The pinnacle of style and grace, Blue Note records set the bar for lp cover graphic design, photography, typography and quality.   The label also produced many of the greatest jazz recordings of the fifties and sixties and featured a roster of the music’s greatest composers and musicians.   Owners Francis Wolff and Alfred Lion together with producer and engineer Rudy Van Gelder and art director /graphic designer Reid Miles helped define jazz visually as well as musically during the music’s greatest period of innovation and achievement.   Wolff photographed every session and his pictures were most often used on the covers.

(43 votes, average: 4.70 out of 5)

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Soul Station Hank Mobley Blue Note Records

(31 votes, average: 4.58 out of 5)

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Good Gracious! (1963) Blue Note 4125 Cover Photo: Ronnie Brathwaite Cover Design: Reid Miles Model: Rose Nelmes Recording: Rudy Van Gelder Liner Notes: Joe Goldberg

Lou Donaldson, Alto Sax; Grant Green, Guitar; John Patton; Ben Dixon, Drums

Side One: Bad John/The Holy Ghost/Cherry

Side Two: Caracas/Good Gracious/Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me

(29 votes, average: 4.72 out of 5)

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Cover design by Reid Miles. Photo by Francis Wolff. Recording by Rudy Van Gelder. Notes by Robert Levin. Blue Note 1577. (1957)   Coltrane’s only date as a leader for Blue Note and after A Love Supreme his best selling record.   A highlight in Blue Note’s amazing catalog and for sure a “desert island disc”!

Lee Morgan (T), Curtis Fuller (Tb), John Coltrane (TS), Kenny Drew (P), Paul Chambers (B), “Philly” Joe Jones (D)

Side One: Blue Train, Moment’s Notice Side Two: Locomotion, I’m Old Fashioned, Lazy Bird

(43 votes, average: 4.81 out of 5)

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Lee Morgan Sextet  Lee Morgan  Blue Note

(27 votes, average: 4.44 out of 5)

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