East St. Louis Toodle-oo
by Duke Ellington
Jazz Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

This package includes 2 different sets: a transcription of the original recording with original instrumentation; and an arrangement of the same for modern big band.

"East St Louis Toodle-Oo" is a composition written by Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley and recorded eight times by Ellington for various labels from 1926-1938, and three more times later on. This song was the first charting single for Duke Ellington in 1927 and was one of the main examples of what he called his "jungle music".

In an interview Ellington gave included in Mark Tuckers “The Ellington Reader” (Oxford University Press, USA: October 14, 1993) Ellington stated that the record company got the spelling wrong, that the title was Todalo, not Toodle-Oo. He goes on to say that a Todalo is the tired walk of someone returning from a very hard day’s work – which starkly contrasts the assumption of Toodle-Oo, which was used as an informal goodbye or so-long.
This transcription is taken from the third recording of this song, which became Ellington’s first charting single and brought him to national attention. This recording likely included the following personnel:
Louis Metcalf, Bubber Miley, trumpet; Joe Nanton, trombone; Prince Robinson, clarinet; Edgar Sampson, tenor sax; Otto Hardwick, bass sax and clarinet; Duke Ellington, piano; Fred Guy, banjo; Mack Shaw, tuba; Sonny Greer, drums.
The recordings Ellington made of this tune are as follows:
• November 29, 1926 E-4110 Vocalion 1064
• February 3, 1927 E-21636 E-21637 E-21538 Brunswick rejected
• March 14, 1927 E-21872 Brunswick 3480, Brunswick 6801, Brunswick 80000, Vocalion 1064 (some later pressings)
• March 22, 1927 W 143705-3 Columbia 953-D
• December 19, 1927 41245-1 Victor 21703
• December 19, 1927 41245-2 Victor 21703, Bluebird B-6430, Montgomery Ward M-4889
• January 19, 1928 W 400032-A OKeh 8638 (as "Harlem Twist", by Lonnie Johnson's Harlem Footwarmers)
• March, ?, 1928 2944-A and B Cameo 8182, Lincoln 2837, Romeo 612
• March ?, 1928 108079-1 Pathe 36781, Perfect 14962 (as The Whoopee Makers) (identical to one of the above takes of 2944)
• February 9, 1932 71812-2 and 3 Victor L-16007 (33 1/3 10" long playing transcription, first part of a 3 song medley)
• March 5, 1937 M-180-1 Master MA-101, Brunswick m7989 (as "The New East St. Louis Toodle-O")
• February 7, 1956 Bethlehem Be BCP-60
The transcription was made in an attempt to notate a clearly as possible a departure point to play this tune. It must be stated that stylistic interpretation can only be made from listening to the original. The Full band version is an attempt to flesh out the original into a full ensemble format, while keeping in the nature and spirit of the original.

Please click the link to check out the YouTube playback of the score.

Eric Burger is a long time commercial and military arranger who has written many charts that are performed by bands around the world. Each part is beautifully typeset for ease of reading, and every chart is proven on the “band-stand” by working bands and is sure to be a hit with your audiences.

For more information, to request custom work, or for other fine charts please visit https://www.EricBurgerMusic.com