The music for "Satin Doll" was originally credited on the LP label to solely to Ellington.

(After the deaths of composer/arranger Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington in 1967 and 1974 respectively, a lawsuit, Tempo Music v. Famous Music, resulted in the change of the composer credit to include Billy Strayhorn as co-composer.

The Johnny Mercer lyric had not been written in 1958 when Ellington recorded "Satin Doll" for the album.)

According to Irving Townsend's liner notes on the original LP release, the Ellington band played mainly for dancers at the Bal Masque, and Ellington decided to include more songs by other composers during the residency than his performances at the time typically featured.

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "the music works quite well for Ellington and his all-star orchestra manage to transform what could be a set of tired revival swing into superior dance music and swinging jazz.