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The Sidewinder by  ReleasedJuly 1964RecordedDecember 21, 1963Studio
, Length40:59 chronology
(1962)The Sidewinder
(1964)
(1964)Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRating👑

The Sidewinder is a 1964 album by the  trumpeter , recorded at the  in , U.S. It was released on the  label as BLP 4157 () and BST 84157 ().

The  is perhaps Morgan's all-around best-known composition; it would go on to become a jazz standard, and was additionally released as a single.

The album became Blue Note's best-selling record ever, breaking the previous sales record and saving the label from near bankruptcy. Record producer  recalls the unexpected success: "the company issued only 4,000 copies upon release. Needless to say, they ran out of stock in three or four days. And 'The Sidewinder' became a runaway smash making the pop 100 charts." By January 1965, the album had reached No. 25 on the Billboard chart. The title track was used as the music in a  television advertisement and as a theme for television shows. At the insistence of Blue Note executives, several of Morgan's intended follow-up albums either had their release postponed or were shelved entirely so that Blue Note "could score another Sidewinder". Morgan's subsequent albums would therefore attempt to approximate the format and appeal of The Sidewinder by opening with a   inspired composition while also attempting to capture a  aesthetic. This approach is said to be most noticeable on Morgan's immediate follow-up albums, including ,  and .

Music and recording

The original album's five tracks, all written by Morgan, are heavily blues-based, and feature tenor saxophonist , then 26, whom Morgan (then 25) was mentoring at the time. Drummer , pianist , and bassist  are also featured in the personnel.

Reception

 selected this album as part of its suggested "Core Collection" (with a crown), calling the title track "a glorious 24-bar theme as sinuous and stinging as the beast of the title. It was both the best and worst thing that was ever to happen to Morgan before the awful events of 19 February 1972," referring to Morgan's killing at the hand of his common-law wife, Helen Moore. The album was identified by  in his  essay "Hard Bop" as one of the 17 Essential Hard Bop Recordings.

Track listing

All songs composed by .

"" – 10:25 "Totem Pole" – 10:11 "Gary's Notebook" – 6:03 "Boy, What a Night" – 7:30 "Hocus Pocus" – 6:21