Tag Archives: 1956

Thad Jones: The Magnificent Thad Jones

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In January 1957, “Blue Note” label released “The Magnificent Thad Jones”, the third Thad Jones albums. It was recorded in July 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Thad Jones- trumpet
  • Billy Mitchell- tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Burrell- guitar
  • Barry Harris- piano
  • Percy Heath- bass
  • Max Roach- drums

Track listing:

  1. April in Paris – Vernon Duke,  Y. Harburg
  2. Billie-Doo – Thad Jones
  3. If I Love Again – Jack Murray, Ben Oakland
  4. If Someone Had Told Me – Peter DeRose, Charles Tobias
  5. Thedia – Thad Jones

 

Hank Mobley: Mobley’s Message

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In January 1957, “Prestige” label released “Mobley’s Message”, the third Hank Mobley album. It was recorded in July, 1956,  at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, and was produced by Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

  • Hank Mobley- tenor saxophone
  • Donald Byrd– trumpet
  • Barry Harris– piano
  • Doug Watkins– bass
  • Art Taylor– drums
  • Jackie McLean- alto saxophone

Track listing:

All tracks by Hank Mobley, except where noted.

  1. Bouncing with Bud – Bud Powell
  2. 52nd Street Theme – Thelonious Monk
  3. Minor Disturbance
  4. Au Privave – Charlie Parker
  5. Little Girl Blue – Hart, Rodgers
  6. Alternating Current

Paul Chambers: Whims of Chambers

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In December 1956, “Blue Note” label released “Whims of Chambers”, the second  Paul Chambers album. It was recorded on September 21, 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, NJ, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Paul Chambers- bass
  • Donald Byrd- trumpet
  • John Coltrane- tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Burrell- guitar
  • Horace Silver- piano
  • Philly Joe Jones- drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Chambers, except where noted.

  1. Omicron – Donald Byrd
  2. Whims of Chambers
  3. Nita – John Coltrane
  4. We Six – Donald Byrd
  5. Dear Ann
  6. Tale of the Fingers
  7. Just for the Love – John Coltrane

Max Roach: Max Roach + 4

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On October 12, 1956, “EmArcy” label released “Max Roach + 4”, the second Max Roach album. It was recorded September 17 – 20, 1956, in New York City, and was produced by Bob Shad.

Personnel:

  • Max Roach- drums
  • Sonny Rollins- tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Dorham- trumpet
  • Ray Bryant, Bill Wallace – piano
  • George Morrow- bass

Track listing:

All tracks by Max Roach except where noted.

  1. Ezz-Thetic – George Russell
  2. Free-Zee
  3. Just One of Those Things – Cole Porter
  4. Mr X.
  5. Body and Soul – Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green
  6. Woody ‘n’ You – Dizzy Gillespie

Charles Mingus: Pithecanthropus Erectus

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In July 1956, “Atlantic” label released “Pithecanthropus Erectus”, the tenth Charles Mingus album. It was recorded on January 30, 1956, at “Audio Video Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun.

Personnel:

  • Charles Mingus– bass
  • Jackie McLean– alto saxophone
  • J.R. Monterose– tenor saxophone
  • Mal Waldron– piano
  • Willie Jones– drums
  • Tom Dowd, Hal Lustig – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Mingus except where noted.

  1. Pithecanthropus Erectus
  2. A Foggy Day – George Gershwin
  3. Profile of Jackie
  4. Love Chant

Gene Vincent: Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps

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On March 4, 1957, “Capitol” label released “Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps”, the second Gene Vincent album. It was recorded in October 1956, and was produced by Ken Nelson.

Personnel:

  • Gene Vincent – vocals, guitar
  • Cliff Gallup– lead guitar
  • Paul Peek – rhythm guitar
  • Willie Williams – rhythm guitar
  • Jack Neal – upright bass
  • Dickie Harrell – drums
  • The Jordanaires– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Red Blue Jeans and a Pony Tail – Jack Rhodes, Bill “Tex” Davis
  2. Hold Me, Hug Me, Rock Me – Gene Vincent, Bill “Tex” Davis
  3. Unchained Melody – Alex North, Hy Zaret
  4. You Told a Fib – Gene Vincent, Cliff Gallup
  5. Cat Man – Gene Vincent, Bill “Tex” Davis
  6. You Better Believe – Cliff Gallup
  7. Cruisin’ Gene Vincent, Bill “Tex” Davis
  8. Double Talkin’ Baby – Danny Wolfe
  9. Blues Stay Away from Me – Henry Glover, Wayne Raney, Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore
  10. Pink Thunderbird – Paul Peek, Bill “Tex” Davis
  11. I Sure Miss You – Charles Matthews
  12. Pretty, Pretty Baby – Danny Wolfe

Elvis Presley: For LP Fans Only

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In February 1959, “RCA Victor” label released “For LP Fans Only”, the seventh Elvis Presley album. It was recorded in August 1956 at “20th Century Fox Stage One”,  September 1956 at “Radio Recorders” in Hollywood, January 10 and 11 at the “RCA Victor Studios” in Nashville, “RCA Victor Studios” in New York, and “Sun Studio”.

Personnel:

  1. Elvis Presley– vocals, guitar
  2. Scotty Moore, Chet Atkins– guitar
  3. Floyd Cramer, Shorty Long– piano
  4. Gordon Stoker– piano, backing vocals
  5. Bill Black– bass
  6. J. Fontana, Jimmie Lott, Johnny Bernero – drums
  7. The Jordanaires, Ben Speer, Brock Speer– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. That’s All Right – Arthur Crudup
  2. Lawdy Miss Clawdy – Lloyd Price
  3. Mystery Train – Herman Parker Jr., Sam Phillips
  4. Playing for Keeps – Stan Kesler
  5. Poor Boy – Vera Matson, Elvis Presley
  6. My Baby Left Me – Arthur Crudup
  7. I Was The One – Aaron Schroeder, Claude Demetrius, Hal Blair, Bill Peppers
  8. Shake, Rattle And Roll – Charles Calhoun
  9. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone – Stan Kesler, William E. Taylor
  10. You’re a Heartbreaker – Jack Sallee

Bill Evans: New Jazz Conceptions

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In February 1957, “Riverside” label released “New Jazz Conceptions”, the debut Bill Evans album as a leader.  September 18 and 27, 1956, in New York City, and was produced by Bill Grauer and Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Bill Evans- piano
  • Teddy Kotick- bass
  • Paul Motian– drums
  • Jack Higgins – engineer
  • Tamaki Beck – mastering
  • Fran Scott – design
  • Hank Parker – photography
  • Orrin Keepnews – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. I Love You – Cole Porter
  2. Five – Bill Evans
  3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) – Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
  4. Conception – George Shearing
  5. Easy Living – Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger
  6. Displacement – Bill Evans
  7. Speak Low – Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash
  8. Waltz for Debby – Bill Evans, Gene Lees
  9. Our Delight – Tadd Dameron
  10. My Romance – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  11. No Cover, No Minimum

Gene Vincent

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On October 12, 1971, Vincent Eugene Craddock aka Gene Vincent died aged 35. Being singer and guitarist, he was one of the rockabilly and rock and roll pioneers. His 1956 song “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (together with his band Blue Caps) is considered to be one of the first rockabilly hits. Vincent was inducted both the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and the “Rockabilly Hall of Fame”.

Nat King Cole

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On February 15, 1965, Nathaniel Adams Coles alias Nat King Cole died aged 46. He was musician (piano), singer and songwriter, became widely popular for his soft, baritone voice and had more then 20 US and UK Top 40 singles. In 1956, he became the first black American to host a television variety show “The Nat King Cole Show”. Father of singer Natalie Cole.