Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophone ; variously with Earl Coleman, vocals ; John Coltrane, tenor saxophone ; Kenny Dorham, Clifford Brown, trumpet ; Kenny Drew, Miles Davis, Elmo Hope, Thelonious Monk, Ray Bryant, Richie Powell, Red Garland, Tommy Flanagan, Wade Legge, piano ; Percy Heath, Tommy Potter, George Morrow, Paul Chambers, Doug Watkins, bass ; Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Art Taylor, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, drums ; Modern Jazz Quartet (John Lewis, piano ; Milt Jackson, vibes ; Percy Heath, bass ; Kenny Clarke, drums)
Compact discs.
Combined reissue of: Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Moving out, Work time, Rollins plays for Bird, Saxophone colossus, Sonny boy, Sonny Rollins plus 4, Tenor madness, Tour de force.
Title from container.
Disc 1: tracks 1-2, originally from Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins (1951); tracks 3-15, originally from Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet (1953). Disc 2: tracks 1-5, originally from Moving Out (1954); tracks 6-10, originally from Work time (1955). Disc 3: tracks 1-9, originally from Rollins plays for Bird (1956); tracks 10-14, originally from Saxophone colossus (1956). Disc 4: tracks 1-5, originally from Sonny Boy (1956); tracks 6-10, originally from Sonny Rollins plus 4 (1956). Disc 5: tracks 1-5, originally from Tenor madness (1956); tracks 6-7, originally from Tour de force (1956).
Recorded 1951-1956.
Disc 1. The way you look tonight (5:15) -- I want to be happy (7:44) -- The stopper (3:00) -- Almost like being in love (3:26) -- No Moe (3:32) -- In a sentimental mood (3:21) -- Scoops (2:16) -- With a song in my heart (3:09) -- Newk's fadeaway (3:15) -- Time on my hands (2:43) -- This love of mine (2:27) -- Shadrack (2:35) -- On a slow boat to China (2:41) -- Mambo bounce (2:25) -- I know (2:32)
Disc 2. Moving out (4:27) -- Swingin' for Bumsy (5:45) -- Silk 'n' satin (3:58) -- Solid (6:25) -- More than you know (10:47) -- There's no business like show business (6:18) -- Paradox (4:56) -- Raincheck (5:58) -- There are such things (9:28) -- It's all right with me (6:06)
Disc 3. I remember you (3:07) -- My melancholy baby (2:45) -- Old folks (2:53) -- They can't take that away from me (3:00) -- Just friends (2:48) -- My little suede shoes (2:48) -- Star eyes (9:06) -- I've grown accustomed to your face (4:50) -- Kids know (11:35) -- St. Thomas (6:43) -- You don't know what love is (6:24) -- Strode rode (5:11) -- Moritat (10:03) -- Blue seven (11:08)
Disc 4. Ee-ah (6:55) -- B. Quick (9:13) -- B. Swift (5:18) -- The house I live in (9:24) -- Sonny boy (8:21) -- Valse hot (8:35) -- Kiss and run (7:07) -- I feel a song comin' on (5:13) -- Count your blessings instead of sheep (2:28) -- Pent-up house (8:50)
Disc 5. Tenor madness (12:13) -- When your lover has gone (6:10) -- Paul's pal (5:09) -- My reverie (6:05) -- The most beautiful girl in the world (5:33) -- Two different worlds (7:37) -- My ideal (4:20)