#1 · 1959
A breakthrough Atlantic album that introduced Coleman's free jazz approach through six tracks featuring unconventional harmony.
6 tracksStereoAtlantic labelMultiple vinyl versions
Artist page · 04/07/2026
Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman (1930-2015), American multi-instrumentalist and composer, pioneered free jazz from the late 1950s, influencing avant-garde jazz with innovative harmonic and rhythmic concepts.
20Albums on Vinyles.com
1561Discogs releases
376kLast.fm listeners
About
Ornette Coleman, American free jazz innovator reshaping jazz harmony and form.
32 vinyl releases tracked; key originals from late 50s to early 70s demand collecting.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Ornette Coleman studied alto and tenor saxophones before developing a style noted for its harmonic freedom and fluctuating rhythms. Early recordings for Contemporary Records in the late 1950s laid the groundwork for his Atlantic albums like The Shape Of Jazz To Come and Change Of The Century. His 1961 album Free Jazz, featuring dual quartets, became a landmark of collective improvisation. Coleman also played trumpet and violin and composed for orchestral ensembles, notably the London Symphony Orchestra on Skies Of America. His vinyl catalog spans 32 releases with reissues and original pressings available worldwide.
The vinyl market reveals enduring interest in key albums, with rarities including original mono pressing…
Discography
Ornette Coleman — Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
Harmolodic · 1995Tone Dialing
Studio
Milan · 1992Naked Lunch
Studio
Repertoire Records · 1990Jazzbühne Berlin '88
Studio
Portrait · 1988Virgin Beauty
Studio
Geffen Records · 1986Song X
Studio
Caravan Of Dreams Productions · 1986Prime Design / Time Design
Studio
Caravan Of Dreams Productions · 1985Opening The Caravan Of Dreams
Studio
Antilles · 1982Of Human Feelings
Studio
Columbia · 1982Broken Shadows
Studio
IRI · 1979Who's Crazy? 1 - La Clef Des Champs 1
Studio
Atmosphere · 1979Who's Crazy 2? - La Clef Des Champs 2
Studio
Artists House · 1979Soapsuds, Soapsuds
Studio
Artists House · 1978Body Meta
Studio
Trio Records · 1977Paris Concert
Studio
Horizon · 1977Dancing In Your Head
Studio
Atlantic · 1975To Whom Who Keeps A Record
Studio
Freedom · 1972In Europe Volume 2
Studio
Columbia · 1972Skies Of America
Studio
Columbia · 1972Science Fiction
Studio
Impulse! · 1972Crisis
Studio
Blue Note · 1971Love Call
Studio
Atlantic · 1971Twins
Studio
Flying Dutchman · 1970Friends And Neighbors - Ornette Live At Prince Street
Live
Atlantic · 1970The Art Of The Improvisers
Studio
Impulse! · 1969Ornette At 12
Studio
Blue Note · 1968New York Is Now!
Studio
RCA Victor · 1967The Music Of Ornette Coleman
Studio
International Polydor Production · 1967An Evening With Ornette Coleman
Studio
CBS · 1966Chappaqua Suite
Studio
Blue Note · 1966The Empty Foxhole
Studio
ESP-Disk' · 1965Town Hall • 1962
Studio
Atlantic · 1962Ornette On Tenor
Studio
Atlantic · 1961This Is Our Music
Studio
Atlantic · 1961Jazz Abstractions
Studio
Atlantic · 1961Free Jazz
Studio
Atlantic · 1960Change Of The Century
Studio
Atlantic · 1959The Shape Of Jazz To Come
Studio
Contemporary Records · 1959Tomorrow Is The Question!
Studio
Contemporary Records · 1958Something Else!!!!
Studio
Black Lion Records · An Evening With Ornette Coleman «1»
Studio
Studio album
Live / EP
Playlist
Signature tracks
The tracks that sum up Ornette Coleman's career.
01
Lonely Woman
The Shape Of Jazz To Come · 1959
02
Congeniality
The Shape Of Jazz To Come · 1959
03
Peace
The Shape Of Jazz To Come · 1959
04
Eventually
The Shape Of Jazz To Come · 1959
05
Focus on Sanity
The Shape Of Jazz To Come · 1959
06
Chronology
The Shape Of Jazz To Come · 1959
07
What Reason Could I Give
·
08
Law Years
·
The essentials
The 3 Ornette Coleman albums you absolutely need
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
#2 · 1961
A seminal double quartet improvisation album, capturing the spirit of avant-garde collective improvisation in two side-long parts.
2 tracksMonoAtlantic labelOriginal pressings highly sought
#3 · 1960
Key Atlantic album preceding Free Jazz, showcasing Coleman's pioneering free jazz compositional style across seven tracks.
7 tracksMonoAtlantic labelMultiple pressings worldwide
Go further
Artists similar to Ornette Coleman
Artists who share part of Ornette Coleman'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.
Skies Of America
Market position
i
Min price 6 €Max price 17 €
Average price
16,19 €
Only 52 copies for sale on Discogs
259 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Free Jazz
Market position
i
Min price 53 €Max price 179 €
Average price
168,61 €
Only 19 copies for sale on Discogs
1 032 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
This Is Our Music
Market position
i
Min price 30 €Max price 304 €
Average price
49,02 €
Only 9 copies for sale on Discogs
498 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Change Of The Century
Market position
i
Min price 30 €Max price 80 €
Average price
55,20 €
Only 18 copies for sale on Discogs
594 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
The Shape Of Jazz To Come
Market position
i
Min price 23 €Max price 130 €
Average price
117,20 €
Only 15 copies for sale on Discogs
2 547 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Something Else!!!!
Market position
i
Min price 70 €Max price 87 €
Average price
82,55 €
Only 24 copies for sale on Discogs
706 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Notable pressings & editions
Face B
Side B: the hidden stories of Ornette Coleman
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
Coleman developed a style that combined harmonic freedom with fluctuating tempos, bordering on atonality.— Ornette Coleman's musical approach
01Recording
Free Jazz album's revolutionary stereo double quartet format
The 1961 album "Free Jazz" featured two quartets playing simultaneously on separate stereo channels, a pioneering approach to collective improvisation in avant-garde jazz.
02Composition
Skies Of America: orchestral work with London Symphony Orchestra
In 1972 Ornette Coleman composed "Skies Of America," performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, blending free jazz with orchestral music using conceptual 'harmolodic' techniques.
03Debut
Something Else!!!! introduction on Contemporary label
Coleman's debut album "Something Else!!!!" was recorded in 1958 for Contemporary Records, showcasing early hints of his innovative style alongside Don Cherry and other collaborators.
04Collaborations
Working with Don Cherry and Charlie Haden on Atlantic releases
Ornette Coleman recorded pivotal albums including "The Shape Of Jazz To Come" and "Change Of The Century" with Don Cherry and bassist Charlie Haden for Atlantic Records around 1959-1960.
Records by Ornette Coleman
See all
FAQ
FAQ: Ornette Coleman on physical formats
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
What genre is Ornette Coleman's music?
Ornette Coleman's music is primarily free jazz, a form of avant-garde jazz emphasizing improvisation and harmonic freedom.
Which Ornette Coleman albums are essential for vinyl collectors?
Key albums for vinyl collectors include "The Shape Of Jazz To Come," "Free Jazz," and "Change Of The Century," with original pressings highly valued.
When were Ornette Coleman's most influential albums released?
His most influential albums were released between 1958 and 1961, ushering in the free jazz movement.
Are there different pressings of "Free Jazz" on vinyl?
Yes, "Free Jazz" was originally issued in mono and stereo pressings and several reissues, with originals commanding premium prices.
Is "Skies Of America" available on vinyl and what makes it unique?
"Skies Of America" is available on vinyl and features orchestral works performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, blending jazz with symphonic music.
Where can original Ornette Coleman vinyls be found in France?
Original vinyls, including "This Is Our Music" mono pressings, are available through select French vinyl dealers and collectors.
How has Ornette Coleman's music influenced jazz evolution?
His approach to harmony and improvisation laid the foundation for free jazz and influenced many avant-garde jazz musicians.
What formats did Ornette Coleman vinyl releases come in?
Ornette Coleman's releases have appeared mainly as LP albums, including mono and stereo versions, limited editions, and colored vinyls.
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