[Dixielandjazz] Re: Night Train

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Gary,
Duke Ellington composed his lesser known "Happy-Go-Lucky Local" as part of
the fourth movement of the 'Deep South Suite' in 1946. (I have the 23 Nov
1946 recording.) It was intended as a musical picture of "a little upright
train in the South with a black fireman who saluted friends and
acquaintances along the track with his whistle."
"Night Train" was 'composed' and copyrighted in 1951 by Oscar Washington,
Lewis C Simpkins and Jimmy Forrest and became a big hit for tenor sax man
Forrest on a United 78 record, and then subsequent jazz and blues
performers.
As a matter of interest Jimmy Forrest (1920-1980) worked and recorded with
the Ellington band in the 1948-50
In a 1963 interview in Calcutta, India, quoted in 'The World of Duke
Ellington' by Stanley Dance (1970. Macmillan) Duke Ellington said when asked
did he worry that 'they' take some of his musical material and make
something different of it under the rock 'n' roll label? "They did that with
'Night Train'. They took 'Happy-Go-Lucky Local'. It hurts and it's
offensive. You threaten to sue, and you postpone until it's too late and
then you get real mad. You do nothing but spoil your disposition."
Mercer Ellington, in his book 'Duke Ellington in Person' (with Stanley
Dance. 1978. Hutchinson) confirms this regarding "Happy-Go-Lucky Local".
"Later, bearing someone else's name and a different title, it became a big
hit, one of the many instances of shameless "borrowing" from Ellington's
compositions. He didn't like this, and I don't think he ever forgave it, but
he managed to put it out of his mind."
So far as I know the great Oscar Petersen Trio also used the "Night Train"
title for their Dec 1962 Verve recording. This may have been changed to
"Happy-Go-Lucky Local" on later reissues, but I have no evidence of this.
Perhaps references were made in the album notes.
Kind regards,
Bill.