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Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
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  • Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
  • Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
  • Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
  • Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
  • Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
  • Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
  • Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
  • Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
Originals, Duke Ellington- Twin Track Mono Reel to Reel Tape, 7 1/2 IPS
$45.00

Condition: Very Good
Description

Note - This is dual track mono 5" tape - A rare early Pentape reel, Duke Ellington: Originals captures Ellington in a concise program of blues-driven small-group arrangements recorded under the supervision of legendary engineer Bill Putnam at Universal Recording Studios. The sound is intimate and full, with the warm mono presentation emphasizing brass voicings and Ellington’s rhythmic piano figures. At roughly 7½ ips, these early Pentape issues offer a surprisingly direct, unprocessed quality compared with later commercial jazz reels. Collectors value Pentape releases both for their scarcity and their connection to Putnam’s early high-fidelity tape experiments. A compelling archival slice of Ellington’s mid-century style.
Details

Album: Originals

Artist:

  • Duke Ellington

Label:

Year of Release: 1958

Duplicator:

Country: United States

Genre:

  • Jazz

Reel: 7 1/2 IPS 5 Inch Tape, 2 Track Mono

Condition Notes:

  • Box: Good
  • Sound Quality: Very Good
Track List

Side 1:
1. Way Back Blues
2. Where’s the Music

Side 2
1. Rubber Bottom
2. Play the Blues and Go
Tape Review

Duke Ellington - Originals (Pentape Recorded Tape) - Album Review

This Pentape reel is a tight, blues-leaning snapshot of Duke Ellington’s genius for making familiar forms feel brand new. Across just four selections, you get that signature Ellington blend: elegant voicings, punchy swing, and a painter’s ear for texture - where brass stabs, reed colors, and piano accents all land like part of the same conversation.

Side 1 sets the tone with the easy strut of “Way Back Blues” and the sly momentum of “Where’s The Music” - both full of that Ellington knack for turning a simple groove into something harmonically rich and endlessly listenable. Side 2 digs deeper into grit and bounce: “Rubber Bottom” has a playful stomp, while “Play The Blues and Go” closes things out with pure forward motion - swinging hard, but never losing its polish.

A fun bonus for tape heads: the box copy notes recording supervision tied to Universal Recording Studios (Chicago) and Bill Putnam, giving the release a distinctly mid-century “hi-fi showcase” vibe - perfect for anyone collecting vintage pre-recorded reels.

Tracklist (as labeled):

Side 1: Way Back Blues / Where’s The Music

Side 2: Rubber Bottom / Play The Blues and Go
About Two Track Tapes

Two-track stereo reels grew out of early post-war tape, when consumer releases were mostly mono (often with a “flip the reel” second side). Once in-line two-track (half-track) became standard, big tracks at 7.5 ips made great jazz and classical sound incredibly real. The industry eventually moved to 4-track because it was cheaper and offered more playing time- learn more here.

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