#1 · 1961
A seven-track 1961 mono LP, showcasing Lester's smooth and inventive bebop tenor sax.
7 tracksMonoCharlie Parker Records labelMultiple Japanese and US pressings
Artist page · 04/07/2026
Lester Young
Lester Young (1909–1959), American saxophonist and composer from Mississippi, revolutionized jazz with his silky tenor sax style blending bebop and swing during the mid-20th century.
5Albums on Vinyles.com
1655Discogs releases
612kLast.fm listeners
About
Lester Young, The Prez’s smooth tenor sax shaping bebop and cool jazz sounds.
Five notable vinyl albums including rare original French 1959 pressing selling up to €800.
Lester Young, nicknamed "Prez," emerged from Woodville, Mississippi, and became a defining tenor saxophonist in jazz history. His playing offered an airy counterpoint to the dominant, aggressive saxophone style of the 1930s, contributing significantly to bebop and later cool jazz movements.
Young’s career included influential collaborations with Count Basie, Billie Holiday, and Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic. Despite personal struggles, his recorded legacy remains a key reference for jazz vinyl collectors, with editions issued by labels such as BMG, Verve, Barclay, and Decca, spanning mono, stereo, and reissues.
Discography
Lester Young — Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
Prestige Records Ltd. · 1997Tenor King
Studio
Pablo Records · 1997Jazz At The Philharmonic-Frankfurt 1952
Studio
Verve Records · 1985Carnegie Blues
Studio
Verve Records · 1983The Trumpet Battle 1952
Studio
Charlie Parker Records · 1981Live At The Savoy Ballroom
Live
Pablo Live · 1981"Pres" Vol. III
Studio
Pablo Live · 1981Pres Vol. IV
Studio
Pablo Live · 1980"Prez" Vol. II
Studio
Pablo Live · 1980"Pres" – In Washington, D.C. 1956
Studio
Musidisc · 1978Vol. 3 - Live Recording - 1949 / Royal Roost New-York City
Studio
Savoy Records · 1977Pres Lives!
Studio
Locomotive · 1977Grand Concert Gravé En 1945
Studio
Swing Treasury · 1974Count Basie Featuring Lester Young
Studio
Jazz Archives · 1974Jammin With Lester
Studio
IAJRC · 1973Battle Of Tenor Saxes
Studio
Crown Records · 1964Nat King Cole And Lester Young
Studio
Imperial · 1962A Date With Greatness
Studio
Charlie Parker Records · 1961An Historical Meeting At The Summit
Studio
Charlie Parker Records · 1961Just You, Just Me
Studio
Charlie Parker Records · 1961"Pres"
Studio
Barclay · 1959Le Dernier Message De Lester Young
Studio
Verve Records · 1958Going For Myself...
Studio
Verve Records · 1958Laughin' To Keep From Cryin'
Studio
Verve Records · 1957Pres And Teddy
Studio
Norgran Records · 1956Pres
Studio
Aladdin · 1956And His Tenor Sax Vol. 2
Studio
Norgran Records · 1956Pres & Sweets
Studio
Norgran Records · 1954The President
Studio
Norgran Records · 1954Lester Young With The Oscar Peterson Trio (#2)
Studio
Aladdin · 1951Battle Of The Saxes
Studio
Philo Recordings · 1945King Cole, Lester Young, Red Callender Trio
Studio
Ambrosia · The President Volume Six Of Six
Studio
VSP · Nat Cole* - Buddy Rich - Giants 3
Studio
AJ Records · Archives Of Jazz Vol-4 Lester Young...Again
Studio
Ambrosia · The President Volume One Of Six
Studio
Ambrosia · The President Volume Five Of Six
Studio
Ambrosia · The President Volume Four Of Six
Studio
Ambrosia · The President Volume Two Of Six
Studio
Ambrosia · The President Volume Three Of Six
Studio
ESP-Disk' · Newly Discovered Performances, Vol.1
Studio
Studio album
Live / EP
Playlist
Signature tracks
The tracks that sum up Lester Young's career.
01
There Will Never Be Another You
·
02
I Can't Get Started
·
03
These Foolish Things
Just You, Just Me · 1961
04
These Foolish Things - Remastered 1995
·
05
Stardust
·
06
Blue Lester
·
07
Almost Like Being In Love
Le Dernier Message De Lester Young · 1959
08
On The Sunny Side Of The Street
Tenor King · 1997
The essentials
The 3 Lester Young albums you absolutely need
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
#2 · 1959
Rare 1959 French original pressing on Barclay label, highly sought after by collectors for its full 12-track session.
12 tracksMonoBarclay labelOnly 2 original copies on sale
#3 · 1958
An energetic 1958 Verve stereo album featuring 5 tracks, including the tribute "Salute To Benny."
5 tracksStereoVerve RecordsMultiple US pressings
Go further
Artists similar to Lester Young
Artists who share part of Lester Young's musical DNA.
Collectors
For vinyl die-hards
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
Market values (source: Discogs)
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
Just You, Just Me
Market position
i
Min price 2 €Max price 4 €
Average price
2,83 €
Only 47 copies for sale on Discogs
24 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Le Dernier Message De Lester Young
Market position
i
Min price 3 €Max price 800 €
Average price
8,86 €
Only 22 copies for sale on Discogs
188 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Laughin' To Keep From Cryin'
Market position
i
Min price 7 €Max price 22 €
Average price
15,82 €
Only 30 copies for sale on Discogs
106 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Carnegie Blues
Market position
i
Min price 2 €Max price 12 €
Average price
11,59 €
Only 62 copies for sale on Discogs
18 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Notable pressings & editions
Face B
Side B: the hidden stories of Lester Young
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
He was known for never repeating a solo, a jazz ideal unparalleled at the time.— Jazz historians
01Biographical
Born in Woodville, Mississippi, 1909
Lester Willis Young was born on August 27, 1909, in Woodville and raised in a musical family with his father directing a minstrel band, eventually moving to New Orleans and Minneapolis during childhood.
02Collaborations
Formed a significant musical friendship with Billie Holiday
In the late 1930s and 1940s, Young developed a close friendship with singer Billie Holiday, sharing a notable musical rapport that influenced many recordings and live performances together.
03Recording
Recorded 'DB Blues' in 1945 reflecting his military prison experience
Following imprisonment for insubordination and narcotics during WWII military service, Young wrote "DB Blues (Detention Barracks Blues)" revealing his struggles and shaping his art post-war.
04Legacy
Influenced the cool jazz movement
Young’s light, fluid tenor sax contrasted with harsher jazz styles, inspiring the 1950s cool jazz sound promoted by figures like Miles Davis.
Records by Lester Young
See all
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FAQ
FAQ: Lester Young on physical formats
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Who was Lester Young and why is he called 'Prez'?
Lester Young was an American jazz saxophonist nicknamed "Prez" by Billie Holiday, reflecting his status as a leading tenor sax player.
What genre of music did Lester Young mainly play?
He was primarily a jazz musician associated with bebop and swing, influencing cool jazz as well.
What are Lester Young's essential vinyl albums to collect?
Key albums include "Just You, Just Me" (1961), "Le Dernier Message De Lester Young" (1959, French pressing), and "Laughin' To Keep From Cryin'" (1958).
Are original pressings of Lester Young’s LPs valuable?
Yes, especially the 1959 French original pressing of "Le Dernier Message De Lester Young" which can sell around €800.
Did Lester Young’s recordings get reissued on vinyl?
Many of his recordings have seen various mono and stereo reissues on labels like Verve, Barclay, and BMG.
Where was Lester Young born and where did he spend his early years?
He was born in Woodville, Mississippi, and grew up partly in New Orleans and Minneapolis.
How does Lester Young's music relate to French vinyl collectors?
His 1959 original album "Le Dernier Message De Lester Young" pressed in France is a rare collector’s item highly sought after by French audiophiles.
What should I look for when buying a Lester Young LP in France?
Look for original Barclay Mono pressings, such as the 1959 "Le Dernier Message De Lester Young," which have high collector interest and limited availability.
Transparency
Sources & method
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
- Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 04/07/2026