Curtis Mayfield "Superfly" (OST) (1972)

Superfly (soundtrack)
release date: Jul. 1972
format: digital (2009 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Curtis Mayfield
label: Victor Entertainment - nationality: USA

Soundtrack album by Curtis Mayfield originally released on Curtom Records for the homonymous film directed by Gordon Parks, Jr. This is a remastered Japanese reissue containing 11 bonus tracks. The album is often referred to as a cornerstone of modern pop music with it's combination of traditional soul and what was to be termed as funk. The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". It may very likely be ahead of its time, only, I do not like funk in any incarnation almost just as such, which is why I cannot rate this higher. However, almost all music magazines and music critics praise this as a hugely inspirational album due to its style, which would influence soundtrack music for almost a decade, but also via Mayfield's lyrical contribution by writing about ghetto life.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 5 / 5 stars ]

The Band "The Band" (1969)

The Band
release date: Sep. 22, 1969
format: cd (2000 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,18]
producer: John Simon
label: Capitol Records - nationality: Canada

Tracklist: 1. "Across the Great Divide" - 2. "Rag Mama Rag" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (5 / 5) - 4. "When You Awake" - 5. "Up on Cripple Creek" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "Whispering Pines" - 7. "Jemima Surrender" (4 / 5 ) - 8. "Rockin' Chair" (4 / 5) - 9. "Look Out Cleveland" - 10. "Jawbone" (5 / 5) - 11. "The Unfaithful Servant" - 12. "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)"

2nd studio album by The Band recorded at a rented house in Hollywood belonging to Sammy Davis Jr. The 2000 remaster contain 7 bonus tracks primarily consisting of alternate takes. The album simply continue the style that was established with Music From Big Pink, but in a tighter and more homogeneous sounding shape, which binds all compositions together with well-defined borders. They build on the roots of rock & roll tying it all together in a unique blend, and they continue to demonstrate their musical skills as singers, instrumentalists and arrangers.
After the succes of their debut album they took part of the famous Woodstock festival of '68, although, they declined to take part in the film that was made documenting many other great artists of the time, and later they also played at the first Isle of Wight Festival.
The album was met by positive reviews by the press and it sold better than the debut, however, it has only gained critical and artistic acclaim since its release and has come to be cherished as milestone of rock and folk rock history.
As was the case with the songwriting credits on Music From Big Pink, the majority of these songs are credited Robbie Robertson, and that became an ever-growing point to conflict. In Levon Helm's autobiography "This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of The Band" (1993), Helm points to his and the other band members' dissatisfaction about composer rights, as nearly all their own songs, according to Helm, in most cases were the results of mutual work. He accuses Robertson of having claimed credit to songs that would not have seen the light of day without more substantial input from either Manuel, Danko, Hudson or himself, who weren't even mentioned as co-writers on compositions when the albums were released.
The album is simply wonderful and one of the finest accomplishments of the 1960s. Just listen to "Whispering Pines" or "Jawbone" and tell me, which singer of the era that would equal Manuel... or listen to Helm's perfect southern hoarseness on "The Night They Drove..." and "...Cripple Creek". It's so great to hear this group play folk rock, country, rhythm & blues and americana when everyone else were playing psychedelic rock , garage rock, baroque pop or jazz pop. They played with such finesse and with the greatest respect to the origins of popular music, and I also end up feeling lighter and in a better mood after putting this one on.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine, MusicHound it 5 / 5 stars ]

1969 Favourite releases: 1. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - 2. The Band The Band - 3. Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poorboys

Bruce Springsteen "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J." (1973)

Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. [debut]
release date: Jan. 5, 1973
format: cd (2010 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos
label: Columbia / Sony Music - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Blinded by the Light" - 2. "Growin' Up" - 4. "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" - 7. "For You" - 8. "Spirit in the Night" - 9. "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City"

Studio album debut by Bruce Springsteen [Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen] originally released on Columbia Records. On this his first effort, Springsteen rises as a talented singer / songwriter of a bluesy folkish piano-and-sax driven r&b conglomerate with bonds to Van Morrison, The Band, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.
Best tracks here are the story-founded "Blinded by the Lights", "Growin' Up", "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" and the Morrison-clone "Spirit in the Night". These tracks shine through and the backing band supports to a better end result, something that mostly goes missing on the remaining tracks making it a bit of a bland experience where Springsteen seems too keen on sounding like his sources of inspiration.
Allmusic.com reviewer William Ruhlmann is too excited drawing much on his future contributions more than the album in question.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

Jacques Brel "Les bourgeois" (1962)

Les bourgeois
release date: Apr. 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Les bourgeois" (4 / 5) - 2."Les paumés du petit matin" (3,5 / 5) - 6. "Madeleine" (5 / 5) - 7. "Bruxelles" (4 / 5) - 9. "Les biches" (4,5 / 5) - 11. "La statue" (3,5 / 5)

6th studio album by Jacques Brel originally released on Philips aka "Jacques Brel 6". It was reissued on Barclay as part of the 2003 remaster box set Boîte à Bonbons. The album is yet another fine release with lyrics and music by Brel, or co-written with primarily Gérard Jouannest (track #3), François Rauber (track #3), or Jean Corti (track #2). The best track here is "Madeleine" written by Brel, Corti and Jouannest, and it's one of many modern classics by Brel. The album contains some of his strongest compositions and is one of his finest albums.

Ella Fitzgerald "Ella Swings Gently With Nelson" (1962)

Ella Swings Gently With Nelson

release date: Jan. 1962
format: cd (1993 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Norman Ganz
label: Verve Records - nationality: USA

One of the best studio albums with Ella Fitzgerald released on Verve Records. Just prior to this, she released the double lp Ella Swings Brightly With Nelson (1962), an album that secured her the 1963 Grammy Award for best female performance. I haven't heard that album, but I really like this one 'cause it's not entirely a collection of standards but more songs of vocal jazz, which I guess the other album is too. 'Nelson' refers to Nelson Riddle and Orchestra. Both albums with Nelson were recorded in '61.

The Band "Music From Big Pink" (1968)

Music From Big Pink [debut]
release date: Jul. 1, 1968
format: cd (2004 SHM issue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]
producer: John Simon
label: Capitol Records - nationality: Canada

Tracklist: 1. "Tears of Rage" (4 / 5) - 2. "To Kingdom Come" - 3. "In a Station" - 4. "Caledonia Mission" - 5. "The Weight" (4 / 5) - 6. "We Can Talk" (4 / 5) - 7. "Long Black Veil" - 8. "Chest Fever" (4 / 5) - 9. "Lonesome Suzie" (4 / 5) - 10. "This Wheel's on Fire" - 11. "I Shall Be Relased"

Studio album debut by Canadian quintet The Band consisting of Richard Manuel on lead vocals, piano, (Hammond) organ, (Jamie) Robbie Robertson on electric and acoustic guitars and vocals, Rick Danko on bass, lead vocals and violin, Garth Hudson on (Lowrey) organ, soprano and tenor saxophone, clavinet and piano and with Levon Helm on drums and lead vocals. Four Canadians and one American (Helm of Arkansas, US).
Already here they simply showcase their musicianship - how well they knew all of their many instruments. And on top of that it's so impressive to listen to their vocals. The Band didn't have one particular lead singer as both Levon, Rick and Manuel could fill this part, although, the latter is the only one who could sing almost any kind of song with his broad register and is the only singer of the band who could equal the best vocalist of the 1960s.
The story of The Band's earliest incarnation playing as Levon and The Hawks (sometimes just The Hawks), consisting of Helm, Danko and Robertson from Ronnie and The Hawkins - who goes even longer back - is also the story of how American/Canadian rock and roll turned into r&b, folk rock and roots rock in the early 1960s. When Bob Dylan went electric ("betraying" the folk world), his backing band was almost identical to what became The Band. Helm reveals in his autobiography "Wheels of Fire" how they composed these songs, convinced they were to be released under the name of The Crackers, but a management decision changed all that to what they were referred to: "The Band" - the (infamous) backing band of Dylan.
Stylistically, it's really hard to narrow down 'cause these guys play on so many musical traditions, which will have enlist most of modern contemporary genres and styles. The outcome has become known as rhythm and blues, roots rock and folk rock with elements of country and soul.
I didn't come across this album until after listening to, or rather: watching the famous live "documentary" film "The Last Waltz" from 1976 by Martin Scorsese. I knew nothing of The Band, but knew a great deal of the performers on that occasion, and I simply adored that film from the first moment on.
I think, my first impression of Music From Big Pink was a bit bland. I never was a big fan of r&b, country or folk, but I kinda appreciated it for what it was: a bunch of skilled musicians playing... American music. Of course, I came to redefine my initial verdict. Each time I went back and listened to the music, I became increasingly soaked into its... soul, I guess. Today, I find it a gem of the days. It's not psychedelic nor blues rock like many of those days' representatives, but The Band goes its own way and builds on the music of great masters. It may contain great singles hits but the album itself is simply nothing but adorable and without fillers. A year later they would even go on and better this on their follow-up.
The album is rightfully enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and it has been lauded as one of the most influential albums of modern popular music by contemporary and present magazines and artists around the world.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone, MusicHound Rock 5 / 5 stars ]

Pink Floyd "A Saucerful of Secrets" (1968)

A Saucerful of Secrets
release date: Jun. 29, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Norman Smith
label: EMI Columbia - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Let There Be More Light" - 2. "Remember a Day"

2nd studio album by Pink Floyd is almost as iconic as the debut. It's the last studio album to feature founding member Syd Barrett who took part in the initial composing and recordings but was replaced by new member David Gilmour as Barrett's behaviour became too troublesome for the band. Apparently, he was severely afflicted by heavy LSD use (reportedly as the only member of the band), and he purposely untuned his guitar while playing, or he would refuse to play at all. Waters, Wright, and Gilmour rewrote most tracks for the album, and only one composition, track #7 "Juggband Blues" is by Barrett. The album is highly experimental, which peaks on the almost 12 minutes long title track. Like its predecessor, the album withstands mostly as a musical document.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone Music Guide, The Daily Telegraph 3 / 5 stars ]

Chet Baker Quintet "Groovin' " (1966)

Groovin'
Release date: 1966
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

This is released as The Chet Baker Quintet featuring Chet Baker (trumpet), George Coleman (tenor sax), Kirk Lightsey (piano), Herman Wright (bass), Roy Brooks (drums). The album is another mighty fine Chet collection in his heydays, and again a late hard bop jazz album.

Jethro Tull "Stand Up" (1969)

Stand Up
release date: Aug. 1, 1969
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis
label: Island Records / Chrysalis (reissue) - nationality: England

Track highlights: 1. "A New Day Yesterday" - 3. "Bourée" (4 / 5) (live) - 6. "Nothing Is Easy" (3 / 5) - 9. "Reasons for Waiting" (3 / 5) - 10. "For a Thousand Mothers" (3 / 5)

2nd studio album by Jethro Tull originally released on Island Records, and reissued on Chrysalis in '73. Before this album founding guitarist and songwriter Mick Abrahams left the band due to conflicting ideas about musical direction with Ian Anderson. Abrahams was then replaced by one of the best known members, Martin Barre on guitar and flute, who is the only other member beside Anderson to be in the band from the early 1970s and throughout to modern times. The debut album This Was (1968) is blues rock and r&b-inspired, whereas this has a more progressive rock-styled blues and folk rock, which is more like the band's later albums' although, this is still much more blues rock based than any of their later albums. I have only come to know of this album within the last 10-15 years and didn't know that the album actually went as high as to number #1 on the UK albums chart list. One of the band's most famous instrumental arrangements, "Bourée" (by J.S. Bach) is found on an album that points in (too) many directions. The album starts out with "A New Day Yesterday", which clearly is inspired by blues rock by Jimi Hendrix, and continues in folk rock and psychedelic rock compositions blended with classical, celtic folk, and elements of progressive rock. All tracks are credited Ian Anderson.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Joni Mitchell "Song to a Seagull" (1968)

Song to a Seagull [debut]
release date: Mar. 1968
format: digital / vinyl (2023 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,54]
producer: David Crosby
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada

Track highlights: 1. "I Had a King" - 3. "Night in the City" - 5. "Nathan La Franeer" - 6. "Sisotowbell Lane" - 10. "Cactus Tree" (live)

Studio album debut by Canadian folk and singer / songwriter Joni Mitchell [aka Roberta Joan Anderson]. The original vinyl album's A-side is labelled "I Came to the City" (tracks 1-5), and the B-side: "Out of the City and Down to the Seaside" (tracks #6-10). Mitchell wrote all songs herself, and she is only accompanied by few others on just a couple of tracks.
Apparently, the album was released somewhat unnoticed despite the fact that Mitchell was already a familiar name for having written songs for other artist including Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, and Tom Rush, and the album just made it to the US Billboard 200 peaking at number #189.
I do find it more than ordinarily interesting, it may be slightly narrow in its sound, production, reflecting scarse arrangements, but it's definitely a fine album.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

Jethro Tull "This Was" (1968)

This Was [debut]
release date: Oct. 25, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Terry Ellis, Jethro Tull
label: Island Records / Chrysalis (reissue) - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "My Sunday Feeling" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Beggars' Farm" - 9. "A Song for Jeffrey"

Studio album debut by the English quartet Jethro Tull. In retrospect, the band is almost synonymous with Ian Anderson but on this the band was not entirely in the hands of Anderson, as there was no clear leadership yet. The two songwriters of the band were guitarist and vocalist Mick Abrahams and Ian Anderson on flute, piano and vocals. The latter is credited on seven of the album's original 10 compositions, and Abrahams on four. Aside from these two the band consists of Glenn Cornick on bass, and with Clive Bunker on drums. The style is clearly blues rock founded but with influences from jazz, r&b, and folk, which makes it somewhat lacking a direction. Some compositions has a bold Hendrix-inspired blues rock and psychedelic rock style, whereas others are a mix of influences, even with Bob Dylan, The Band, and / or Buffalo Springfield folk styled music, which makes it difficult to consume as one whole album. The jazz element doesn't really help much, and it's rather peculiar as how a track like "Serenade to a Cuckoo", a jazz standard has found it's way to the album.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Burt Bacharach "What's New Pussycat?" (OST) (1965)

Burt Bacharach

What's New Pussycat? (OST) (1965)

[ Main title track featuring Tom Jones from the score (and full debut album) by Burt Bacharach to the movie directed by Clive Donner and Richard Talmadge, written by Woody Allen, and featuring Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole, Capucine, Romy Schneider, Ursula Andress and Woody Allen. The title track has become pseudonymous with Tom Jones. ]

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Ella Fitzgerald "Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas" (1960)

Original cover

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas
release date: 1960
format: cd / vinyl (2017 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Verve / DOL - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Jingle Bells" - 2. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - 3. "The Christmas Song" - 6. "Winter Wonderland" - 8. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" - 9. "White Christmas" - 11. "Frosty, the Snowman"

A Christmas studio album with Ella Fitzgerald released on Verve Records. My cd version is the Verve Master Edition remastered and released in 2002, and my vinyl edition is released on European label DOL with a frequently used alternative cover.
This is entirely Christmas songs but a rather fine collection. The original album contains 12 tracks, the remastered edition: 18 tracks. Normally, I prefer original releases to Expanded, Deluxe Editions, or Bonus tracks editions with new or additional songs, but with the cd issue, it somehow makes sense to have an expanded version 'cause they're are perfectly within the context of the original album, although, 3 of the 6 bonus tracks are basically 'only' alternate versions of the original recordings.

2002 Verve Master Edition		2017 vinyl reissue

Toots & The Maytals "Sweet and Dandy" (1969)

Sweet and Dandy
release date: 1969
format: digital (1998 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Leslie Kong
label: Jet Set Records - nationality: Jamaica

Tracklist: 1. "Monkey Man" (5 / 5) - 2. "Pressure Drop" (5 / 5) - 3. "I Shall Be Free" - 4. "Bla Bla Bla" (4 / 5) - 5. "Just Tell Me" - 6. "We Shall Overcome" - 7. "Sweet & Dandy" - 8. "Scare Him" - 9. "Alidina" (4 / 5) - 10. "I Need Your Love" - 11. "54-46 That's My Number" (4 / 5) - 12. "Oh Yeah"

3rd studio album by The Maytals - the first as Toots & The Maytals, and the first to feature material almost entirely written by vocalist Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert. The album was originally released on Beverley's Records founded and owned by [legendary] Chinese Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, and in 1998 reissued on cd by Jet Set Records.
This album is one of the absolute best ever studio releases of rocksteady and Jamaican ska. "Monkey Man" was a favourite cover song by The Specials and later Amy Winehouse, "Pressure Drop" has been covered by many including Robert Palmer and my personal favourite: The punk reggae version by The Clash. That song is together with the title track "Sweet & Dandy" and "I Need Your Love" music that forecast the genre of reggae.

BEST OF 1962:Jacques Brel "Olympia 61" (1962) (live)

Olympia 61 (live)
release date: 1962
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5]

Track highlights: 2. "Les bourgeois" - 3. "Les paumés du petit matin" - 4. "Les Flamandes" - 5. "La statue" - 7. "Marieke" - 8. "Les biches" - 9. "Madeleine" - 12. "La valse á mille temps" - 12. "Ne me quitte pas" - 14. "Le moribond" - 15. "Quand on n'a que l'amour"

Live album by Jacques Brel released by Philips Records and recorded Oct. 27–29, 1961 at l'Olympia in Paris. The album is a marvelous live recording showcasing the skills of Brel at the peak of his career.

1962 Favourite releases: 1. Jacques Brel Olympia 61 - 2. Chet Baker Chet Is Back! - 3. Dexter Gordon Go

Jacques Brel "Marieke" (1961)

Marieke
release date: 1961
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

5th studio album by Jacques Brel aka "Jacques Brel 5" released on Philips. The album consists of tracks composed by either Brel alone (5 tracks), Brel together with conductor François Rauber (two tracks), or Brel with Gérard Jouannest (8 tracks). The album contains some of his most well-known compositions: "Marieke", "Le moribond", "On n'oublie rien", "Le prochain amour", "Les prénoms de Paris", and "Les singes". The track "Le moribond" was transleated by Rod McKuen and covered by Canadian singer / songwriter Terry Jacks as "Seasons in the Sun" and that version became a big international hit in 1974.

The Highwaymen "Michael" (1961) (single)

Michael, 7'' single

release date: 1961

format: vinyl (67 007)

[single rate: 2 / 5] [2,16]

producer: Don Costa

label: United Artists - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) "Michael" - - B) "Santiano"

Single release by American folk quintet The Highwaymen is a recording of a traditional spiritual, which had already been recorded by several other artists but this version peaked at number #1 on the national Billboard Top 40 singles chart, as it repeated on the UK singles hit list - a triumph they were unable to repeat later on. The title song is also known as "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore".

This record was part of my parents' record collection, and it's single I never really took any pleasure from.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Bill Haley and His Comets "Rock'N'Roll Stage Show Vol. 1" (1956) (ep)

Rock'N'Roll Stage Show Vol. 1, 7'' EP

release date: 1956

format: vinyl (BME 9278)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]

producer: Milt Gabler

label: Decca - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) 1. "Hook, Line and Sinker" - 2. "Rudy's Rock" - - B) 1. "Calling All Comets" - 2. "Rockin' Through the Rye"

EP by Bill Haley and His Comets with four tracks from the band's '56 album Rock'N'Roll Stage Show with which it shares same front cover.

This seven inch comes from my parents' record collection. It's an ep I used to play on a portable turntable when 6-8 years old, and already then, I found it strangely oldish, although, still quite party-like.

This is one of my very first music memories that wasn't purely children's songs.

👉 Another one from that earliest stage.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Pink Floyd "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" (1967)

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn [debut]
release date: Aug. 5, 1967
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Norman Smith
label: EMI Columbia - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Astronomy Domine" - 2. "Lucifer Sam" - 4. "Flaming" - 7. "Interstellar Overdrive" - 8. "The Gnome" - 10. "Scarecrow" - 11. "Bike"

Studio debut album by Pink Floyd formed and consisting of Syd Barrett on lead guitar and vocals, Roger Waters on bass and vocals, Richard Wright on organ, piano, and vocals, and with Nick Mason on drums and percussion. 8 out of 11 tracks here are composed and written solely by Syd Barrett, which basically was the case at the early stage of the band at a time when psychedelic rock was the predominant style of the band. The remaining tracks are credited the band and Waters (#6). The album is enlisted in a number of best of albums, and is alongside the bands second album A Saucerful of Secrets (1968) lauded for being the the first real psychedelic rock albums where Pink Floyd takes experimental rock to new territories. The US version of the album also included the band's first huge single success "See Emily Play", although, that track seems very much out of sync with the rest of the compositions except perhaps from "The Gnome". Today, the album is music history. I don't find it great nor very interesting but in a musical perspective, the album is outstandingly original, and therefore enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". Needles to say, the album has been reissued in a number of editions - most noteworthy, I recon, is the "40th Anniversary Edition", which comes in a 2 and 3-disc version of the album with disc 1 containing the mono mix and with disc 2 containing a stereo version of the original European edition of the album. The bonus disc edition (disc 3) also contains the band's first three singles alongside several outtakes.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone Album Guide, Q Magazine 5 / 5, The Daily Telegraph 4 / 5 stars ]

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40th Anniversary Edition

Charles Mingus "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady" (1963)

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
release date: Jul. 1963
format: cd (1995 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Bob Thiele
label: Impulse! - nationality: USA

[ full album ]

Studio album by Charles Mingus originally released on Impulse!
This is a great album of highly original jazz by one of the most significant composers of the genre. The style here is avant-garde jazz with big band elements. The original vinyl version contains three tracks on the vinyl A-side and one track (in three parts) with the title(s): "Trio and Group Dancers (Stop! Look! And Sing Songs of Revolutions!) / Single Solos and Group Dance (Saint and Sinner Join in Merriment on Battle Front) / Group and Solo Dance (Of Love, Pain, and Passioned Revolt, Then Farewell, My Beloved, 'Til It's Freedom Day)" on the B-side.
The album is the only Mingus album to be enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

1963 Favourite releases: 1. The Beatles Please Please Me - 2. Charles Mingus The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - 3. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas Heat Wave