Recorded for Bethlehem Records in 1956, Duke Ellington's Historically Speaking is an album of updated arrangements of earlier Duke classics, including East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, in a Mellow Tone, and Creole Love Call. The orchestra, with the recent return of saxophonist Johnny Hodges to the Ellington fold and the modernizing influence of drummer Sam Woodyard on drums, sounds rejuvenated, making this album a strong contender for one of Ellington's finer efforts of the 1950 's. Personnel includes: Duke Ellington (conductor, piano); Russell Procope (clarinet, alto saxophone); Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Harry Carney (bass saxophone); Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Clark Terry (trumpet); Ray Nance, Britt Woodman, John Saunders, Quentin Jackson (trombone); Jimmy Woode (bass); Sam Woodyard (drums). Includes liner notes by Joseph P. Muranyi & Jacklyn Levine. All tracks have been digitally re-mastered.