Johnny Come Lately is a swing era jazz tune written and arranged by Billy Strayhorn for Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. It was recorded for Victor in Hollywood on June 26, 1942 with Ellington in the studio, and it was originally titled Plain Time before later being called Stomp. The arrangement features Strayhorn on piano, a strong reed section, and a signature muted trombone solo by Joseph Tricky Sam Nanton. A 1943 live version was recorded at the Hurricane Club in New York City, and the studio recording was released as Johnny Come Lately in February 1944 as a single rather than tied to a specific album. The piece reflects the wartime energy and the growing Strayhorn-Ellington collaboration during World War II, and it remains a notable example of big band jazz with dynamic ensemble work and bold solos.
