Desert Island List no. 3: BLUE NOTE RECORDS

the final entry from this series by Mark Stryker

Sincere thanks to Mark Stryker for allowing me to repost his three desert island lists. The first covered Prestige (and includes context and Mark’s ground rules governing selection for all three lists) while the second covered Riverside. We conclude with the headliner, Blue Note. —e.i.

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30 desert island LPs from Blue Note records in alphabetical order

1. Art Blakey, The Freedom Rider (1961)

2. Tina Brooks, True Blue (1960)

3. Kenny Burrell, Midnight Blue (1963)

4. Don Cherry, Complete Communion (1965)

5. Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’ (1958)

6. Ornette Coleman, At the Golden Circle Stockholm Vol. 1 (1965)

7. Dexter Gordon, Our Man in Paris (1963)

8. Grant Green, Street of Dreams (1964)

9. Herbie Hancock, Inventions & Dimensions (1963)

10. Herbie Hancock, Empyrean Isles (1964)

11. Joe Henderson, Inner Urge (1964)

12. Andrew Hill, Black Fire (1963)

13. Bobby Hutcherson, Oblique (1967)

14. Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, Consummation (1970)

15. Pete LaRoca, Basra (1965)

16. Jackie McLean, Right Now (1965)

17. Hank Mobley, Roll Call (1960)

18. Lee Morgan, The Gigolo (1965)

19. The Port of Harlem Jazzmen, Complete Recordings (1939, single LP compilation, featuring Frankie Newton, J.C. Higginbotham, Sidney Bechet, Sid Catlett, etc., issued by Mosaic)

20. Bud Powell, The Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 1 (1949-51)

21. Sam Rivers, Contours (1965)

22. Freddie Redd, The Music from the Connection (1960)

23. Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time (1957)

24. Sonny Rollins, A Night at the Village Vanguard (1957)

25. Wayne Shorter, Adam’s Apple (1966)

26. Horace Silver, Horace-Scope (1960)

27. Stanley Turrentine, Up at Minton’s Vol. 2 (1961)

28. McCoy Tyner, The Real McCoy (1967)

29. Various, The Blue Note Swingtets, (1944-46, single CD compilation featuring Ike Quebec, John Hardee, Jimmy Hamilton, Tiny Grimes, Benny Morton)

30. Larry Young, Unity (1965)

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25 Bonus Tracks in alphabetical order

1. Art Blakey, “Pensativa” (1964)

2. Clifford Brown/Lou Donaldson, “Bellarosa” (1953)

3. Donald Byrd, “When Your Love Has Gone” (1958)

4. Paul Chambers, “Omicron” (1956)

5. John Coltrane, “Blue Train” (1957)

6. Kenny Dorham, “Straight Ahead” (1963)

7. Dexter Gordon, “Until the Real Thing Comes Along” (1962)

8. Dexter Gordon “Heartaches” (1965)

9. Grant Green, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (1962)

10. Freddie Hubbard, “You’re My Everything” (1962)

11. Bobby Hutcherson, “Bouquet” (1966)

12. Thad Jones, “Scratch” (1956)

13. Jackie McLean, “What’s New” (1959)

14. Jackie McLean, “Marilyn’s Dilemma” (1962)

15. Jackie McLean, “Ghost Town” (1963)

16. Jackie McLean, “Bluesanova” (1965)

17. Hank Mobley, “The Best Things in Life are Free” (1961)

18. Lee Morgan, “These Are Soulful Days” (1960)

I had never heard “These Are Soulful Days” from LEE-WAY until a few years ago thanks to a tip from Mark. What a great track—and quintessentially Blue Note

19. Lee Morgan, “Ceora” (1965)

20. Bud Powell, “Down With It” (1958)

21. Freddie Redd, “The Thespian” (1960)

22. Wayne Shorter, “Yes or No” (1964)

23. Horace Silver, “Moon Rays” (1958)

24. Jimmy Smith, “When I Grow Too Old to Dream” (1960)

25. Tony Williams, “Extras” (1965)

— Mark Stryker

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Unlike the previous two lists, I have heard almost everything on Mark’s Blue Note list. To some extent the legend is true: Blue Note was the greatest label of the era. What a collection of extraordinary music! Mark might have a few surprises for people who know this catalog well, but in each case Mark knows exactly what he is saying and why he is saying it. On every list, the single tracks bear close investigation. I’ll be returning to these lists in the future. — e.i.