01Biography
Early career shaping West Coast jazz sound
Chet Baker began his career in the late 1940s, after military service including a stint in the 2980 Army Band stationed in Berlin where exposure to bebop influenced his style deeply.
Artist profile · 04/07/2026
Chet Baker
Chet Baker, born in 1929 in Yale, Oklahoma, emerged as an influential American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. His style is deeply associated with West Coast jazz and cool jazz movements of the 1950s and beyond.
- 20
- Albums on Vinyles.com
- 1.9M
- Last.fm listeners
- 54M
- Last.fm plays
About
Chet Baker, West Coast jazz trumpet and vocal ballads from 1950s America.
50 vinyls spanning 1950s to 1970s, with key pressings from Verve, Pacific Jazz, and Jazzland labels.
Chesney Henry Baker Jr. developed his craft starting in the late 1940s, influenced by bebop pioneers and West Coast jazz innovators. Baker combined delicate trumpet playing with understated vocal performances, creating a signature sound that balances melancholic lyricism with bebop sophistication.
He recorded prolifically from the early 1950s to the late 1970s, producing numerous studio albums including collaborations with Gerry Mulligan and Bill Evans. His discography spans label releases such as Pacific Jazz, Verve, and Riverside Records. Pressings of his albums appear in various formats, with originals highly sought by collectors.
Discography
Chet Baker discography
Studio albums, live records, compilations and radio recordings. Each album groups all its editions.
Data provided by Discogs
Listen
Signature songs
- 01
My Funny ValentineCarnegie Hall Concert Volume 1 · 1975 - 02
I Fall in Love Too Easily - 03That Old Feeling
- 04It's Always You - Vocal Version
- 05But Not For Me - Vocal Version
- 06I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes) - Vocal Version
- 07Let's Get Lost
- 08Look for the Silver Lining
Essentials
3 Chet Baker albums you need to own
Our picks, approved by the editors.
#1 · 1960A cool jazz hallmark with 10 tracks featuring standards like 'I Should Care' and the title track ‘Angel Eyes’, recorded in 1960 and released on Celson label.
10 tracksMono1960 releaseItalian pressing available
#2 · 1957A 1957 album blending bop and cool jazz, released on World Pacific Records with a classic 10 track lineup including 'A Foggy Day' and 'Phil's Blues'.
10 tracksMono1957 original pressingWorld Pacific label
#3 · 1970A 1970 fusion album on Verve Records mixing jazz, soft rock, and easy listening with 10 tracks including covers of popular songs like 'Sugar, Sugar' and 'The Letter'.
10 tracksStereo1970 Verve releaseMultiple pressings known
Go further
Artists similar to Chet Baker
Artists who share part of Chet Baker's musical DNA.
B-side
B-side: the hidden stories of Chet Baker
Studio secrets, tour stories and B-sides worth the whole album.
02Collaboration
Pianoless quartet with Gerry Mulligan at The Haig
In 1952, Baker formed a groundbreaking pianoless quartet with saxophonist Gerry Mulligan which performed weekly at The Haig club in Hollywood, gaining rapid popularity for their unique sound.
03Album
"Angel Eyes" released in 1960
The album 'Angel Eyes', recorded and released in 1960, includes standards like 'Good-Bye' and 'Autumn in New York', showcasing Baker’s cool jazz trumpet and vocal style.
04Vinyl Collecting
Original US pressing of "Angel Eyes" LP
The original US pressing of 'Angel Eyes' on Jazzland from 1960 offers a sought-after stereo version, with collectors interested in its 3.5:1 want/have sales ratio and several copies still available.
"His virtuosity is more magical than technical, demanding deep musical service from his collaborators."— Riccardo del Fra
Chet Baker CDs
See allNew The Collection
Chet Baker
Messes / Requiems / PassionsMusique Classique
2025-11-13BLUE NOTEFrom$9.94
1 offerStraight From The Heart - Last Concert, Volume 2
Chet Baker
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2025-05-01From$43.10
1 offerMy Favorite Songs : The Last Great Concert Volume 1
Chet Baker
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2025-05-01The Complete Timeless Albums Collection
Chet Baker
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2025-02-01Timeless RecordsLive In Japan 1986 Sendai Volume 2
Chet Baker
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2025-01-01Solid RecordsFrom$36.45
1 offerLive In Japan 1986 Sendai Volume 1
Chet Baker
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2024-12-01Solid RecordsChet Baker - & Jack Sheldon. Best Of Friends: The Lost Studio Album
Chet Baker
Jazz/Blues
2024-04-26ELEMENTAL MUSICBorn To Be Blue - The Music of His Life (Essential Jazz Classic Edition)
Chet Baker
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2022-07-08INTERMUSICThe thrill is gone
Chet Baker
Jazz contemporain / CoolJazz/Blues
2018-05-11Le Chant du MondeFrom$34.14
1 offer
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FAQ
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Who was Chet Baker and what style did he play?
Chet Baker was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist known for cool and West Coast jazz styles, blending lyricism with bebop influences.
What are key albums by Chet Baker to start with on vinyl?
Essential start points include 'Angel Eyes' (1960), 'Big Band' (1957), and 'Blood, Chet And Tears' (1970) for their signature sound and vinyl availability.
Which labels commonly released Chet Baker’s albums on vinyl?
His albums were frequently released on Pacific Jazz, Verve, Riverside, and Jazzland among others.
Are there notable pressings of Chet Baker's vinyl records to look for?
Pressings of 'Angel Eyes' on Jazzland (US stereo, 1960) and 'Blood, Chet And Tears' on Verve (1970) are notable for collectors.
How did Chet Baker’s style influence jazz trumpet playing?
Baker popularized a delicate, lyrical trumpet approach emphasizing ballad interpretation and mood, differing from more technical bebop players.
What caused the decline in Chet Baker's career in the 1960s?
His struggles with heroin addiction and legal troubles, including arrests and imprisonments in Europe, disrupted his music career through the 1960s.
How did Chet Baker’s later years affect the quality of his vinyl recordings?
Despite hardships, Baker recorded extensively in the 1970s with a mature, sometimes more fragile tone captured on numerous European and American label vinyl pressings.
Where can collectors find a variety of Chet Baker vinyl pressings?
Collectors can find pressings from different countries including the US, Italy, Germany, and more with original and reissue versions on platforms specializing in jazz vinyl.
Transparency
Sources & method
This profile is compiled by the vinyles.com editors from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discography data from MusicBrainz (dates, country, active years).
- Tracklists, covers and genres from Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists from Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editors.
Last updated: 04/07/2026