke Ellington & Teresa Brewer album, see It Do n't Mean a Thing If It Ai n't Got That Swing ( album ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2013 ) `` It Do n't Mean a Thing ( If It Ai n't Got That Swing ) '' Song by Duke Ellington Written August 1931 Released 1932 ( 1932 ) Recorded February 2, 1932 Genre Jazz Composer ( s ) Duke Ellington Lyricist ( s ) Irving Mills It Do n't Mean a Thing ( If It Ai n't Got That Swing ) is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington, whose lyrics were written by Irving Mills. It is now accepted as a jazz standard, and jazz historian Gunther Schuller characterized it as `` now legendary '' and `` a prophetic piece and a prophetic title. '' Contents 1 Background 2 Recognition 3 Cover versions 4 References Background The music was composed and arranged by Ellington in August 1931 during intermissions at Chicago 's Lincoln Tavern and was first recorded by Ellington and his orchestra for Brunswick Records ( Br 6265 ) on February 2, 1932. After Mills wrote the lyrics, Ivie Anderson sang the vocal and trombonist Joe Nanton and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges played the instrumental solos. The song became famous, Ellington wrote, `` as the expression of a sentiment which prevailed among jazz musicians at the time. '' Ellington credited the saying as a `` credo '' of his former trumpeter, Bubber Miley, who was dying of tuberculosis at the time ; Miley died the year that the song was released. The Ellington band played the song continually over the years and recorded it numerous times, most often with trumpeter Ray Nance as vocalist. Recognition Ellington 's 1932 recording of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. Cover versions Louis Armstrong ( 1932 ) Sidney Bechet and Martial Solal, Sidney Bechet - Martial Solal Quartet Featuring Kenny Clarke ( 1957 ) Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga -- Cheek to Cheek ( 2014 ) Tony Bennett -- MTV Unplugged : Tony Bennett ( 1995 ), Bennett Sings Ellington : Hot & Cool ( 1999 ) Chuck Brown -- Go Go Swing Live ( 1987 ) The Boswell Sisters ( 1932 ) Eva Cassidy -- American Tune ( 2003 ) June Christy -- A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening ( 1986 ), Big Band Specials ( 1962 ) Duke Ellington with Ivie Anderson ( 1932 ) Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington -- Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur ( Verve, 1967 ) Gabin -- Doo Uap, Doo Uap, Doo Uap ( 2002 ) Stan Getz -- Stan Getz at The Shrine ( Norgran, 1955 ) Stephane Grappelli with Django Reinhardt ( 1935 ) Gigi Gryce -- Gigi Gryce ( MetroJazz, 1958 ) Lionel Hampton Orchestra Joe Jackson -- The Duke ( 2012 ) Roger Wolfe Kahn ( 1932 ) Cleo Laine -- with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem on The Muppet Show ( 1977 ) Carmen McRae and Betty Carter -- The Carmen McRae -- Betty Carter Duets ( 1987 ) MC Shan -- rap version, 12 '' single ( 1990 ) The Mills Brothers ( 1932 ) -- Golden Greats ( 2002 ), Goodbye, Blues ( 2005 ) Modern Jazz Quartet -- Pyramid ( Atlantic, 1960 ) Thelonious Monk -- Thelonious Monk Plays the Music of Duke Ellington ( Riverside, 1955 ) Matthew Morrison ( 2013 ) The Puppini Sisters -- The Rise and Fall of Ruby Woo ( 2008 ) Della Reese, Raven - Symoné, Anneliese van der Pol -- That 's So Raven ( 2006 ) Diane Schuur with Stan Getz, Schuur Thing ( 1985 ) Nina Simone -- Nina Simone Sings Ellington ( 1962 ) SuperJazz Big Band -- UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis ( 2001 ) Washboard Rhythm Kings -- Washboard Rhythm Kings Vol. 3 ( 1932 ) References Jump up ^ Gunther Schuller, The Swing Era : The Development of Jazz, 1930 - 1945 ( Oxford University Press, 1991 ), ISBN 978 - 0195071405, pp. 50 - 51. Excerpts available at Google Books. ^ Jump up to : Duke Ellington, Music is My Mistress ( Da Capo Press, 1976 reprint ), ISBN 978 - 0306800337, pp. 419, 106. Excerpts available at Google Books. Jump up ^ Jazz Journal, Dec. 1965 Jump up ^ Richard Corliss, `` ' It Do n't Mean A Thing ( If It Ai n't Got That Swing ) ' '', Time, October 21, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Grammy Hall Of Fame ''. Recording Academy. Archived from the original on 2011 - 01 - 22. Retrieved 2014 - 09 - 17. ^ Jump up to : Gioia, Ted ( 2012 ). The Jazz Standards : A Guide to the Repertoire. New York City : Oxford University Press. p. 206. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 993739 - 4. Jump up ^ Yanow, Scott ( 2003 ). Jazz on Record : The First Sixty Years. Backbeat Books. p. 97. ISBN 978 - 0879307554. Jump up ^ `` It Do n't Mean a Thing -- MC Shan ''. AllMusic. Jump up ^ `` It Do n't Mean A Thing -- Matthew Morrison ''. AllMusic. Duke Ellington Studio albums The Blanton -- Webster Band Never No Lament : The Blanton - Webster Band Braggin ' in Brass : The Immortal 1938 Year Liberian Suite Great Times ! Masterpieces by Ellington Ellington Uptown The Duke Plays Ellington Ellington ' 55 Dance to the Duke ! Ellington Showcase Historically Speaking Duke Ellington Presents... The Complete Porgy and Bess A Drum Is a Woman Studio Sessions, Chicago 1956 Such Sweet Thunder Ellington Indigos Black, Brown and Beige Duke Ellington at the Bal Masque The Cosmic Scene Happy Reunion Jazz Party Back to Back Side by Side Anatomy of a Murder Festival Session Blues in Orbit The Nutcracker Suite Piano in the Background Swinging Suites by Edward E. and Edward G. Unknown Session Piano in the Foreground The Great Summit : The Master Takes Paris Blues First Time ! The Count Meets the Duke Duke Ellington & John Coltrane Featuring Paul Gonsalves Studio Sessions 1957 & 1962 Midnight in Paris Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins Studio Sessions, New York 1962 Money Jungle Afro - Bossa The Symphonic Ellington Duke Ellington 's Jazz Violin Session Studio Sessions New York 1963 My People Ellington ' 65 Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins Ellington ' 66 Concert in the Virgin Islands The Popular Duke Ellington The Far East Suite The Jaywalker Studio Sessions, 1957, 1965, 1966, 1967, San Francisco, Chicago, New York... And His Mother Called Him Bill Second Sacred Concert Studio Sessions New York, 1968 Latin American Suite The Pianist New Orleans Suite Orchestral Works The Suites, New York 1968 & 1970 The Intimacy of the Blues The Afro - Eurasian Eclipse Studio Sessions New York & Chicago, 1965, 1966 & 1971 The Intimate Ellington The Ellington Suites This One 's for Blanton ! Up in Duke 's Workshop Duke 's Big 4 Mood Ellington Live albums Duke Ellington at Fargo, 1940 Live The Carnegie Hall Concerts : January 1943 The Carnegie Hall Concerts : December 1944 The Carnegie Hall Concerts : January 1946 The Carnegie Hall Concerts : December 1947 Ellington at Newport Dance Concerts, California 1958 Dance Dates, California 1958 Newport 1958 Jazz at the Plaza Vol. II Duke Ellington at the Alhambra Live at the Blue Note The Great Paris Concert A Concert of Sacred Music In the Uncommon Market Soul Call Yale Concert 70th Birthday Concert Togo Brava Suite Live at the Whitney Third Sacred Concert Eastbourne Performance Collaborations with Alice Babs Serenade to Sweden with Count Basie First Time ! The Count Meets the Duke with Teresa Brewer It Do n't Mean a Thing If It Ai n't Got That Swing with Rosemary Clooney Blue Rose with John Coltrane Duke Ellington & John Coltrane with Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book Ella at Duke 's Place The Stockholm Concert, 1966 Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur with Coleman Hawkins Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins with Frank Sinatra Francis A. & Edward K. Compositions `` African Flower '' `` All Too Soon '' `` Azure '' `` Black and Tan Fantasy '' `` Black, Brown and Beige '' `` C Jam Blues '' `` Cotton Tail '' `` Day Dream '' `` Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue '' `` Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me '' `` Do n't Get Around Much Anymore '' `` Drop Me Off in Harlem '' `` Echoes of Harlem '' `` Everything but You '' `` I Ai n't Got Nothin ' but the Blues '' `` I Did n't Know About You '' `` I Got It Bad ( and That Ai n't Good ) '' `` I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart '' `` I 'm Beginning to See the Light '' `` I 'm Just a Lucky So - and - So '' `` In a Mellow Tone '' `` In a Sentimental Mood '' `` It Do n't Mean a Thing ( If It Ai n't Got That Swing ) '' `` Just A-Sittin ' and A-Rockin ' '' `` Just Squeeze Me ( But Please Do n't Tease Me ) '' `` The Mooche '' `` Mood Indigo '' `` Prelude to a Kiss '' `` Rocks in My Bed '' `` ( In My ) Solitude '' `` Sophisticated Lady '' Billy Strayhorn compositions associated with Ellington `` Take the `` A '' Train '' `` Lush Life '' `` Chelsea Bridge '' `` Something to Live For '' `` Satin Doll '' `` Blood Count '' Juan Tizol compositions associated with Ellington `` Caravan '' `` Perdido '' Orchestra members Hayes Alvis Cat Anderson Ivie Anderson Harold Ashby Alice Babs Shorty Baker Butch Ballard Art Baron Aaron Bell Louie Bellson Joe Benjamin Barney Bigard Lou Blackburn Jimmy Blanton Wellman Braud Lawrence Brown Harry Carney Johnny Coles Willie Cook Buster Cooper Kay Davis Wild Bill Davis Wilbur de Paris Bobby Durham Mercer Ellington Rolf Ericson Jimmy Forrest Victor Gaskin Peter Giger Tyree Glenn Paul Gonsalves Sonny Greer Fred Guy Jimmy Hamilton Otto Hardwick Rick Henderson Al Hibbler Johnny Hodges Major Holley Charlie Irvis Quentin Jackson Hilton Jefferson Herb Jeffries Freddie Jenkins Money Johnson Herbie Jones Taft Jordan Al Killian Queen Esther Marrow Wendell Marshall Murray McEachern Louis Metcalf James `` Bubber '' Miley Harold `` Geezil '' Minerve Ray Nance Tricky Sam Nanton Oscar Pettiford Eddie Preston Russell Procope Junior Raglin Betty Roché Ernie Royal Al Sears Joya Sherrill Willie Smith Elmer Snowden Rex Stewart Billy Strayhorn Billy Taylor Clark Terry Juan Tizol Norris Turney Ben Webster Arthur Whetsol Cootie Williams Nelson Williams Skippy Williams Booty Wood Jimmy Woode Britt Woodman Sam Woodyard Filmography Black and Tan Check and Double Check Belle of the Nineties Murder at the Vanities Jam Session Cabin in the Sky Anatomy of a Murder Paris Blues Assault on a Queen Change of Mind Related Mercer Ellington ( son ) Duke Ellington Bridge Duke Ellington House Duke Ellington School of the Arts Luther Henderson Irving Mills Sophisticated Ladies Play On ! Sacred Concerts Duke Ellington discography Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It_Don%27t_Mean_a_Thing_(If_It_Ain%27t_Got_That_Swing)&oldid=863635009 '' Categories : 1931 compositions Compositions by Duke Ellington Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from August 2013 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Esperanto Français Italiano עברית Norsk Русский Sardu Suomi Svenska Türkçe 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 12 October 2018, at 01 : 07 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote it don't mean a thing
Answer: composition by Duke Ellington