“Don't Get Around Much Anymore” was written by Duke Ellington and Bob Russell. Ellington wrote the music as a feature for alto sax man Johnny Hodges in 1940, and it was originally titled “Never No Lament.” This is the first Duke Ellington song that I learned, over 35 years ago. I've performed it off an on on jazz gigs through the years, including with my “little” big band, the Peter Hostage Situation.

Duke was always looking for ways to help with the financial burden of keeping his big band viable, and was open to having lyricists write to his compositions. In 1943 Bob Russell wrote the lyrics, and the name of the tune was changed to “Don't Get Around Much Anymore.”

Unfortunately Glen Gray and his Casa Loma Orchestra released the first vocal version, just weeks before the ASACP and American Federation of Musicians ban on recording was put into place in '43. That version reached #7 on the charts. The Ink Spots followed shortly after, because as a vocal group, they were exempt from the ban, reaching #2. Later that year, to capitalize on the song's success, RCA Victor re-released Duke's 1940 recording of “Never No Lament” re-titled as “Don't Get Around Much Anymore,” reaching #8.

The Duke Ellington Orchestra of 1943 was considered one of his finest, including alomg with Hodges, Barney Bigard on clarinet, Cootie Williams on trumpet, Harry Carney on baritone sax, Ben Webster on tenor sax and Jimmy Blanton on bass. In fact, this lineup is often referred to as the “Webster-Blanton” band. By the time Duke recorded a vocal version in '47, featuring Al Hibbler's singing (he sang “Don't Get Around Much Entymore”), the song's time had passed, and it barely charted.

Bob Russell also wrote the lyrics for “Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me,” “I Didn't Know About You,” “Crazy He Calls Me,” plus the English lyrics for “Brazil.” Russell is also the writer of the 1950's TV show theme for “Wagon Train,” In 1969 he penned “He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother.”

Notable versions of “Don't Get Around Much Anymore” include recordings by: Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Bill Doggett, Mose Allison, The Coasters, Mel Torme, Sam Cooke, Etta James, Hank Crawford, Willie Nelson, Paul McCartney, Harry Connick, Jr. (in When Harry Met Sally, B.B. King, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Natalie Cole, Chicago, Michael Buble, Rod Stewart, and Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darin, Dr. John, Woody Herman, Shelby Lynne. (Among many, many others.)