Thelonious Monk 1956 US 1st Press Prestige LP7053 VG/VG

THELONIOUS MONK - THELONIOUS MONK

Immerse yourself in the unfiltered genius of modern jazz history with the rare 1956 US original first pressing of Thelonious Monk on Prestige Records (LP 7053). This monumental mono artifact compiles Monk’s foundational 1953 and 1954 quintet sessions, beautifully remastered for full-length vinyl by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder. Backed by an all-star vanguard of bebop giants—including Sonny Rollins, Frank Foster, and the thunderous polyrhythms of Art Blakey—the album features definitive, definitive versions of Monk originals like "We See," "Locomotive," and "Hackensack." Verified by the highly coveted 446 West 50th Street New York label address and the stamped RVG/Abbey Record Manufacturing marks in the dead wax, this exquisite, first-state heavy wax pressing is a museum-grade investment piece for serious jazz purists and elite Blue Note/Prestige collectors worldwide.

1956 original first pressing, released in US, by Prestige, catalog # LP 7053.  Compilation album with Frank Foster, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Julius Watkins (labels say "Thelonious Monk Quintets").  Remastered and Mono release.

Sleeve grades VG.  Tip-on cardboard cover, laminated on front with paste-on back cover.  Excellent finish/color/gloss on front but shows some aging discoloration and a crease in the upper left corner.  Corners are a bit rounded withage.  Spine and seams are intact but edgewear is present.  There's a "chip tear" along the open edge probably from people pulling the record out over and over the past 70 years.  Back cover very clean but there's a tiny tear off of the lower left corner paste-on cover sheet and a small ink mark on the lower right corner.  No original inner sleeve; ships in audiophile sleeve.

Vinyl grades VG.  Fantastic playing disc, plays VG+ much of the time.  Has been ultrasonically cleaned.  There are some pops and static/crackle present from time to time; they stay behind the music.   The vinyl shows some light scratches, light surface marks and plenty of hairlines; nothing that seems to materially impact the playback.