Tonight at Noon

A Survey of Modern Jazz on Atlantic Records, 1955-1983

Although well-known for its many achievements in R&B, soul and classic rock, Atlantic Records also built up a substantial and often high quality modern jazz catalogue. Tonight at Noon surveys 483 albums recorded between the years 1955 and 1983 – the bulk of the label’s modern jazz output. The primary focus is the Jazz Series (1200 to 1600) plus relevant items from the Popular Series and Atlantic’s various offshoots – Vortex, Embryo, Atco and so on. The book is written in a user-friendly style and is aimed at both newcomers and experienced listeners. Technical terms are avoided wherever possible. As well as the survey, Tonight at Noon includes a snapshot of the Atlantic label and a section where the various modern jazz sub-genres are defined. It concludes with a list of 69 essential albums.