Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus is a 1963 (see 1963 in music) album by jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus.
Historical Context
Many of the tracks on this album had been recorded or have since been rerecorded, some under different titles, on other albums. For example
- "Theme for Lester Young" - "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" on Mingus Ah Um
- "II B.S." - "Haitian Fight Song" on Plus Max Roach
- "Freedom" - "Freedom" on Epitaph
- "Better Get Hit in Your Soul" - "Better Git It in Your Soul" on Mingus Ah Um
Freedom
The spoken word poem in "Freedom" was written by Charles Mingus.
The lyrics, "This mule ain't from Moscow", might be a reference to a Moscow Mule, a drink made of vodka and ginger beer popular in the 1950's.
Mingus did a number of other songs with spoken poetry
- "Scenes in the City"
- "The Chill of Death"
- "The Clown"
- "Weary Blues" (read by Langston Hughes).
Several other pieces have lyrics
- "Fables of Faubus" and "Oh
- "Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb on Me"
Track listing
- "II B.S." - 4:46
- "I X Love" - 7:38
- "Celia" - 6:12
- "Mood Indigo" - 4:43
- "Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul" - 6:28
- "Theme for Lester Young" - 5:50
- "Hora Decubitus" - 4:41
- "Freedom" - 5:10
Personnel
Tracks #1 and 4-8, recorded in New York on September 20, 1963:
Tracks #2 and 3, recorded in New York on January 20, 1963:
- Rolf Ericson - Trumpet
- Richard Williams - Trumpet
- Quentin Jackson - Trombone
- Don Butterfield - Tuba
- Jerome Richardson - Soprano, baritone saxes, flute
- Dick Hafer - Tenor sax, flute, oboe
- Charles Mariano - Alto sax
- Jaki Byard - Piano
- Jay Berliner - Guitar
- Charles Mingus - Bass, piano
- Dannie Richmond - Drums
- Bob Thiele - Producer
- Michael Cuscuna - Reissue Producer
- Bob Simpson - Engineer
- Erick Labson - Remastering
