Monk's Music

Recording and music

The first song "Abide With Me"—a hymn by W. H. Monk—is an austere rendition played only by the septet's horn section. The song "Ruby, My Dear" is performed only by Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Wilbur Ware, and Art Blakey. John Coltrane had joined Monk after playing with the Miles Davis Quintet, and Monk can be heard enthusiastically calling on him to take the first horn solo on the album in "Well, You Needn't" (though Coltrane's name does not appear on the front cover). All of the songs except one are original compositions by Thelonious Monk, but some had appeared on previous albums by Monk.

The two mixes of this album (stereo and mono) are notable in that they used entirely different setups of microphones, recording the same performances. The stereo mix was recorded using microphones at a greater distance from the band, and therefore has a distinctly different sound from the mono mix.

Reception

The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.

Re-releases

The album was reissued by Original Jazz Classics on July 1, 1991.

Track listing

All songs by Thelonious Monk unless otherwise noted.

Side A

1. "Abide with Me" (Henry Francis Lyte, William Henry Monk) – 0:54
2. "Well, You Needn't" – 11:24
3. "Ruby, My Dear" – 5:26

Side B

1. "Off Minor" – 5:07
2. "Epistrophy" (Monk, Kenny Clarke) – 10:46
3. "Crepuscule With Nellie" – 4:38

CD reissue

1. "Abide With Me" – 0:54
2. "Well, You Needn't" – 11:24
3. "Ruby, My Dear" – 5:26
4. "Off Minor (Take 5)" – 5:07
5. "Off Minor (Take 4)" – 5:12
6. "Epistrophy" – 10:46
7. "Crepuscule With Nellie (Take 6)" – 4:38
8. "Crepuscule With Nellie (Take 4 and 5)" – 4:43

Original Jazz Classics Remasters

1. "Abide With Me" – 0:54
2. "Well, You Needn't" – 11:24
3. "Ruby, My Dear" – 5:26
4. "Off Minor (Take 5)" – 5:07
5. "Epistrophy" – 10:46
6. "Crepuscule with Nellie (Take 6)" – 4:38
7. "Off Minor (Take 4)" – 5:12
8. "Crepuscule with Nellie (Takes 4 and 5)" – 4:43
9. "Blues for Tomorrow" – 13:32

Personnel