Blues in Orbit

Reception

The Allmusic review by Bruce Eder awarded the album 3 stars and stated "Blues in Orbit lacks the intellectual cachet of the suites and concept pieces that loomed large in Ellington's recordings of this period, but it's an album worth tracking down, if only to hear the band run through a lighter side of its sound. Indeed, it captures the essence of a late-night recording date that was as much a loose jam as a formal studio date, balancing the spontaneity of the former and the technical polish of the latter".

Track listing

:All compositions by Duke Ellington except as indicated

1. "Three J's Blues" (Jimmy Hamilton) - 2:54
2. "Smada" (Ellington, Billy Strayhorn) - 2:38
3. "Pie Eye's Blues" - 3:27
4. "Sweet and Pungent" (Strayhorn) - 4:03
5. "C Jam Blues" (Ellington, Barney Bigard) - 4:52
6. "In a Mellow Tone" (Ellington, Milt Gabler) - 2:43
7. "Blues in Blueprint" - 3:43
8. "The Swingers Get the Blues, Too" (Ellington, Matthew Gee) - 3:09
9. "The Swinger's Jump" - 3:53
10. "Blues in Orbit" (Strayhorn) - 2:29
11. "Villes Ville Is the Place, Man" - 2:33
12. "Track 360" - 2:03 Bonus track on CD reissue
13. "Sentimental Lady" - 4:02 Bonus track on CD reissue
14. "Brown Penny" (Ellington, John La Touche) - 3:02 Bonus track on CD reissue
15. "Pie Eye's Blues" [alternate take] - 3:32 Bonus track on CD reissue
16. "Sweet and Pungent" [alternate take] (Strayhorn) - 3:52 Bonus track on CD reissue
17. "The Swinger's Jump" [alternate take] (Ellington) - 3:51 Bonus track on CD reissue
18. "Blues in Orbit" [alternate take] (Strayhorn) - 2:39 Bonus track on CD reissue
19. "Track 360" [alternate take] - 2:01 Bonus track on CD reissue

Personnel