Wonderful mid-50s bop jazz record I’d have bought just for the cover illustration by Howard Stabin. Gordon is joined here by Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawreance Marable on drums. Liner notes by Joseph Muranyi.

This was recorded just after Gordon got out of prison at Chino and before being incarcerated again at Folsom later in the 50s.

Bethlehem Records was founded by Gus Wildi, and put out 10″ records in 1954 and 1955, switching to 12″ records in 1955-1960, the BCP1 to BCP93 series.

My copy, via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA, is a modern (2022) reissue by BMG (Bethlehem Records is now owned by Verve, which in turn is owned by BGM). Like apparently many others in this reissue, the A-side label is actually for The Jazz Experiments Of Charles Mingus (BCP-65 instead of BCP-36) but the audio is correct. The hype sticker calls it a “1955 classic” but it wasn’t actually released until 1956.