The 10 Best Albums of 1952
In 1952, Elizabeth II became Queen of England, Alfred Hitchcock directed Strangers on a Train, Sam Snead won the Masters Tournament and Bud Powell made the best album of the year.
At least once a decade, a wild card contender claims the top spot in this list. After well-established legends went #1 in previous years (Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk in 1950 and ’51, respectively), Bud Powell is the first non-household name to rise the ranks.
Then again, there are two reasons why that should come as no surprise. The first is that, to jazz fans, Powell is a household name. He’s one of the very best to ever do it, and 1952’s The Amazing Bud Powell is the pianist at the absolute peak of his powers.
Second, he peaked at the perfect time, at least in the context of the Colin’s Review Top 10 Albums of 1952. This was very much an “in-between” period for music; still a few years away from the invention of rock ‘n’ roll and still a few years away from the wider adoption of the 10” and 12” LP formats. In an era dominated by singles, Powell released an eight-song statement that stood head and shoulders above the rest of what 1952 had to offer.
The remainder of the list is rounded out by forgotten releases by familiar names, with obscurities from the likes of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker. Plus, further proving that this was indeed an anomalous year, you’ll likely never see one subgenre (bebop, in this case) produce four of the top five entries.
And so, without further ado, here are the 10 best albums of 1952.
10. Satchmo Serenades
Artist: Louis Armstrong
Genre: Jazz
This light, breezy, easy listening collection of swinging ballads features Louis Armstrong at his most romantic. Some things get better with age: his singing is at its most syrupy, and his trumpet playing is as piercing as ever. Only a legend like Pops could release a lover-man album at 52 years old. Continue reading…
9. South of the Border
Artist: Charlie Parker
Genre: Afro-Cuban Jazz
South of the Border finds saxophonist Charlie Parker at his most carefree, collaborating with Latin big band legends like Machito and Mario Bauzá, delivering blistering yet blissful solos over a bevy of fiery rhythms. A worthy stylistic experiment that shows Bird’s genius transcends all musical boundaries. Continue reading…
8. Singing the Traditional Songs of Her Kentucky Mountain Family
Artist: Jean Ritchie
Genre: Folk
Over the years — over the centuries, maybe — the Ritchie family had amassed a large collection of folk songs passed down through the generations, with some of the tunes tracing their origins back to England and Scotland. Daughter Jean, who moved from the Kentucky mountains to Greenwich Village in the 1940s, brings her authentic Appalachian sound to the wider world with this collection of dulcimer-driven tunes, transporting the listener to a time long forgotten. Continue reading…
7. Billie Holiday Sings
Artist: Billie Holiday
Genre: Jazz
An underrated gem in the vast discography of jazz music’s all-time greatest singer, Billie Holiday Sings is a solid showcase of her unique vocal abilities, even at this later stage of her career. Holiday’s range may be a bit narrower, but her emotional resonance has never been deeper. Even with all-star accompaniment that includes guitarist Barney Kessel, pianist Oscar Peterson and bassist Ray Brown, Lady Day remainsthe focal point. Continue reading…
6. Moanin’ the Blues
Artist: Hank Williams
Genre: Honky Tonk
Hank Williams’ 1952 LP Moanin’ the Blues is a great collection of country tunes from the greatest country artist who ever lived. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t live much longer: this is the last LP released before his untimely death at the age of 29. This added context gives extra weight to ballads like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” which was already one of the saddest songs ever sung. Continue reading…
5. Wizard of the Vibes
Artist: Milt Jackson
Genre: Bebop
The vibraphone is such a cool instrument. The sound is both soothing and haunting, and this early bebop album from Milt Jackson — the Wizard of the Vibes himself — features some of the smoothest and most original vibraphone playing you’ll ever hear. Heavily indebted to the angular innovations of Thelonious Monk (who features on three of the songs here), Wizard of the Vibes is essential listening for any jazz fan. Continue reading…
4. Johnnie Ray
Artist: Johnnie Ray
Genre: Traditional Pop
An early antecedent to rock ‘n’ roll, Johnnie Ray’s singing is sultry, vulnerable and filled with starpower. Ray was a proto-Presley pioneer, and his self-titled 1952 debut LP is a perfect distillation of his unique style, splitting the bill between swing, pop and rhythm & blues. Continue reading…
3. Bird and Diz
Artist: Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie
Genre: Bebop
One of the all-time great jazz lineups is featured here. On top of the title pair’s extraordinary saxophone/trumpet interplay, the band is filled out by Thelonious Monk on piano and a ferocious drumming performance from Buddy Rich. That’s three Colin’s Review Hall of Famers, in case you were unaware. The musical talent on display is unreal. Continue reading…
2. Genius of Modern Music (Volume Two)
Artist: Thelonious Monk
Genre: Bebop
Pointing the way toward both hard bop and the avant-garde, Thelonious Monk’s Genius of Modern Music collection ranks among the most influential recordings of the 20th century. With angular melodies and cubist chord progressions, Monk and his cohorts (which includes an all-star cast of jazz legends like Max Roach, Art Blakey and Milt Jackson) work together in seamless harmony, burning through these tracks with a fiery intensity. Even if Volume Two isn’t quite as monumental as its Best Album of 1951 predecessor, it’s still one of the greatest sequels of all time.
1. The Amazing Bud Powell
Artist: Bud Powell
Genre: Bebop
The Amazing Bud Powell is the crowning achievement of a true American master. His playing is smooth, unpredictable, energetic and bittersweet, and the songs run the gamut from bebop to bossa nova. You wouldn’t think so much creativity could be packed into such a short running time (8 songs, 26 minutes), but Powell consistently draws from an endless well of creativity. One listen, and you’ll be convinced he’s one of the greatest jazz pianists ever. Continue reading…
Discover more from Colin's Review
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.