"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" is a 1938 composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics added by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo and John Redmond. The song became a number one hit for Ellington in 1938. Other hit versions the same year were by Benny Goodman (with Martha Tilton singing), Connee Boswell, Hot Lips Page, and Mildred Bailey.^[1] It was performed as part of The Cotton Club Parade of 1938.^[2]

Other recordings

• Tony Bennett - for the album Tony Makes It Happen (1967).
• June Christy - included in the album Mood Indigo: Capitol Sings Duke Ellington (1994).^[3]
• Rosemary Clooney - for the album Blue Rose (1956)
• Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1957^[4] for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the album With All My Heart (2012).^[5]
• Ella Fitzgerald - in the album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (1957)
• Gogi Grant - for her album Suddenly There's Gogi Grant (1956).^[6]
• Lena Horne - for her album Lena...Lovely and Alive (1962).^[7]
• Irene Kral - on her album The Band and I (1958)
• Thelonious Monk covered it in 1955 on his album Thelonious Monk Plays the Music of Duke Ellington.
• Patti Page - included in her album You Go to My Head (1956)
• Mel Torme - for his album Prelude to a Kiss (1958)
• Sarah Vaughan - The Duke Ellington Songbook, Vol. 1 (1979)
• Dinah Washington recorded the song in her album After Hours with Miss "D" in 1954.
• Don Shirley recorded the song on his album Piano Perspectives in 1955.

Film appearance

• 2004 Melinda and Melinda - Performed by Duke Ellington, Dick Hyman.