Oliver Nelson discography

This is the discography for American jazz musician Oliver Nelson.

As leader/co-leader

Year recorded	Album	Notes	Label	Year released
1959	Meet Oliver Nelson	Quintet with Kenny Dorham and Ray Bryant	Prestige Records	1959
1960	Taking Care of Business	Quintet with Johnny "Hammond" Smith and Lem Winchester	Prestige Records	1960
1960	Screamin' the Blues	Sextet with Eric Dolphy and Richard Williams	Prestige Records	1961
1960	Nocturne	Quintet with Lem Winchester	Prestige Records	1961
1960	Soul Battle	Sextet with King Curtis and Jimmy Forrest	Prestige Records	1962
1961	The Blues and the Abstract Truth	Septet with Bill Evans, Roy Haynes, Eric Dolphy, Paul Chambers and Freddie Hubbard	Impulse! Records	1961
1961	Straight Ahead	Quintet with Eric Dolphy	Prestige Records	1961
1961	Main Stem	Sextet with Joe Newman	Prestige Records	1962
1961	Afro/American Sketches	Oliver Nelson Orchestra	Prestige Records	1962
1962	Impressions of Phaedra	Oliver Nelson Orchestra	United Artists Records	1962
1962-63	Full Nelson	Oliver Nelson Orchestra	Verve	1963
1964	Fantabulous	Oliver Nelson Orchestra	Argo Records	1964
1964	More Blues and the Abstract Truth	Sextet/Septet/Octet arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson	Impulse!	1965
1965	Rita Reys Meets Oliver Nelson	Rita Reys with Orchestra arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson	Philips Records	1965
1966	Oliver Nelson Plays Michelle	Oliver Nelson Orchestra	Impulse!	1966
1966	Sound Pieces	Oliver Nelson Orchestra/Quartet	Impulse!	1967
1966	Happenings	Hank Jones and the Oliver Nelson Orchestra featuring Clark Terry	Impulse!	1966
1966	Encyclopedia of Jazz	Encyclopedia of Jazz All Stars [split album]	Verve	1967
1966-67	The Sound of Feeling	Encyclopedia of Jazz All Stars [split album]	Verve	1968
1967	The Spirit of '67	Pee Wee Russell and the Oliver Nelson Orchestra	Impulse!	1967
1967	The Kennedy Dream	Oliver Nelson Orchestra	Impulse!	1967
1967	Live from Los Angeles	Oliver Nelson's Big Band	Impulse!	1967
1967	Jazzhattan Suite	Jazz Interactions Orchestra	Verve	1968
1968	Soulful Brass	Oliver Nelson with Steve Allen	Impulse!	1968
1969	Black, Brown and Beautiful	Oliver Nelson Orchestra	Flying Dutchman Records	1970
1970	Zig Zag	Original Motion Picture Score	MGM Records	1970
1970	In Tokyo	Nobuo Hara and His Sharps & Flats and Oliver Nelson	Columbia Records (Japan)	1970
1970	Berlin Dialogue for Orchestra	Oliver Nelson and the "Berlin Dreamband"	Flying Dutchman	1971
1971	Swiss Suite	Oliver Nelson Orchestra featuring Gato Barbieri and Eddie Vinson	Flying Dutchman	1972
1974	Oliver Edward Nelson in London with Oily Rags	Oliver Nelson with Oily Rags	Flying Dutchman	1974
1975	Skull Session	Oliver Nelson	Flying Dutchman	1975
1975	Stolen Moments	Oliver Nelson	East Wind Records	1975

Compilations

• A Dream Deferred (Flying Dutchman 1969-75 [1976]) – Selections from Flying Dutchman albums + 2 previously unreleased tracks
• Back Talk (Chess, 1964 [1976]) with Lou Donaldson – Compilation of Argo & Cadet LPs Fantabulous and Rough House Blues
• Images (Prestige 1961 [1976]) with Eric Dolphy – Compilation of Prestige LPs Screamin' the Blues and Straight Ahead
• Three Dimensions (Impulse! 1961-66, [1978]) – Compilation of Impulse! LPs The Blues and the Abstract Truth and Sound Pieces + 2 previously unreleased tracks
• Black, Brown and Beautiful (Bluebird, 1970-75 [1989]) – reissue of Johnny Hodges Flying Dutchman LP 3 Shades of Blue + tracks from Oliver Edward Nelson in London with Oily Rags and Skull Session
• Verve Jazz Masters 48 (Verve, 1962-67 [1995]) – Selections from Verve albums
• The Argo, Verve and Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions (Mosaic, 1961-67 [2006])

Film and Television Scores

• Dzjes Zien (1965) – Dutch Television Movie
• Ironside (1967-1972) – US TV Series
• Run for Your Life (1967) – US TV Series
• The Name of the Game (1968-1970) – US TV Series
• Death of a Gunfighter (1969) – US Movie
• It Takes a Thief (1969-1970) – US TV Series
• Zig Zag (1970) – US Movie
• Dial Hot Line (1970) – US TV Movie
• Skullduggery (1970) – US Movie
• Matt Lincoln (1970) – US TV Series
• Lady Sings the Blues (1971) – US Movie – arranger only
• Longstreet (1971) – US TV Series
• Night Gallery (1971-1972) – US TV Series
• Cutter (1972) – US TV Series
• Columbo (1972) – US TV Series
• Last Tango in Paris (1972) – French/Italian Movie
• Banacek (1973) – US TV Series
• I Love a Mystery (1973) – US TV Movie
• The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-1975) – US TV Series
• Chase (1973) – US TV series
• Casino on Wheels (1973) – US TV Movie
• The Alpha Caper (1973) – US TV Movie
• Money to Burn (1973) – US TV Movie
• Matt Helm (1975) – US TV Series
• The Bionic Woman (1976) – US TV Series

As arranger/conductor

An additional sideman role may be present in these recordings.

With Faye Adams

• "You Can Trust In Me"/"Goodnight My Love"' (Prestige, 1962) – 7inch SP

With Cannonball Adderley

• Domination (Capitol, 1965)

With Steve Allen

• Soulful Brass #2 (Flying Dutchman, 1969)

With Air Pocket

• Fly On (East Wind, 1975) – producer

With Louis Armstrong

• Louis Armstrong and His Friends (Flying Dutchman/Amsterdam, 1971) – recorded in 1970

With Gato Barbieri

• Last Tango in Paris (United Artists, 1973) – recorded in 1972
• El Gato (Flying Dutchman, 1975) – recorded in 1972

With Elek Bacsik

• Bird and Dizzy: A Musical Tribute (Flying Dutchman, 1975) – arranger, conductor

With James Brown

• Soul on Top (King, 1970) – recorded in 1969

With Mel Brown

• Chicken Fat (Impulse!, 1967)

With Ray Brown and Milt Jackson

• Ray Brown / Milt Jackson (Verve, 1965)

With Ruth Brown

• "Secret Love"/"Time After Time" (Noslen, 1963)

With Henry Cain

• The Funky Organ-ization Of Henry Cain (Capitol, 1967)

With Betty Carter

• 'Round Midnight (Atco, 1963)

With Ray Charles

• A Portrait of Ray (ABC/Tangerine, 1968)

With Lou Donaldson

• Rough House Blues (Cadet, 1964)

With Jean DuShon

• Feeling Good (Cadet, 1966)

With Lorraine Ellison

• Heart & Soul (Warner Bros., 1966)

With Art Farmer

• Listen to Art Farmer and the Orchestra (Mercury, 1962)

With Maynard Ferguson

• Come Blow Your Horn (Cameo, 1964)

With Don Goldie

• Trumpet Exodus (Verve, 1962)

With Leo Gooden

• Leo Sings with Strings (L.G., 1963)

With Jackie and Roy

• Changes (Verve, 1966)

With Jimmy Grissom

• "I've Got You On My Mind"/"Lover's Reverie" (Prestige, 1962)

With Nobuo Hara and His Sharps & Flats

• 3-2-1-0 (Nippon Columbia, 1969)

With Johnny Hartman

• I Love Everybody (ABC-Paramount, 1967)

With Johnny Hodges

• The Eleventh Hour (Verve, 1962)
• 3 Shades of Blue (Flying Dutchman, 1970)

With Richard Holmes

• Six Million Dollar Man (RCA/Flying Dutchman, 1975)

With Paul Horn

• Monday, Monday (RCA Victor, 1966)
• Paul Horn & The Concert Ensemble (Ovation, 1969)

With Paul Humphrey, Shelly Manne, Willie Bobo & Louie Bellson

• The Drum Session (Philips (Japan), 1974) – producer

With Yujiro Ishihara

• Nostalia (Teichiku Entertainment (Japan), 1974)

With Etta Jones

• So Warm (Prestige, 1961)

With Kimiko Kasai

• Kimiko Kasai in Person (CBS/Sony (Japan), 1973)
• Thanks, Dear (CBS/Sony (Japan), 1974) – musical supervisor

With Ramsey Lewis

• Country Meets the Blues (Argo, 1962); reeds only

With Herbie Mann

• My Kinda Groove (Atlantic, 1964)
• Latin Mann (Columbia, 1965)
• Today! (Atlantic, 1965)
• Our Mann Flute (Atlantic, 1966)

With Lloyd G. Mayers

• A Taste of Honey (United Artists Jazz, 1962)

With Carmen McRae

• Portrait of Carmen (Atlantic, 1967)

With Thelonious Monk

• Monk's Blues (Columbia, 1968)

With Wes Montgomery

• Goin' Out of My Head (Verve, 1965)

With Lee Morgan

• Delightfulee (Blue Note, 1966)

With Esther Phillips

• Esther Phillips Sings (Atlantic, 1955)

With Della Reese

• "Every Other Day"/"Soon" (ABC, 1967)
• I Gotta Be Me...This Trip Out (ABC, 1968)

With Irene Reid

• Room for One More (Verve, 1965)

With Buddy Rich

• Swingin' New Big Band (Pacific Jazz, 1966); 8 tracks
• The New One! (Pacific Jazz, 1967); one track only
• Rich in London (RCA, 1971); one track only

With Sonny Rollins

• Alfie (Impulse!, 1966)

With Diana Ross

• Lady Sings the Blues (Motown, 1972)
• Blue (Motown, 1972)

With Jimmy Rushing

• Every Day I Have the Blues (BluesWay, 1967)

With Shirley Scott

• For Members Only (Impulse!, 1963)
• Great Scott!! (Impulse!, 1964)
• Roll 'Em: Shirley Scott Plays the Big Bands (Impulse!, 1966)

With Doc Severinsen

• Rhapsody for Now! (RCA, 1973)

With Bud Shank

• Girl in Love (World Pacific, 1966)

With Jimmy Smith

• Bashin': The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith (Verve, 1962)
• Hobo Flats (Verve, 1963)
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Verve, 1964)
• Monster (Verve, 1965)
• Got My Mojo Workin' (Verve, 1965)
• Peter & the Wolf (Verve, 1966)
• Hoochie Coochie Man (Verve, 1966)
• Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo (Verve, 1966) with Wes Montgomery
• Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes (Verve, 1966) with Wes Montgomery
• Livin' It Up! (Verve, 1968)

With Ringo Starr

• Sentimental Journey (Apple, 1969)

With Carl Stokes

• The Mayor and the People (Flying Dutchman, 1970)

With Billy Taylor

• Right Here, Right Now! (Capitol Records, 1963)
• Midnight Piano (Capitol, 1964)

With Jack Teagarden

• Jack Teagarden (Verve, 1962)

With The Temptations

• The Temptations in a Mellow Mood (Gordy, 1967)

With Clark Terry

• Clark Terry Plays the Jazz Version of All American (Moodsville, 1962)

With Bob Thiele

• I Saw Pinetop Spit Blood (Flying Dutchman, 1975)

With Leon Thomas

• The Leon Thomas Album (Flying Dutchman, 1970)
• Leon Thomas in Berlin (Flying Dutchman, 1971)

With The Three Sounds

• Coldwater Flat (Blue Note, 1968)

With Cal Tjader

• Soul Burst (Verve, 1966)

With Stanley Turrentine

• Joyride (Blue Note, 1965)

With Joe Williams

• Jump for Joy (RCA Victor, 1963)
• Me and the Blues (RCA Victor, 1964)

With Nancy Wilson

• How Glad I Am (Capitol, 1964)
• Today, My Way (Capitol, 1964)
• A Touch of Today (Capitol, 1966)
• Just for Now (Capitol, 1966)
• Lush Life (Capitol, 1967)
• Welcome to My Love (Capitol, 1967)

With Kai Winding

• Suspense Themes in Jazz (Verve, 1962)
• More Brass (Verve, 1966)

As arranger and sideman

With Gene Ammons

• Soul Summit Vol. 2 (Prestige, 1961 [1962]; arranged two tracks)
• Late Hour Special (Prestige, 1961 [1964]; arranged 4 tracks)
• Velvet Soul (Prestige, 1961 [1964]; arranged 1 track)

With Count Basie

• Afrique (Flying Dutchman, 1970); also tenor saxophone

With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

• Trane Whistle (Prestige, 1960); also alto saxophone

With Jimmy Forrest

• Soul Street (New Jazz, 1962); tenor saxophone on one track

With Etta Jones

• From the Heart (Prestige, 1962); alto saxophone on 4 tracks

With Frank Wess

• Southern Comfort (Prestige, 1962); also tenor saxophone

With Lem Winchester

• Lem's Beat (Prestige, 1960); also tenor saxophone

Credited as sideman only

With Cannonball Adderley

• African Waltz (Riverside, 1961)

With Manny Albam

• Jazz Goes to the Movies (Impulse!, 1962)

With Elek Bacsik

• I Love You (Bob Thie, 1973)

With Louie Bellson

• The Brilliant Bellson Sound (Verve, 1959)

With Clea Bradford

• These Dues (Tru-Sound, 1961)

With Chris Connor

• Free Spirits (Atlantic, 1962)
• Richard Rodgers' No Strings: An After-Theatre Version (Atlantic, 1962) with Bobby Short

With Duke Ellington

• Paris Blues (United Artists, 1962)

With Red Garland

• Soul Burnin' (Prestige, 1961)
• Rediscovered Masters (Prestige 1961 [1977])

With Etta Jones

• Something Nice (Prestige, 1960 [1961])
• Hollar! (Prestige, 1960 [1963])

With J. J. Johnson

• J.J.! (RCA Victor, 1964) – reeds

With Quincy Jones

• I Dig Dancers (Mercury, 1960)
• The Quintessence (Impulse!, 1961)
• The Pawnbroker (Mercury, 1965)

With Louis Jordan

• "If You're So Smart How Come You Ain't Rich"/"How Blue Can You Get" (Decca, 1951)
• "Please Don't Leave Me"/"Three-Handed Woman" (Decca, 1951)
• "Trust in Me"/"Cock-a-Doodle Doo"/"Work Baby Work" (Decca, 1951)
• "May Every Day Be Christmas"/"Bone Dry" (Decca, 1951)
• "Louisville Lodge Meeting"/"Work Baby Work" (Decca, 1951)
• "Slow Down" (Decca, 1951 [1952])
• "Fat Sam from Birmingham" (Decca, 1951 [1953])
• "There Must Be a Way" (Decca, 1951 [1953])
• "Come And Get It" (Decca, 1951 [1954])

With Eddie Kirkland

• It's the Blues Man! (Tru-Sound, 1962)

With Mundell Lowe

• Satan in High Heels (soundtrack) (Charlie Parker, 1961)

With Gary McFarland

• The Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying" (Verve, 1961)

With Joe Newman

• Joe Newman Quintet at Count Basie's (Mercury, 1961)

With Shirley Scott

• Blue Seven (Prestige, 1961)

With Johnny "Hammond" Smith

• Talk That Talk (New Jazz, 1960)

With Leon Thomas

• Leon Thomas in Berlin (Flying Dutchman, 1970)
• Gold Sunrise on Magic Mountain (Mega/Flying Dutchman, 1971)