Featuring excellent digital clarity—despite its place in the largely pre-Hi Fi catalogue—The Best of the War Years and More (Stardust Records) is a cornucopia of Duke Ellington's finest musical compositions from the concert halls and V-Discs of the World War II era. With stellar liner notes on the history of Ellington and his great importance to music and the 20th century, this collection also presents the CD disc itself in classic V-Disc format.

For the uninitiated, the V-Disc was a program designed to boost the morale of troops during World War II. To bring great music to the military, 12-inch 78-RPM records were produced in massive quantities and delivered to the soldiers to provide slices of life from home. Many of these discs were destroyed after the war, but thankfully enough remained to create compilations like this one.

It's hard to actually label any one Ellington disc as "Greatest Hits." Many of his standards have been given so many varied arrangements by the composer himself that favorite versions of a single song could fill an entire collection. Thankfully, this compilation is instead a snapshot of the versions of favorite songs being listened to by the troops during those important years.

All of the great ones are here, from the big band excitement of "Take the 'A' Train", "C Jam Blues", "Perdido", and "I'm Checkin' Out, Go'om Bye" to the bossa nova-like waves of "Frenesi". Many of Ellington's moodier pieces were popular with the troops, especially "The Girl in My Dreams" and "Chelsea Bridge". Pay close attention to "Until Tonight", "It's Sad But True", and "I Hear a Rhapsody". The longing for a lost love, family, and home are very prevalent in the great recordings of the time.

Knowing that this music was enjoyed in this format by eager US Servicemen, it gives the listener the opportunity to get inside the minds of those who were reflective and hopeful about the future of the world and their own tomorrows. Listen carefully to the heartfelt standard "Things Ain't What They Used to Be", and let your mind wander to a place called then.