Tracklist:

01 Hey Baby
02 Sophisticated Lady
03 Me And You
04 Passion Flower
05 I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
06 It Don't Mean A Thing ( If It Ain't Got That Swing )
07 Grievin'
08 Blue Rose
09 I'm Checking Out, Goombye
10 I Got It Bad ( And That Ain't Good )
11 Mood Indigo
12 If You Were In My Place ( What Would You Do )
13 Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'

One of the great crimes in the annals of the music business was Columbia producer Mitch Miller's insistence that his star singer Rosemary Clooney record dubious novelty numbers like "Mambo Italiano" and "This Ole House" when he had her under his thumb in the early '50s. Well, Ms. Clooney survived these and other indignities to record one of the classiest vocal albums of the '50s, a collaboration with Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn called BLUE ROSE. Duke Ellington is not particularly known for his vocalists, though his band featured several fine ones over the years, including the underrated Ivy Anderson and Al Hibbler.

Not only is Blue Rose considered Rosemary Clooney's best album, it is also a great Duke Ellington record. Clooney reprises many of the songs Ivy Anderson introduced, like the famous "I Got it Bad (And That Ain't Good)" and obscure gems like "Me and You" and "I'm Checkin' Out, Goombye." But it is her heartfelt interpretations of the classics "Sophisticated Lady" and "Mood Indigo" that restore new-found meaning to lyrics and melodies long taken for granted. A bonus is a superbly recorded band-only take on Strayhorn's "Passion Flower," featuring a sublime Johnny Hodges.

Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn - Piano
Russell Procope - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Johnny Hodges - Alto Saxophone
Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonzalves - Tenor Saxophone
Harry Carney - Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry - Trumpet
Jimmy Woode - Bass
Sam Woodyard - Drums