This album is the third in Ella Fitzgerald's series of Song Books for Verve Records, entirely dedicated to the compositions of Duke Ellington. It was recorded in 1957 with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and arrangements by Billy Strayhorn, and includes direct collaborations with Ellington himself on piano.
The project was produced by Norman Granz, who aimed to establish Fitzgerald as the definitive interpreter of the Great American Songbook. The album contains 38 songs in its original LP edition, featuring classics such as 'Satin Doll', 'Mood Indigo', and 'It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)'.
Considered one of the milestones in Fitzgerald's discography, the album reached number 11 on the Billboard pop albums chart in 1958. In 1996, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its historical and musical significance.