Artist page · 04/07/2026

Sonny Clark

HerminieBorn in 1931Bebop5 vinyl albums
Sonny Clark, born in 1931 in Herminie, Pennsylvania, was a jazz pianist specializing in hard bop and bebop styles. His career flourished in the 1950s and early 1960s with recordings for Blue Note Records. Clark passed away prematurely in 1963 in New York.
Explore the discography The 3 must-haves
5Albums on Vinyles.com
545Discogs releases
310kLast.fm listeners

About

Seven key LPs including ‘Cool Struttin''; US mono originals fetch premium prices.

Sonny Clark's discography includes seven main vinyl releases spanning bebop, hard bop, and cool jazz. Known for his distinctive rhythmic drive and melodic sense, Clark's work primarily appears on Blue Note, the iconic jazz label. Collectors seek original US mono pressings, such as 1958's ‘Cool Struttin'' and ‘Sonny's Crib’, which command prices well into the hundreds or thousands of euros.

His 1957 album ‘Dial "S" For Sonny’ and Japan’s 1979 limited edition of ‘My Conception’ also feature prominently in vinyl markets. Current availability highlights a wide range of pressings, reissues, and test pressings, with varying values and demand dynamics reflected across these titles.

Discography

Sonny Clark discography

Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.

Hank Mobley Quintet Featuring Sonny ClarkBlue Note · 1984
1984
Hank Mobley Quintet Featuring Sonny Clark
Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo
Studio
The Art Of The TrioBlue Note · 1980
1980
The Art Of The Trio
Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition
Studio
My ConceptionBlue Note · 1979
1979
My Conception
Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition
Studio
Blues In The NightBlue Note · 1979
1979
Blues In The Night
Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition
Studio
Sonny Clark QuintetBlue Note · 1976
1976
Sonny Clark Quintet
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
The Sonny Clark Memorial AlbumXanadu Records · 1976
1976
The Sonny Clark Memorial Album
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Leapin' And Lopin'Blue Note · 1962
1962
Leapin' And Lopin'
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Sonny Clark TrioTime Records · 1960
1960
Sonny Clark Trio
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Sonny Clark TrioBlue Note · 1958
1958
Sonny Clark Trio
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Sonny's CribBlue Note · 1958
1958
Sonny's Crib
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Cool Struttin'Blue Note · 1958
1958
Cool Struttin'
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Dial Blue Note · 1957
1957
Dial "S" For Sonny
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio

Playlist

Signature tracks

The tracks that sum up Sonny Clark's career.

01
Cool Struttin'
Cool Struttin'
Cool Struttin' · 1958
02
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
The Art Of The Trio · 1980
03
Deep in a Dream
Deep in a Dream
Hank Mobley Quintet Featuring Sonny Clark · 1984
04
I Can't Give You Anything but Love
·
05
Blue Minor
Blue Minor
Cool Struttin' · 1958
06
Deep Night
Deep Night
Cool Struttin' · 1958
07
Sippin' At Bells
Sippin' At Bells
Cool Struttin' · 1958
08
My Conception
My Conception
My Conception · 1979

The essentials

The 3 Sonny Clark albums you absolutely need

Our pick, validated by the editorial team.

#1 · 1958
Mono LP
Cool Struttin'

A defining hard bop album with a tight four-track structure; original 1958 US mono pressings are rare and valuable on vinyl markets.

4 tracksOriginal US mono pressing 1958Blue Note labelHigh collector demand
Discover the album
#2 · 1957
Mono LP
Dial "S" For Sonny

Early Blue Note release embodying Clark's melodic and rhythmic style; original 1957 US mono pressing remains highly sought after.

6 tracksOriginal US mono pressing 1957Blue Note labelMultiple reissues
Discover the album
#3 · 1979
Limited Edition LP
My Conception

Japanese limited edition release showcasing Clark's compositional breadth; valued collectible with original pressing from 1979 still widely traded.

6 tracksLimited editionBlue Note labelJapan release
Discover the album

Go further

Artists similar to Sonny Clark

Artists who share part of Sonny Clark's musical DNA.

Hank Mobley
Hank Mobley
Lee Morgan
Lee Morgan
Dexter Gordon
Dexter Gordon
Horace Silver
Horace Silver
Jackie McLean
Jackie McLean
Kenny Dorham
Kenny Dorham
Lou Donaldson
Tina Brooks

Face B

Side B: the hidden stories of Sonny Clark

Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.

Clark developed a distinctive style with a strong melodic sense and lively rhythm typical of hard bop.
— Jazz pianist legacy
01Recording

‘Dial "S" For Sonny’ recorded in 1957

This album was recorded for Blue Note in 1957 featuring six tracks that exemplify Clark's hard bop style. Original LPs are mono, catalog number BLP 1570, and they remain prized by collectors.

1957United States
02Pressing

1958 Original Mono Pressing of ‘Cool Struttin''

The US mono pressing of the ‘Cool Struttin'' album from 1958, catalog number BLP 1588, shows a strong want-to-have collector ratio over 5:1 and has high market value, with three copies currently for sale.

1958United States
03Pressing

‘Sonny's Crib’ Original Mono Release 1958

This album, released on Blue Note with catalog number BLP 1576, had a demand almost seven times higher than owned copies, emphasizing its rarity and collector interest on vinyl.

1958United States
04Pressing

Japanese ‘My Conception’ Limited Edition LP 1979

This limited edition from Japan features the album ‘My Conception’ with catalog number GXF 3056. It remains widely sought after and supports a healthy market on vinyl platforms.

1979Japan

Records by Sonny Clark

See all
Sonny's Crib - Front Cover

Sonny's Crib

Sonny Clark
Bebop Jazz/Blues
BLUE NOTE
From $24.00 2 offers
Cool Struttin' - Front Cover

Cool Struttin'

Sonny Clark
Contemporary Jazz / Cool Jazz/Blues
BLUE NOTE
From $27.77 2 offers
Dial "S" For Sonny - Front Cover

Dial "S" For Sonny

Sonny Clark
Bebop Jazz/Blues
BLUE NOTE
From $19.99 2 offers
Cool Struttin' - Front Cover

Cool Struttin'

Sonny Clark
Contemporary Jazz / Cool Jazz/Blues
Pain
From $169.35 1 offer
My Conception - Front Cover

My Conception

Sonny Clark
Blues Jazz/Blues
BLUE NOTE
From $35.98 2 offers
SONNY CLARK TRIO/180 GR - Front Cover

SONNY CLARK TRIO/180g

Trio
Contemporary Jazz / Cool Jazz/Blues
VINYL PASSION
From $24.99 1 offer
Green Grant / Born to Be Blue - Front Cover

Green Grant / Born to Be Blue

Sonny Clark
Blues Jazz/Blues
Intermusic
From $24.99 1 offer
COOL STRUTTIN' - Front Cover

COOL STRUTTIN'

Sonny Clark
Contemporary Jazz / Cool Jazz/Blues
SCORPIO US
View details

Recommended accessories

To protect, store and clean your records.

All accessories

FAQ

FAQ

The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.

What genre is Sonny Clark known for?

Sonny Clark is known predominantly for hard bop and bebop jazz styles.

Which Sonny Clark vinyl album is considered most collectible?

‘Cool Struttin'' (1958) in its original US mono pressing is among the most collectible for vinyl enthusiasts.

Are there different pressings of ‘Dial "S" For Sonny’ on vinyl?

Yes, there are multiple LP pressings including an original 1957 US mono pressing and later test pressings and reissues.

What is the price range for original ‘Cool Struttin'' LPs?

Prices vary from several hundred to over two thousand euros for original US mono pressings, depending on condition and seller.

Did Sonny Clark collaborate with other notable jazz musicians?

Yes, Clark performed and recorded alongside many prominent jazz artists, reflected in his dynamic trio and quintet recordings.

Are Sonny Clark vinyls readily available in France?

Original pressings are rare in France, but reissues and limited editions can be found through specialty shops and online platforms.

Which Sonny Clark albums are most popular among listeners?

‘Cool Struttin'’, ‘Dial "S" For Sonny’, and ‘My Conception’ are among the top vinyl albums based on listener counts.

How does ‘My Conception’ limited edition compare to original releases?

The Japanese limited edition of ‘My Conception’ from 1979 is prized for its sound quality and collectible status distinct from the original recordings.

Transparency

Sources & method

This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.

  • WP
    Wikipedia
    Encyclopaedic data and biography
    ↗
  • MB
    MusicBrainz
    Artist metadata, dates, type
    ↗
  • DG
    Discogs
    Discography, pressings and market prices
    ↗
  • LF
    Last.fm
    Listeners, plays, similar artists
    ↗
  • VC
    Vinyles.com
    In-house catalog, prices and availability
    ↗

Our method

  1. Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
  2. Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
  3. Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
  4. Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
  5. Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 04/07/2026