Five Recordings of "Take The A Train"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcase five recordings of Billy Strayhorn's composition "Take The A Train". The lyrics of that Jazz song are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for entertainment and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

LYRICS - TAKE THE A TRAIN
(Billy Strayhorn); as sung by Ella Fitzgerald

You must take the "A" train
To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem
If you miss the "A" train
You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem

Hurry, get on, now it's coming
Listen to those rails a-thrumming all aboard
Get on the "A" train
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem

You must take the "A" train
To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem

You must take the "A" train
To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem
If you miss the "A" train
You'll miss the quickest way to Harlem

Hurry, get on board, it's comin'
Listen to those rails a-thrumming all aboard
Get on the "A" train
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem

Harlem, boy
Next stop is Harlem

Next stop, Harlem
Come on, get aboard the "A" train

Get aboard
Next stop is Harlem
Take the "A" train

Lyrics from http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/ella+fitzgerald/take+the+a+train_20045910.html

FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: Duke Ellington - Take The A Train (1964)



Bob Hardy, Uploaded on Jun 30, 2009

Lots of chat from Duke and also rare shot of Billy Streyhorn. This version of 'A-Train' features Ernie Shepard (aka. Sheppard) on vocals and bass.

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Example #2: Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington: Take The A Train



phalenopsis, Uploaded on Feb 16, 2011

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Example #3: Take the A Train - Sarah Vaughan



direfranchement, Uploaded on Aug 21, 2008
Recorded 1967. Sassy swings.
-snip-
Sarah Vaughn's nickname was "Sassy". Notice the title "Sass & Brass" of the television program from which a clip is given in Example #4. "Brass" (instruments) refers to the general musical name for horns.

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Example #4: Maynard Ferguson & Sarah Vaughn -- Take The "A" Train



David Palombo, Uploaded on May 22, 2009

with Don Cherry, Al Hirt, Chuck Mangione, Dizzy Gillespie
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Br5GUgynS0
hibob4, 2012
If I remember right, this was from an HBO Special called, "Sas and Brass," and I saw it when it aired in around '84 or '85. So glad to see this clip again. I'd forgotten that Dizzy was on here too. Thanks for posting!
-snip-
Another posting of this same video gives the year as 1986.

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Example #5: Charles Mingus - Take the 'A' Train - Live At Montreux (1975) [12-12]



Julio Cortázar, Uploaded on Mar 28, 2010

Charles Mingus: bass
George Adams: tenor saxophone and vocals
Don Pullen: piano
Jack Walrath: trumpet
Dannie Richmond: drums
Gerry Mulligan: baritone saxophone
Benny Bailey: trumpet

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Billy Strayhorn for composing "Take The A Train", and thanks to all the musicians and vocalists for their performance of that Jazz standard. Also, thanks to the transcriber of that song's lyrics, and the commenter who is quoted in this post.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.