In September 1961, “Mercury” label released “Pre-Bird”, the 18^th Charles Mingus album. It was recorded in May 1960, and was produced by Leonard Feather.

Personnel:

• Charles Mingus – bass
• Paul Bley – piano
• Roland Hanna – piano
• Gunther Schuller – conductor
• Marcus Belgrave – trumpet
• Ted Curson – trumpet
• Clark Terry – trumpet
• Hobart Dotson – trumpet
• Richard Williams – trumpet
• Robert Di Domenica – flute
• Eric Dolphy – alto saxophone, flute
• Booker Ervin – saxophone
• Yusuf Lateef – saxophone, flute
• John LaPorta – saxophone
• Danny Bank – saxophone
• Bill Barron – saxophone
• Joe Farrell – saxophone
• Eddie Bert – trombone
• Slide Hampton – trombone
• Jimmy Knepper – trombone
• Charles “Majeed” Greenlee – trombone
• George Scott – drums
• Dannie Richmond – drums
• Sticks Evans – drums
• Max Roach – drums
• Lorraine Cusson – vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Mingus, except where noted.

1. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn / Exactly Like You – Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields
2. Prayer For Passive Resistance
3. Eclipse
4. Mingus Fingus No. 2
5. Weird Nightmare
6. Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell / I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, John Redmond
7. Bemoanable Lady
8. Half-Mast Inhibition