The 1930s and ‘40s were dominated by big swing and dance bands capable of filling the many large ballrooms across America. But a significant number of nightclubs required smaller ensembles, especially in cities like New York and Chicago. One of these diminutive venues was the Onyx Club on New York’s 52nd Street which came to be known as “Swing Street” for its many small jazz clubs. Swinging violinist Stuff Smith’s group packed the club during 1936 and early 1937, only leaving the gig for a Hollywood movie appearance.

Bassist John Kirby, a veteran of the bands of Chick Webb and Fletcher Henderson, assembled a small group to take Smith’s place at the Onyx. The group basically existed as a jam band until November, 1937, when trumpeter Charlie Shavers joined. Shavers, a big band veteran and arranger, began whipping the musicians into a tightly integrated ensemble, playing arrangements of everything from popular songs to interpretations of classics. Shavers also began composing originals, one of which was sent off to his publisher. Receiving the untitled composition the publishers wired Shavers for the name. Shavers’ brief wired response was “UNDECIDED,” which they mistakenly took to be the title. Sid Robin wrote lyrics for the melody, basing them on a tempo that was half of what Shavers had intended. Robin’s lyrics work cleverly around the tune’s repeated melody, telling the story of an on-again, off-again relationship. The tune suited Ella Fitzgerald’s early style perfectly, as though Robin had her in mind when writing the lyrics.

The tune was recorded by a number of groups in the year following its initial release. Two made the charts:

• Chick Webb’s Orchestra (1939, Ella Fitzgerald, vocal, #8)
• John Kirby and His Onyx Club Boys (1939, instrumental, #19) (the only recording by Kirby to hit the charts)

The Kirby band’s greatest success followed the record’s success, and soon the group was appearing in white tuxedos at such posh venues as New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Kirby’s band was hard hit by World War II enlistments, and Shavers left in 1945 to join Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra.

“Undecided” was a popular jazz vehicle throughout the 1940s and ‘50s. Surprisingly, in 1951 it almost hit #1 in the charts:

• Ames Brothers (1951, vocal, #2)
• Ray Anthony and His Orchestra (1951, Gloria Craig and the Skyliners, vocal, #10)
• Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1951, instrumental, #28)