'Round Midnight: The Complete Blue Note Singles 1947-1952 [2 CD];

Thelonious Monk's first recordings in the late 1940s were for Blue Note Records and they signaled a new kind of Blue Note as the label was evolving from an outlet for boogie woogie and old time jazz into a flag-waver for hard bop. These recordings, which include the first version of Monk's classic composition, 'Round Midnight' (originally known as 'Round About Midnight'), were released on a series of fifteen 78 RPM singles. Later, Monk's sessions were re-compiled on 10-inch and 12-inch LPs, and this collection will present for the first time Monk's Blue Note recordings in their original 78 RPM sequence of release, adding as bonus tracks the alternate takes that appeared on later LP and CD releases. In addition, 'Round Midnight includes nine tracks not available on any current reissues of Monk's albums.