Favorite single Blue Note tracks

[Larry Kart]

Perhaps this has been asked before, but last night while listening to the title track of Louis Smith's "Smithville," which I love for its overall groove and intensity and in particular for the work of Paul Chambers and Sonny Clark, I thought to ask which Blue Note tracks tracks are our favorites along those somewhat amorphous groove/intensity lines. A few nominees came to mind immediately -- "Blue Train," the title track of "Sonny Clark's "Cool Struttin,' "Autumn Leaves" from Cannonball Adderly's "Something Else" -- and there I ground to a halt and/or thought I should just open the floor to others.

BTW, if one doesn't know "Smithville" in general and its title track in particular, don't hesitate. One could build a mountain on top of Chamber's guttural opening "walk," and Clark's comping and subsequent solo are as blues drenched as anything this side of Jimmy Yancey. I have an image of Alfred Lion listening to Clark's playing in the control booth and nodding in approval.

[ghost of miles]

Great topic, Larry.  The first track that came to my mind involves Sonny Clark as well:

 

[soulpope]

 

[felser]

 

[mikeweil]

 

 

The original version with the musical saw!

[HutchFan]

1 hour ago, mikeweil said:

 

 

 

Mike -- When I read Larry's question, I immediately thought of two artists:  Hank Mobley and Horace Silver.

I guess we're on the same page.  

[JSngry]

There's this

and then there's everything else.

For so many reasons.

[GA Russell]

I'm going to think about which Monk recording.  But this is my favorite composition.

 

[mjzee]

So many...I can't pare them down.  But try these:

 

 

 

[mikeweil]

Here's another one I really like - but I think the YouTube version is playing a tad too fast.

 

[Chuck Nessa]

Speaking of BN single tracks - not counting 78s, here are my BN singles:

1643 Jimmy Smith

1644 Jimmy Smith

1652 Jimmy Smith

1659 Thad Jones

1674 Kenny Burrell

1723 The Three Sounds

1731 Sonny Clark

1732 Bennie Green

1740 Horace Silver

1741 Horace Silver

1764 Donald Byrd

1769 Jimmy Smith-Kenny Burrell

1770 Horace Parlan

1809 Freddie Hubbard

1843 Fred Jackson

1901 Joe Henderson

1914 Freddie Roach

1951 Lee Morgan

1952 Eddie Gale

[JSngry]

2 minutes ago, Chuck Nessa said:

1952 Eddie Gale

OMG!

 

[Larry Kart]

Dexter Gordon -- "Cheesecake"

 

Jackie McLean -- "Hip Strut"
 

 

[Brad]

53 minutes ago, JSngry said:

There's this

and then there's everything else.

For so many reasons.

One of my early favorites but my first BN was Moanin’ so I will go with that.

 

Edited April 24, 2020 by Brad

[Milestones]

Can we do a "Top 10" at least?

 

[danasgoodstuff]

Groove, intensity, and Sonny Clark!

[Larry Kart]

Bud Powell "Sub City" (Philly Joe's may be the best brush solo ever)
 

 

Jackie McLean/Lee Morgan "Bluesanova" (terrific Billy Higgins here)

 

 

[danasgoodstuff]

 

More Blue Note goodness, again not issued initially but considered IIRC, again with Stanley and Sonny Clark.

[Larry Kart]

Grachan Moncour "Gnostic"

 

Tyrone Washington "Yearning for Love"

 

 

[danasgoodstuff]

 

Groove, intensely blue, and Sonny Clark again.  They issued this one at the time and it must've done ok 'cause he got two more.  

[soulpope]

 

[David Ayers]

Not a true Blue Note of course, but...

 

 

[Milestones]

Today I'll say "Passion Dance" and for that matter the rest of the tracks on this classic.  It's hard to imagine more powerful statements from key Blue Note players McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, and Elvin Jones.

 

 

Edited April 24, 2020 by Milestones

[Peter Friedman]

The tune from this album - "Base On Balls"

Begins with slow walking bass from Doug Watkins that leads into a very bluesy solo by Horace Silver and then onto a marvelous Hank Mobley solo. I have loved this track ever since I first bought the LP back in the 50's.

[Joe]

Hip joy.