The album is divided between “The Pretty, The Lovely, The Tender, The Hold-Me-Close Side” and “The Finger-Snapping, Head-Shaking, Toe-Tapping, Go-For-Yourself Side.” Recorded by Val Valentin and produced by Norman Granz (those are his black & white photos), this is Verve at its mid-60s best.

In addition to Ellington and Fitzgerald, personnel included Louis Bellson on drums; John Lamb on bass; Harry Carney, Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Russel Procope on saxes; Johnny Hodges, Chuck Conners, Buster Cooper, and Lawrence Brown on trombones; Cootie Williams, Herb Jones, Mercer Ellington, and Cat Anderson on trumpets, and Jimmy Jones doing arrangements and playing piano.

After the excitement died down, Norman Granz said to Duke and Ella, “Well, do you think everything is O.K.? Can we let the guys go or do we need another take of anything?” Duke smiled, “I have a little suggestion,” he said, “let’s make another album.” – liner notes by Leonard Feather

My copy, an original 1966 pressing, via the Worcester Record Riot in Worcester MA