''The Unique Thelonious Monk'' is a 1956 album by

Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...

. It was his second for

Riverside Records Riverside Records was an American jazz record company and label. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer, Jr, under his firm Bill Grauer Productions in 1953, the label played an important role in the jazz record industry for a decade. Riverside ...

, and, like his Riverside debut, is made up of standards. It was a continuation of Riverside's strategy to broaden consumer interest in Monk by having him record

cover versions In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

of well-known material which, Riverside hoped, would help to break down the prevailing perception that Monk's original music was "too difficult" for mass-market acceptance. Riverside, at the time of the first re-issue, printed copies of the stamp that was featured on the cover art. Some of these made their way through the

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...

, which issued a restraining order against the company. Monk was subsequently featured on a genuine stamp, which was issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 1995.

Track listing

Side One #"

Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)" is a song composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Gus Kahn. It was introduced in 1929 by Ruby Keeler (as Dixie Dugan) in Florenz Ziegfeld's musical ''Show Girl''. The stage performances were ...

" (George & Ira Gershwin, Gus Kahn) – 3:11 #"

Memories of You "Memories of You" is a popular song about nostalgia with lyrics written by Andy Razaf and music composed by Eubie Blake and published in 1930. Song history The song was introduced by singer Minto Cato in the Broadway show '' Lew Leslie's Blackbi ...

" (Eubie Blake, Andy Razaf) – 4:15 #" Honeysuckle Rose" (Fats Waller, Andy Razaf) – 5:32 #"

Darn That Dream "Darn That Dream" is a popular song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Eddie DeLange. It was published in 1939 and ranked No. 1 in 1940 when a recording was released by Benny Goodman in an arrangement by Eddie Sauter with Mildred Bailey ...

" (Eddie DeLange, James Van Heusen) – 6:30 Side Two #" Tea for Two" (Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar) – 5:52 #"

You Are Too Beautiful You Are Too Beautiful is a 1932 song written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1933 film ''Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (film), Hallelujah, I'm a Bum'', where it was sung by Al Jolson. It became a pop and jazz standard in the 1940s, with a notabl ...

" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 4:53 #"

Just You, Just Me "Just You, Just Me" is a song from the 1929 musical film ''Marianne'', composed by Jesse Greer with lyrics by Raymond Klages. It was introduced by Marion Davies and Lawrence Gray. The song has had many revisions after its first appearance and has b ...

" (Jesse Greer, Raymond Klages) – 7:59

Personnel

– piano * Art Blakey – drums (except for track 2) *

Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford (September 30, 1922 – September 8, 1960) was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer. He was one of the earliest musicians to work in the bebop idiom. Biography Pettiford was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United ...

– bass (except for track 2)

References

1956 albums Thelonious Monk albums Riverside Records albums Albums produced by Orrin Keepnews Albums recorded at Van Gelder Studio {{1950s-jazz-album-stub