#1 · 1957
A critical 1957 album that showcases Monk’s complex arrangements and pioneering use of dissonance within hard bop.
5 tracksMonoRiverside RecordsClassic liner notes
Artist page · 03/07/2026
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk, born in 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, was a pioneering American jazz pianist and composer known for his unique improvisational style and compositions. His career spans bebop’s birth to hard bop evolutions.
20Albums on Vinyles.com
3905Discogs releases
1.1MLast.fm listeners
About
Thelonious Monk, Jazz architect of bebop and groundbreaking piano improvisation.
50+ vinyl releases spanning bebop and hard bop; original pressings and remasters tracked in real time.
Thelonious Monk began playing piano at age six and established himself in Harlem’s jazz scene by the early 1940s, contributing original works and a distinctive playing style characterized by dissonance and rhythmic complexity. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Monk recorded for Blue Note, Prestige, and Columbia, producing notable albums like "Brilliant Corners" (1957) and "Monk." (1965). Known for finger technique that evolved into intentional dissonances, his oeuvre includes collaborations with Sonny Rollins and Art Blakey. His live recordings capture performances from iconic venues such as The Five Spot in New York and international tours across Europe and Japan.
Discography
Thelonious Monk — Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
Blue Note · 1985More Genius Of Thelonious Monk
Studio
Xanadu Records · 1985Live! At The Village Gate
Studio
Milestone · 1984Blues Five Spot
Studio
Baybridge Records · 1983Thelonious Monk 1963 In Japan
Studio
Milestone · 1983Evidence
Studio
Columbia · 1982Live At The It Club
Live
Milestone · 1982'Round Midnight
Studio
Philips · 1980Giants Of Jazz
Studio
BYG Records · 1975Live In Paris Part 2
Live
BYG Records · 1975Live In Paris Part 1
Live
BYG Records · 1973Thelonious Monk
Studio
Black Lion Records · 1973The Man I Love
Studio
CBS/Sony · 1973Monk In Tokyo
Studio
Polydor · 1972Something In Blue
Studio
CBS/Sony · 1969Monk In Tokyo
Studio
Columbia · 1968Underground
Studio
Columbia · 1967Straight, No Chaser
Studio
Columbia · 1965Solo Monk
Studio
Columbia · 1965Monk.
Studio
Columbia · 1965Misterioso (Recorded On Tour)
Studio
Riverside Records · 1965Monk In France
Studio
Columbia · 1964Big Band And Quartet In Concert
Live
Columbia · 1964It's Monk's Time
Studio
Columbia · 1963Criss-Cross
Studio
CBS · 1963Thelonious Monk In Tokyo <2>
Studio
Columbia · 1963Monk's Dream
Studio
Riverside Records · 1963In Italy
Studio
Jazzland · 1961Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane
Studio
Riverside Records · 1959Thelonious Alone In San Francisco
Studio
Atlantic · 1958Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers With Thelonious Monk
Studio
Riverside Records · 1958In Orbit
Studio
Riverside Records · 1958Thelonious In Action
Studio
Riverside Records · 1957Monk's Music
Studio
Riverside Records · 1957Thelonious Himself
Studio
Riverside Records · 1957Mulligan Meets Monk
Studio
Riverside Records · 1957Brilliant Corners
Studio
Riverside Records · 1956The Unique Thelonious Monk
Studio
Prestige · 1955Sonny Rollins And Thelonious Monk
Studio
Riverside Records · 1955Thelonious Monk Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington
Studio
Duke Records · In Stockholm
Studio
Studio album
Live / EP
Playlist
Signature tracks
The tracks that sum up Thelonious Monk's career.
01
'Round Midnight
·
02
Ruby, My Dear
·
03
Straight, No Chaser
In Italy · 1963
04
Blue Monk
·
05
I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
·
06
Epistrophy
In Italy · 1963
07
Brilliant Corners
Brilliant Corners · 1957
08
Monk's Dream - Take 8
·
The essentials
The 3 Thelonious Monk albums you absolutely need
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
#2 · 1965
This 1965 Columbia promo album features a refined hard bop style with seven tracks highlighting Monk’s compositional depth.
7 tracksMono promoColumbia labelStereo versions exist
#3 · 1964
Released in 1964, this album marks Monk’s continued exploration of hard bop with a mix of standards and originals.
6 tracksStereoColumbia label180g vinyl edition
Go further
Artists similar to Thelonious Monk
Artists who share part of Thelonious Monk'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.
Misterioso (Recorded On Tour)
Market position
i
Min price 4 €Max price 31 €
Average price
11,28 €
Only 50 copies for sale on Discogs
169 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Monk.
Market position
i
Min price 15 €Max price 61 €
Average price
18,70 €
Only 18 copies for sale on Discogs
442 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
It's Monk's Time
Market position
i
Min price 18 €Max price 80 €
Average price
22,46 €
Only 18 copies for sale on Discogs
501 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
In Italy
Market position
i
Min price 16 €Max price 29 €
Average price
25,00 €
Only 18 copies for sale on Discogs
214 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Brilliant Corners
Market position
i
Min price 52 €Max price 60 €
Average price
56,05 €
Only 9 copies for sale on Discogs
1 855 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Live! At The Village Gate
Market position
i
Min price 12 €Max price 18 €
Average price
14,80 €
Only 21 copies for sale on Discogs
69 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Notable pressings & editions
Face B
Side B: the hidden stories of Thelonious Monk
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
It's difficult to establish a linear lineage for Monk's style, as his personal evolution diverged from typical bebop conventions.— Music analysis
01Studio
Monk's 1965 'Monk.' album studio promo
The 1965 promo mono pressing of 'Monk.' on Columbia features seven tracks including 'Liza' and 'Pannonica', recorded in the US and sought by over 400 collectors.
02Pressing
Original 1965 Canadian pressing of 'Misterioso (Recorded On Tour)'
This original Canadian mono LP pressing on Columbia (catno CL 2416) from 1965 commands collectible interest with prices from €15 to €31.
03Live Recording
Live at The Five Spot, 1958
Monk's live sets at The Five Spot in 1958 capture intimate performances vital to his legacy, available on vinyl reissues.
04Label
Riverside Records period and collaborations
Between the late 1940s and early 1960s, Monk recorded seminal albums for Riverside, collaborating with Sonny Rollins and Art Blakey while also producing solo works.
Records by Thelonious Monk
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FAQ
FAQ: Thelonious Monk on physical formats
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Who was Thelonious Monk and what style did he play?
Thelonious Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his bebop and hard bop styles, with a distinctive improvisational approach.
What are some essential Thelonious Monk vinyl records for collectors?
Key vinyl records include 'Brilliant Corners' (1957), 'Monk.' (1965), and 'It's Monk's Time' (1964), featuring mono and stereo pressings across US and European labels.
What makes the 1965 Columbia 'Monk.' promo LP special for collectors?
The 'Monk.' 1965 promo album on Columbia features mono pressing with limited availability, sought after for its original tracks and rarity.
Are there notable live recordings of Thelonious Monk on vinyl?
Yes, live vinyl releases such as 'Live at The Five Spot 1958' document key performances with compelling sound quality.
Where can I find original pressings of Thelonious Monk's albums in France?
Original pressings appear mostly on Columbia and Riverside labels; French sellers on vinyl platforms occasionally list key records like 'Monk.' and 'In France.'
How has Thelonious Monk's playing style influenced jazz piano?
Monk’s style features intentional dissonance and rhythmic surprises due to his finger technique, influencing generations of jazz pianists.
What factors affect the price of Monk vinyl records?
Factors include pressing location, original versus reissue status, condition, and rarity; mono US and Canadian Columbia pressings often fetch higher prices.
Are there Thelonious Monk vinyl records recorded in France?
Yes, 'Monk in France' captures studio sessions from the mid-1960s, available on various reissues and compilations on vinyl.
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: 03/07/2026