The Complete Riverside Recordings

Thelonious Monk

Release Date: 06 Aug 1988
Label: RIVERSIDE
Genre: JAZZ

CAT # 15RCD-022-2

DISC ONE
1. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 4:42
2. Sophisticated Lady 5:31
3. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good 5:56
4. Black And Tan Fantasy 3:28
5. Mood Indigo 3:16
6. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 5:43
7. Solitude 3:41
8. Caravan 5:56
9. Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away) 3:11
10. Memories Of You 4:19
11. Honeysuckle Rose 5:32
12. Darn That Dream 4:21
13. Tea For Two 5:54
DISC TWO
1. You Are Too Beautiful 5:10
2. Just You, Just Me 4:50
3. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are 6:56
4. Pannonica 8:50
5. Pannonica 8:50
6. Brilliant Corners 7:42
7. Bemsha Swing 9:30
8. I Surrender, Dear 5:25
DISC THREE
1. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance 6:06
2. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance 6:06
3. I Should Care (Take 1) 3:11
4. I Should Care (Take 2) 3:55
5. I Should Care 5:13
6. 'Round Midnight (In Progress) 5:15
7. 'Round Midnight 5:15
8. April In Paris 4:05
9. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You 6:09
10. Monk's Mood (False start)
11. Monk's Mood 7:52
DISC FOUR
1. Functional (Alternate Take) 9:46
2. Functional 9:46
3. All Alone 4:50
4. Crepuscule With Nellie (Take 1) 4:34
5. Crepuscule With Nellie (Alternate Take)
6. Blues For Tomorrow 13:32
7. Off Minor (Take 4) 5:15
8. Off Minor (Take 5) 5:10
9. Abide With Me
10. Crepuscule With Nellie (Takes 4 and 5) 4:46
11. Crepuscule With Nellie (Take 6) [Mono] 4:39
DISC FIVE
1. Epistrophy
2. Epistrophy 6:06
3. Well, You Needn't (Opening) 1:26
4. Well, You Needn't 11:23
5. Ruby, My Dear 5:25
6. Ruby, My Dear 6:21
7. Nutty 6:38
8. Trinkle, Tinkle 6:42
9. Straight, No Chaser (Take 1) 8:58
10. Straight, No Chaser (Take 3) 8:58
11. Rhythm-a-ning 5:17
DISC SIX
1. I Mean You 6:50
2. I Mean You (Take 2) 5:52
3. I Mean You (Take 4) 6:50
4. 'Round Midnight 5:15
5. Decidedly (Take 4) 5:51
6. Decidedly (Take 5) 5:51
7. Sweet And Lovely 7:15
8. Coming On The Hudson 5:25
9. In Orbit 4:39
10. One Foot In The Gutter 7:17
DISC SEVEN
1. Trust In Me 4:29
2. Let's Cool One 6:43
3. Pea-Eye 4:28
4. Argentia 6:11
5. Moonlight Fiesta 2:32
6. Buck's Business 3:21
7. Fluegelin' The Blues 6:57
8. Very Near Blue 3:02
9. Evidence 4:59
10. Blues Five Spot 8:11
11. Medley: In Walked Bud / Epistrophy
DISC EIGHT
1. Unidentified Solo Piano 1:50
2. 'Round Midnight 5:15
3. Medley: Bye-Ya / Epistrophy
4. Light Blue 5:14
5. Coming On The Hudson 5:25
6. Rhythm-a-ning 9:33
7. Just A Gigolo 2:08
8. Blue Monk 8:30
9. Evidence 8:48
10. Epistrophy 6:06
DISC NINE
1. Nutty 5:20
2. Blues Five Spot 8:11
3. Let's Cool One 9:14
4. In Walked Bud 11:21
5. Misterioso 10:52
6. Epistrophy 1:07
7. In Walked Bud 6:10
8. Blue Monk 6:17
DISC TEN
1. Rhythm-a-ning 5:17
2. Monk's Mood 7:48
3. Friday The 13th 9:28
4. Little Rootie Tootie 8:51
5. Off Minor 7:51
6. Thelonious
7. Crepuscule With Nellie 2:42
8. Little Rootie Tootie (Encore) 8:51
DISC ELEVEN
1. Played Twice (Take 1) 8:00
2. Played Twice (Take 2) 8:00
3. Played Twice (Take 3) 8:00
4. Straight, No Chaser 9:23
5. Ask Me Now 10:46
6. I Mean You 6:50
7. Jackie-ing 4:36
8. Round Lights 3:33
9. Pannonica 8:50
10. Blue Monk 6:17
DISC TWELVE
1. Ruby, My Dear 4:01
2. There's Danger In Your Eyes, Cherie (Take 1) 4:17
3. There's Danger In Your Eyes, Cherie (Take 2) 4:17
4. Everything Happens To Me 4:32
5. Reflections 4:08
6. Remember 5:30
7. Bluehawk 3:37
8. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Heart 3:58
9. San Francisco Holiday (Worry Later) 4:28
10. Just You, Just Me 9:26
11. 'Round Midnight 5:15
12. San Francisco Holiday (Worry Later) [Take 2] 9:03
DISC THIRTEEN
1. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You 6:09
2. Evidence 4:59
3. Epistrophy (Closing Theme) 6:06
4. Epistrophy (Complete) 6:06
5. Four In One (Take 1) 6:06
6. Let's Call This 7:15
7. 'Round Midnight 5:40
8. San Francisco Holiday (Worry Later) 5:54
9. Four In One 8:41
10. Epistrophy 3:07
DISC FOURTEEN
1. Well, You Needn't 6:18
2. Crepuscule With Nellie 2:42
3. Jackie-ing 4:36
4. Body And Soul 2:21
5. Off Minor 5:10
6. April In Paris 3:40
7. I Mean You 6:50
8. Rhythm-a-ning 7:15
9. Just A Gigolo 1:40
DISC FIFTEEN
1. Hackensack 5:10
2. Epistrophy 8:36
3. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You 6:09
4. Jackie-ing 4:36
5. Body And Soul 2:21
6. Straight, No Chaser 8:58
7. Crepuscule With Nellie 2:42
8. Bemsha Swing 3:05
9. San Francisco Holiday (Worry Later) 4:28
10. Rhythm-a-ning 5:17
11. Epistrophy 6:06

This 15-disc (or 22-LP) set presents the entire existing output of the 30 occasions—studio sessions, plus club and concert location taping—on which Thelonious Monk recorded for Riverside. Covering the six-year span between 1955 and 1961 during which Thelonious first gained wide recognition, and regarded by many as his most vital creative period, it offers a striking sound picture of one of the most significant (and most colorful) figures in the entire history of jazz.

Presented here in chronological order are 153 performances, including some partial takes and in-studio conversation that add to this unique portrait of genius in action. Altogether, there are 14 previously unissued items, including two selections recorded at the Five Spot and a legendary abandoned session with drummer Shelly Manne.

The collections runs a gamut from unaccompanied solos to Monk’s celebrated 1959 orchestra concert at Town Hall, with a total supporting cast that features many of the most important jazz artists of our time, including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Coleman Hawkins, Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach, Clark Terry, Thad Jones, Charlie Rouse, Johnny Griffin, and Wilbur Ware.

With a booklet offering rare photographs, complete discographical information, and personal commentary on Thelonious and on each session by Orrin Keepnews, noted producer of the original recordings, who also researched and assembled this compilation.

(In the period of time between the original release of this set in album form and the issuance of the Compact Disc version, an important new element was added: THELONIOUS MONK: The Complete Riverside Recordings was presented, for the year covering 1987, with two Grammys—Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes.)

Produced by Orrin Keepnews

Find out more about Thelonious Monk