With His Hot and Blue Guitar
Johnny Cash’s rockabilly debut sounds like a 50-year-old wiseman in a 25-year-old’s body.
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Super Sonic Jazz
Sun Ra released one of the trippiest jazz albums of the 1950s, because why the f*ck wouldn’t he?
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Here’s Little Richard
Back in the day, they called this the devil’s music.
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The Great Ray Charles
A rare look at Ray Charles in an instrumental jazz setting.
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A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry
Artist: Charles Mingus Year: 1957 Genre: Post-Bop Grade: B+ The 11-minute opener, entitled “Scenes in the City,” is the clear highlight of Charles Mingus’ fourth LP of 1957. Featuring the spoken-word narration of Mel Stewart, the freewheeling track moves through a … Continue reading A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry
The “Chirping” Crickets
Buddy Holly’s debut with The Crickets doesn’t reach the level of artistic maturity he’d soon attain.
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Such Sweet Thunder
An instrumental ode to William Shakespeare.
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April in Paris
Count Basie’s late-career renaissance started with this classic, big-band LP.
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Chet Atkins at Home
They don’t make instrumental country like they used to.
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Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section
Alto saxophonist Art Pepper collaborates with Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.
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Elvis’ Christmas Album
Elvis’ Christmas Album is one of the only classic holiday LPs.
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Coltrane (1957)
John Coltrane’s debut features many of the hallmarks that the saxophonist would later become famous for.
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